Painkillers are part of everyday life for most Nigerians. A quick fix for a stubborn headache, a sore back after hustling in traffic or at the park, or cramps that refuse to let up. You walk into any chemist, ask for something for pain, and walk out with ibuprofen, diclofenac, felvin, or Alabukun, no prescription, no questions asked. It feels normal. Almost harmless.

They might appear safe, but those tiny tablets people pop so casually are quietly damaging their kidneys. For many Nigerians, these painkillers have become part of daily life, one swallowed before heading out to work, another before bed. In parks, motor garages, or even offices, painkillers are shared like sweets, part of the unspoken routine of coping with the strain of survival.

According to medical experts, one in ten Nigerians is living with some form of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and many do not even know until it is too late. Health workers have long warned that constant, unsupervised use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, felvin, and diclofenac is one of the silent drivers of kidney damage. But because the pain fades quickly, people assume they are fine. The harm, however, builds quietly over time.

Popular health influencer Aproko Doctor has also been sounding the alarm. In one of his recent videos, he warned Nigerians to “stop abusing painkillers,” explaining how these drugs reduce blood flow to the kidneys, causing long-term damage that may not show up for years. His message struck a chord because it reflected something painfully common: the everyday reliance on painkillers as a way to keep moving in a country where rest feels like a luxury.

It is a message that hits close to home for people like bus drivers, okada riders, and market traders, the ones who cannot afford to take a day off. For them, a sachet of Alabukun or a paracetamol combo is part of survival. Studies in Ekiti State have shown that over 60 percent of commercial riders regularly use painkillers, often without medical advice. Many believe it keeps them strong enough to work through pain, but in reality, it is weakening the very organs that keep them alive.

When painkillers’ relief becomes risk

Doctors say the danger is not in taking painkillers occasionally but in making them a habit. When your body depends on them to get through each day, the kidneys slowly begin to wear out. By the time symptoms like swollen feet, foamy urine, or fatigue appear, the damage is often irreversible. The sad truth is that most Nigerians only realise something is wrong when dialysis becomes the only option, a treatment far too expensive for the average person to sustain.

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The real problem is how easily these drugs are sold. The “Aboki” in his tiny kiosk sells painkillers, and people buy them like snacks, no prescription required. The temptation is understandable. Life in Nigeria is hard. Stress, long commutes, sleepless nights, and poor diet make body pain a constant companion. For many, a quick pill feels like the only way to keep going. But what starts as relief can quietly become dependency, a short-term fix that turns into a long-term trap, leading to chronic kidney disease, heart problems, or liver complications.

Experts say the solution begins with awareness. Painkillers are useful when used correctly, but they can destroy the body when abused. Pharmacies must do more to educate buyers, and government regulation should make it harder to sell high-risk drugs over the counter without proper guidance. In a country where healthcare access is already a struggle, prevention might be the only affordable option.

Your kidneys do not shout. They just stop working one day. And by then, it might be too late to start caring.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri