Dr. Chukwudi Njelita, Chief Medical Director of Rock Foundation Hospital in Awka, Anambra State, has warned the public against the misuse and excessive consumption of painkillers, medically known as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Awka on Monday, Njelita said the caution had become necessary to help curb the rising cases of peptic ulcer disease.
He explained that an ulcer occurs when the inner surface of the stomach or upper intestine becomes eroded due to an imbalance in acid production or excessive stomach acidity.
He described ulcer as the “erosion of the inner surface of the stomach or upper part of the intestine due to imbalance in the secretion of acid or the acidic state of the stomach.
“This erosion is mainly caused by acid secretion which is essentially the content of the stomach because acid helps in the digestion of protein but this acid must not be in excess,” he said.
The physician noted that although stomach acid is vital for protein digestion, an excess amount could damage the stomach lining and worsen ulcer formation.
According to him, the misuse of NSAIDs—commonly taken to relieve pain and arthritis—can aggravate ulcer conditions by increasing acid secretion and breaking down the protective mucosal layer of the stomach.
He said the main cause of ulcer is *Helicobacter pylori*, a bacteria known for damaging the stomach’s mucosal barrier.
“Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are capable of stopping arthritis pains but they can trigger chemical reactions in the body that can cause breakdown of the mucosal lining by the secretion of more acid in the stomach.
“When people who have arthritis keep taking NSAIDs, like aspirin, diclofenac, indomethacin, ibuprofen in high doses beyond doctor’s prescription, these drugs will give the side effect of causing peptic ulcer.
“Abuse of these drugs can also cause peptic ulcers that is why when doctors prescribe these drugs when necessary, they ask questions to make sure the patient can tolerate those drugs,” he said.
Njelita listed symptoms of peptic ulcer to include pain in the upper abdomen (epigastric region), discomfort radiating to the middle of the back, and in severe cases, internal bleeding which could lead to dark or tarry stools known as melena.
He dismissed the common belief that ulcers are caused by hunger, noting that such claims are speculative and lack scientific proof.
He said the best approach to treating ulcer involves the use of medications that target *Helicobacter pylori* bacteria as well as drugs that reduce acid secretion in the stomach.
“A combination of this for two to three weeks will go a long way to abetting the ulcer,” he said.
