Tens of millions of Individuals take over-the-counter ache meds, however many do not perceive how they work or the dangers concerned in taking them. We have a look at finest practices for taking non-prescription ache medication.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
If you happen to get a headache in the course of the day, what’s your first line of protection? For lots of Individuals, the reply is over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol or Advil. However let’s be trustworthy, we’re not at all times good at following the label. One 2018 examine discovered that almost 1 in 5 people who take NSAIDs – that’s, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication like Aspirin or ibuprofen – exceed the day by day advisable dose, and that would result in huge well being issues. Life Equipment’s Andee Tagle is right here to let you know what you want to find out about OTC painkillers. Good morning.
ANDEE TAGLE, BYLINE: Good morning, Ayesha.
RASCOE: We have all had that horrible headache that does not allow us to sleep, or if I’ve the slightest headache, I simply seize no matter’s within the medication cupboard. Is {that a} unhealthy thought?
TAGLE: The factor in regards to the two most important varieties of OTC painkillers – there are these NSAIDs you simply talked about, Motrin or Aleve, after which there’s acetaminophen, mostly often known as Tylenol – is that there is a restrict to how a lot ache they’ll deal with. If you happen to take greater than the advisable dosage, you are not essentially getting any extra ache aid, and also you’re growing your threat of uncomfortable side effects.
RASCOE: Yeah, that sounds type of unhealthy.
TAGLE: Oh, yeah. I talked about this with Dr. Trisha Pasricha. She’s an teacher of drugs at Harvard Medical Faculty. And as a gastroenterologist, she additionally has lots of considerations about NSAID use specificall since you do not even at all times have to misuse these meds to expertise severe uncomfortable side effects like injury to your kidneys or gastrointestinal bleeding from persistent long-term use.
TRISHA PASRICHA: You may take that applicable protected quantity not more than what’s the day by day advisable dose, and there may be injury over time, even once you do every little thing that is supposedly right. My recommendation is that at all times take the smallest quantity that you simply want for the shortest interval potential.
TAGLE: And beginning low and gradual additionally applies for acetaminophen as a result of it may be laborious in your liver.
RASCOE: So that you talked about acetaminophen and NSAIDs. These are the 2 huge choices for over-the-counter ache killers. When must you use one over the opposite?
TAGLE: So the principle distinction between the 2 is how they work in your physique to deal with ache. Acetaminophen or Tylenol is known to work by elevating your physique’s ache threshold and regulating your physique temperature, so it’s totally efficient for fevers particularly and can be used for ache aid in numerous different meds. Now, NSAIDs – model names Motrin or Aleve – work all through your physique to scale back irritation, and in contrast to acetaminophen, there are lots of differing kinds to select from.
So for instance, say you might have persistent ache from an previous damage that flares up. You would possibly attain for naproxen as a result of it has an extended launch time, which means much less drugs, longer aid all through the day. However when you have the flu, you may want faster hits of ache aid extra usually, so that you go for ibuprofen, possibly. Typically, folks discover NSAIDS simpler than acetaminophen for ache aid, however there are additionally extra potential uncomfortable side effects, particularly to your coronary heart and your intestine.
RASCOE: So Andee, is the takeaway right here simply to keep away from over-the-counter painkillers, like, altogether?
TAGLE: Completely not, Ayesha. Over-the-counter medication have been regulated and permitted by the FDA to be used by most of the people, in order that they’re protected. You do not have to be scared. You simply have to truly use as directed. That stated, Pasricha says to recollect, drugs aren’t your solely ache aid choice. Many NSAIDS can be found in topical type, for instance, like gels or patches, and people can provide comparable aid with out all of the potential uncomfortable side effects.
PASRICHA: Simply discover what the opposite choices are for you that may truly even management your ache extra reliably.
TAGLE: There are additionally fully nonmedicated treatments, like chilly packs or heating pads to ease again ache or yoga for complications and stress aid.
RASCOE: Life Equipment’s Andee Tagle, thanks a lot for becoming a member of us.
TAGLE: I hope it is useful.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “EVERYBODY HURTS”)
R E M: All people hurts generally.
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