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KOMPAS.com – A post warning that side effects of the headache treatment can trigger aplastic anemia has become a topic of debate.
They were uploaded to social media X (formerly Twitter) by the account @askrlSunday evening (14/4/2024).
It can be seen in the upload that the back packaging of many headache medicines on the market lists the risk of aplastic anemia as one of the side effects.
Similar side effects have also been found in other brands of over-the-counter medications that work to treat headache complaints.
“Kindly remember to all my friends, don’t take this medicine too often. Please pay attention to the side effect information, there is a risk of aplastic anemia. If you take a medicine on the market, please read all the information just to be sure. safe,” he wrote.
So, should people be concerned about the potential risk of aplastic anemia?
Read also: Causes of Aplastic Anemia, a disease suffered by Babe Cabita
Risk of aplastic anemia in headache medications
Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) Zullies Ikawati said that the public does not need to worry about information about the risk of aplastic anemia in the treatment of headaches.
“There is no need to be paranoid,” he said, when contacted by Kompas.com, on Wednesday (17/4/2024).
Even though it is written on the medicine package, aplastic anemia is a very rare side effect.
This side effect also has the potential to attack only if headache medication is used regularly or long-term.
At the same time, headache medication is usually only used as needed, that is when complaints arise.
“Because the process of aplastic anemia is also a long process,” he said.
Read also: Is it OK to take headache medicine to sleep well? Here’s what UGM experts say
Aplastic anemia is not caused by drugs
Zullies explained that aplastic anemia is not caused by drug use, but by an autoimmune disease.
An autoimmune disease is a health problem that occurs because the body’s immune system, which is supposed to fight infection, actually attacks the body itself.
In this case, according to him, the immunity of the victims of aplastic anemia attacks their own spinal cord.
As a result, the bone marrow cannot produce red blood cells. When the bone marrow cannot produce red blood cells, the body cannot function normally.
“Because the immune system is working incorrectly by attacking the body itself, in this case the spinal cord, so it can’t produce blood cells. So it’s not because of the medicine it is,” explained Zullies.
However, to avoid possible side effects, make sure you take your headache medicine according to the instructions for use on the package.
“As long as the headache has healed, that’s enough. Usually you only need three times a day (taking medicine),” he continued.
Read also: Viral headache remedy for boiling and tenderizing meat, what are the risks?
Over-the-counter drugs should not be taken long-term
Likewise, Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Indonesia (UI), Ari Fahrial Syam, said that the use of over-the-counter medicines is only temporary if necessary.
“This is only necessary and should not be used continuously in the long term,” he said, when tested separately, on Wednesday.
Before eating, patients must read the provisions regarding dosage, indications, contraindications or people who should not eat, as well as side effects.
The public must also know what side effects may be listed on the package.
Read also: Is it OK to take medications and supplements at the same time?
According to Ari, when it is allowed to buy it freely, a drug is relatively safer compared to drugs that must be given with a doctor’s prescription.
“But again, when we use these drugs, it’s only temporary,” Ari continued.
In fact, the Dean of the UI Faculty of Medicine said that over-the-counter medications usually require patients to go to the doctor if they don’t get better after two or three days of use.
People who feel discomfort after taking over-the-counter medications should also tell their doctor immediately.
“This drug should not be used in the long term, this information is important for the public to know. On the one hand, this does not mean that this drug cannot be used at all because many patients also supported by this drug,” he concluded.
Read also: Do you often have a headache when you wake up in the morning? This is the Reason
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2024-04-17 23:30:00
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