Many over-the-counter ache medicines can be found, however are all of them the identical? And the way a lot must you 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 accurately, these medication could be protected and efficient for ache reduction. Meaning following the directions on the label and the recommendation of a well being care supplier.
“However that is not how we take these medicines in actual life,” says Trisha Pasricha, a doctor and teacher at Harvard Medical Faculty. Some individuals take an excessive amount of ache remedy too shortly, misdiagnose an ailment and take the mistaken drug, or unknowingly take a number of ache relievers on the similar time.
One research printed in 2018, for instance, discovered that 15% of over 1,300 survey individuals exceeded each day NSAID dosages, and most individuals did not acknowledge that every one the merchandise they have been taking have been NSAIDs.
These behaviors can result in severe unintended effects, from bloating and nausea all the best way 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 essential to get to know the painkillers in your drugs cupboard. Listed below are 10 issues they need you knew about these medication.
1. Acetaminophen is normally the higher selection for fevers, says College of California San Francisco (UCSF) medical 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 usually thought-about simpler 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 similar 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 harm, Tsourounis says. So stick to three,000 milligrams of the drug at most per day, and do not combine it with alcohol, which can be arduous on the liver.
4. NSAIDs carry dangers to the intestine and the guts. Widespread unintended effects embody abdomen ache, heartburn and bloating. You may as well expertise extra severe harm like ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding or kidney harm when 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 lift your blood stress. Each NSAID has a unique max dose, so take note of your labels.
5. Should you’re undecided 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 choice by asking about your sort of ache and persistent circumstances and by checking any potential drug interactions.
6. There is a restrict to how a lot ache NSAIDs can deal with, Pasricha says. Should you take greater than the advisable dosage or a couple of sort of NSAID directly — for instance, combining Motrin and Aleve — you are growing your threat of unintended effects with out getting any extra ache reduction. Should you really feel your over-the-counter (OTC) medication aren’t working, speak to a health care provider or pharmacist as a substitute of ignoring the warning label.
Should you’re commonly taking the identical over-the-counter ache medicines, speak to your physician about alternate options that may higher tackle your signs.
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Photograph illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR
7. Should you’re habitually reaching for a similar OTC ache remedy, speak to your well being care supplier. For instance, when you’re taking naproxen each day of your interval each month due to muscle cramps. Pasricha says that ache may sign a bigger underlying well being downside that might be higher handled with prescription remedy, life-style adjustments or each.
8. Watch out for by chance overmedicating with a mixture OTC medication. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are sometimes included in plenty of different sick-day cures, like migraine remedy, allergy drugs or all-in-one chilly and flu medicines, Twegbe says. So once you’re not feeling nicely, 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. Should you’re affected by the flu or nursing a brand new harm and want robust and regular ache reduction, switching between acetaminophen and an NSAID like ibuprofen each few hours is usually a protected and efficient approach that can assist you cope till your signs subside, Twegbe says. Simply be sure to observe advisable dosages and dosing instances for every remedy.
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 possibility 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 related reduction with out the potential unintended effects to your intestine.
There are additionally nonmedication cures, like heating pads to ease again ache or exercising in water for arthritis. Discuss to your physician about your alternate options, Pasricha says. “They could even management your ache extra reliably than simply taking drugs.”
The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visible editor is Beck Harlan. We might love to listen to from you. Depart us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or e-mail us at [email protected].
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