Nigerian actress Ufoma McDermott has opened up about her 12-year journey with kidney disease, stemming from years of unknowingly misusing strong painkillers to manage chronic headaches and migraines.
In an emotional interview with Chude Jideonwo, McDermott shared how her experience serves as a cautionary tale, encouraging others to prioritize their health and avoid the dangers of self-medicating.
She explained, “I have always grown up with migraines… I never took ordinary painkillers; I took strong painkillers because I wanted the pain to go away.” 
Her condition was diagnosed early, allowing her to manage it with medication, but her late brother, diagnosed at an advanced stage, faced severe complications during dialysis.
Reflecting on her family’s ordeal, McDermott shared how her brother’s passing motivated her to investigate whether their condition was genetic, only to learn it was linked to drug abuse rather than heredity.
“When my brother passed away, I ran to my cardiologist… We had to trace the kidney disease, and we learned it was from drug abuse,” she revealed.
McDermott’s story highlights the risks of relying on medication without proper guidance and serves as a reminder that “the same way [medication] can cure, the same way it causes damage if used in the wrong way.”
She urged people to approach health with care, emphasizing the importance of professional guidance and long-term well-being.
