Some painkillers can have an inhibiting effect on our emotions

Painful memories and feelings can be reduced by painkillers

The use of commercial analgesics not only leads to the relief of physical pain, it also seems to help women in the management of emotionally painful experiences. The same effect could not be found in men.

The University of California scientists found that taking painkillers seems to reduce emotional pain as well, but this only applies to women. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences".

When women take painkillers, it not only reduces physical pain but also their compassion for other people, grief and unpleasant feelings. (Image: BestForYou / fotolia.com)

Women are better at dealing with painful memories with painkillers

Reviewing several studies, the experts found that ibuprofen and paracetamol-consuming women experienced less grief or discomfort due to emotionally painful experiences compared to placebo-taking patients. However, the same result could not be found in men who took non-prescription analgesics.

Painkillers have a massive effect on the feelings

Over-the-counter painkillers affect how people process information, respond to emotionally evocative images, and experience hurt feelings. The results of the study have shown that people are less empathetic when taking analgesics, for example, when they are confronted with strangers' pains. So, painkillers seem to block certain feelings in the brain, the doctors speculate.

The psychological side effects could surprise the consumer

In many ways, the verified results are quite alarming, the researchers say. Consumers assume that taking an over-the-counter painkiller will help relieve their physical symptoms. Those affected certainly do not expect greater psychological effects to be the result, explains study author Dr. Kyle Ratner.

Psychological effects of taking ibuprofen

Intake of ibuprofen caused women to experience less unpleasant feelings due to emotionally painful experiences. Such experiences included, for example, the writing down of cases in which those affected were cheated. The researchers also found that the pills affect the ability to empathize with other people's pains.

Psychological effects of taking acetaminophen

When taking paracetamol, patients showed less respect for others and less emotionally distressed when confronted with another person's pain. The analgesic also appears to reduce responses to emotional objects, for example, unpleasant photos are rated as less disturbing compared to placebo-engaging subjects. Paracetamol also makes it easier for people to part with certain objects. When participants were asked to set a selling price for such an object in their possession, they lowered their prices by taking paracetamol.

Further research is needed

It must now be determined in other studies, whether the painkillers have negative effects on people who take them in combination with other medications or are depressed, says Dr. med. Ratner. If the preliminary results are confirmed, policy-makers may consider new regulations that take into account the potential risks and benefits to public health. (As)