Many over-the-counter ache drugs can be found, however are all of them the identical? And the way a lot do you have to actually take?
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Photograph illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR
When hit with a headache or fever, individuals usually attain for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) as their first line of protection.
Used appropriately, these medication could be protected and efficient for ache reduction. Which means following the directions on the label and the recommendation of a well being care supplier.
“However that is not how we take these drugs in actual life,” says Trisha Pasricha, a doctor and teacher at Harvard Medical College. Some individuals take an excessive amount of ache treatment too rapidly, misdiagnose an ailment and take the flawed drug, or unknowingly take a number of ache relievers on the similar time.
One examine revealed in 2018, for instance, discovered that 15% of over 1,300 survey members exceeded every day NSAID dosages, and most members did not acknowledge that every one the merchandise they have been taking have been NSAIDs.
These behaviors can result in critical unintended effects, from bloating and nausea all the way in which as much as coronary heart assault and stroke, Pasricha says.
To forestall these dangers, the well being care professionals we spoke to for this story say it is necessary to get to know the painkillers in your medication cupboard. Listed below are 10 issues they want you knew about these medication.
1. Acetaminophen is often the higher alternative for fevers, says College of California San Francisco (UCSF) scientific pharmacist Sweet Tsourounis. Generally often known as Tylenol, it is thought to scale back fever and relieve minor aches and pains by elevating your physique’s ache threshold and regulating your physique temperature. It is also gentler on the physique than NSAIDs are.
2. NSAIDs are typically thought-about more practical than acetaminophen for ache reduction, Tsourounis says, particularly for inflammatory ache like muscle aches. Whereas acetaminophen is believed to work solely on the central nervous system, NSAIDs equivalent to aspirin, ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (like Aleve) work all through the physique to scale back irritation, ache and fever.
3. Taking an excessive amount of acetaminophen at one time or too many doses shut collectively may cause liver injury, Tsourounis says. So stick to three,000 milligrams of the drug at most per day, and do not combine it with alcohol, which can also be laborious on the liver.
4. NSAIDs carry dangers to the intestine and the guts. Widespread unintended effects embrace abdomen ache, heartburn and bloating. You can even expertise extra critical injury like ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding or kidney injury in the event you take NSAIDs at too excessive a dose and even only for too lengthy a time interval, Pasricha says. And non-aspirin NSAIDs have the potential to boost your blood stress. Each NSAID has a unique max dose, so take note of your labels.
5. In the event you’re unsure which painkiller to make use of or how a lot to take, speak to a pharmacist, says Blamoh Twegbe, pharmacy supervisor at UCSF outpatient pharmacy. “Please make the most of us. That is what we’re right here for!” They can assist you make an knowledgeable resolution by asking about your sort of ache and power situations and by checking any potential drug interactions.
6. There is a restrict to how a lot ache NSAIDs can deal with, Pasricha says. In the event you take greater than the advisable dosage or multiple sort of NSAID without delay — for instance, combining Motrin and Aleve — you are rising your danger of unintended effects with out getting any extra ache reduction. In the event you really feel your over-the-counter (OTC) medication aren’t working, speak to a physician or pharmacist as an alternative of ignoring the warning label.
In the event you’re commonly taking the identical over-the-counter ache drugs, speak to your physician about alternate options that may higher handle your signs.
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Photograph illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR
7. In the event you’re habitually reaching for a similar OTC ache treatment, speak to your well being care supplier. For instance, in the event you’re taking naproxen day-after-day of your interval each month due to muscle cramps. Pasricha says that ache would possibly sign a bigger underlying well being drawback that might be higher handled with prescription treatment, life-style modifications or each.
8. Watch out for unintentionally overmedicating with a mixture OTC medication. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are sometimes included in plenty of different sick-day treatments, like migraine treatment, allergy drugs or all-in-one chilly and flu medicines, Twegbe says. So if you’re not feeling effectively, double-check your labels earlier than assuming you want a dose of Tylenol on high of these cold-relief meds.
Alternating between acetaminophen and an NSAID like ibuprofen could be protected and efficient for ache administration.
Photograph illustration by Beck Harlan/NRP
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Photograph illustration by Beck Harlan/NRP
9. Alternate between NSAIDs and acetaminophen to handle main ache and scale back unintended effects. In the event you’re affected by the flu or nursing a brand new harm and wish sturdy and regular ache reduction, switching between acetaminophen and an NSAID like ibuprofen each few hours is usually a protected and efficient approach that will help you cope till your signs subside, Twegbe says. Simply be sure that to comply with advisable dosages and dosing instances for every treatment.
10. Assume past drugs. As a result of over-the-counter ache relievers are so available, individuals usually overlook that drugs aren’t the one choice when affected by minor aches and pains, Pasricha says. Many NSAIDs and different analgesics can be found in topical type, like lotions or patches, and might supply comparable reduction with out the potential unintended effects to your intestine.
There are additionally nonmedication treatments, like heating pads to ease again ache or exercising in water for arthritis. Speak to your physician about your alternate options, Pasricha says. “They could even management your ache extra reliably than simply taking medication.”
The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visible editor is Beck Harlan. We would love to listen to from you. Depart us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or e-mail us at LifeKit@npr.org.
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