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, folks usually attain for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs) as their first line of protection.
Used appropriately, these medicine could be secure 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 folks take an excessive amount of ache medicine too shortly, misdiagnose an ailment and take the mistaken drug, or unknowingly take a number of ache relievers on the identical time.
One examine printed in 2018, for instance, discovered that 15% of over 1,300 survey members exceeded day by day NSAID dosages, and most members did not acknowledge that every one the merchandise they had been taking had been NSAIDs.
These behaviors can result in critical unwanted side 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 necessary to get to know the painkillers in your medication cupboard. Listed here are 10 issues they need you knew about these medicine.
1. Acetaminophen is often the higher alternative for feverssays College of California San Francisco (UCSF) scientific pharmacist Sweet Tsourounis. Generally often called Tylenol, it is thought to cut 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 more practical than acetaminophen for ache reductionTsourounis says, particularly for inflammatory ache like muscle aches. Whereas acetaminophen is assumed to work solely on the central nervous system, NSAIDs reminiscent of aspirin, ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (like Aleve) work all through the physique to cut back irritation, ache and fever.
3. Taking an excessive amount of acetaminophen at one time or too many doses shut collectively may cause liver harmTsourounis 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 center. Frequent unwanted side effects embody abdomen ache, heartburn and bloating. You may also expertise extra critical harm like ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding or kidney harm 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 lift your blood strain. Each NSAID has a distinct max dose, so take note of your labels.
5. For those who’re unsure which painkiller to make use of or how a lot to take, speak to a pharmacistsays 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 determination 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 withPasricha says. For those who take greater than the really useful dosage or multiple sort of NSAID without delay — for instance, combining Motrin and Aleve — you are growing your danger of unwanted side effects with out getting any further ache reduction. For those who really feel your over-the-counter (OTC) medicine aren’t working, speak to a physician or pharmacist as a substitute of ignoring the warning label.
For those who’re recurrently taking the identical over-the-counter ache medicines, speak to your physician about options that may higher deal with your signs.
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Photograph illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR
7. For those who’re habitually reaching for a similar OTC ache medicine, 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 downside that could possibly be higher handled with prescription medicine, way of life modifications or each.
8. Watch out for by accident overmedicating with a mix OTC medicine. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are sometimes included in a whole lot of different sick-day treatments, like migraine medicine, allergy capsules 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 prime of these cold-relief meds.
Alternating between acetaminophen and an NSAID like ibuprofen could be secure 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 cut back unwanted side effects. For those who’re affected by the flu or nursing a brand new harm and wish robust and regular ache reduction, switching between acetaminophen and an NSAID like ibuprofen each few hours is usually a secure and efficient approach that will help you cope till your signs subside, Twegbe says. Simply be sure to comply with really useful dosages and dosing instances for every medicine.
10. Suppose past capsules.As a result of over-the-counter ache relievers are so available, folks usually neglect that capsules 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 may provide related reduction with out the potential unwanted side 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 options, Pasricha says. “They may 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 electronic mail us at LifeKit@npr.org.
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