Grievance: Undue promotion of pain killers.
Sanjeev Goyal
PMOPG/E/2026/0197561
Concerned Department: Department of pharmaceuticals.
There appears to be a flood of advertisements for painkillers such as Saridon, which are often promoted as remedies for pain without adequately highlighting their limitations, potential risks, or the need for responsible use.
Tablets like Saridon blocks the secretion of prostaglandins which restricts the transmission of pain signals, and modulates the intensity of pain. This only plays with the natural signal system of the body which raises alert against possible medical condition.
The same concern applies to several other painkillers. Relieving pain is not the same as treating its underlying cause. Pain is always a symptom of an underlying medical condition, and repeatedly suppressing it without investigating the cause may delay appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, painkillers are not entirely risk-free; inappropriate or excessive use can lead to adverse effects.
It is therefore concerning when advertisements portray such medicines as simple, routine remedies that can be consumed whenever pain occurs, almost as casually as an ordinary food item. While painkillers can be useful when taken appropriately, their use should be guided by the nature and severity of the pain, the medicine's instructions, and medical advice where necessary.
There is a need for greater responsibility in the advertising and promotion of painkillers. Advertisements should not merely emphasise quick relief, they should also communicate the limitations of these medicines, the risks associated with misuse, and the importance of seeking medical advice for persistent or recurring pain.
Medicines are meant to promote health, not merely to mask symptoms. It is therefore requested that appropriate action be taken against such misleading advertisements.
