Tuesday, February 24, 2009
If not used properly, pain meds can do more harm than good
Use of over-the-counter pain medication is at an all-time high. One look at the headlines and it is little wonder why 36 million Americans reach for a quick fix for their aches and pains daily.
Sixty four percent of Americans feel there is no reason to be concerned when using over the counter medications, according to a study done by the National Consumer’s League. Yet 103,000 people will be hospitalized and 16,500 will die this year in the U.S. from adverse reactions to these very drugs. Clearly there is reason for concern.
By far the biggest culprit is failure to read and follow the label directions. When it comes to medications, the poison is in the dose. Most over-the-counter drugs are safe and work quite well if we follow the directions.
Consumers must also know and understand their own health history and any potential threats a particular drug may pose to them.
For instance, most people know that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, should not be taken by anyone with a history of liver problems. But did you know you should not take Ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Motrin, if you have suffered a stroke or have a history of blood clotting disorders? While we are talking about blood clotting, many people do not realize that the herb Gingko Biloba, promoted in this country as a means for increasing memory, causes thinning of the blood and so should never be mixed with aspirin or prescription blood thinners such as Coumadin.
There is also a wide variety of “combination drugs” targeted at an array of illnesses such as a cold or the flu. It is important to read the label to know what drugs you are ingesting to prevent an overdose. For example, an adult dose of Nyquil taken with two extra strength Tylenols would give you double the adult recommended dose of acetaminophen, and half the total amount allowed in a 24-hour period – all at one time.
Another potential problem with self medication without your doctor’s input is rebound headaches. Over-the-counter pain medications are intended for occasional use for mild to moderate pain.
But when you repeatedly take a pain medication over a prolonged period it can be a problem. The area in your brain that helps regulate the flow of pain messages stops being effective, and you may end up with an even bigger headache than the one you were originally trying to get rid of.
This creates a vicious cycle where you now take more medication, the headache returns even stronger, you repeat the dose, etc…. This situation requires a physician’s help to break the cycle that could have been avoided by simply following the directions.
The moral of the story is: Just because you can obtain a drug without a prescription does not mean that there are not potential serious side effects.
Discuss all medications you plan to take – including over-the-counter or herbal – with your health-care provider. By being informed consumers we can safely, and more effectively, keep our aches and pains in check.
Cindy Arpin, is a registered nurse and Stroke Coordinator at The William W. Backus Hospital. This advice should not replace the advice from your physician. Email Ms. Arpin and all the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org or comment on their blog at healthydocs.blogspot.com.
Sixty four percent of Americans feel there is no reason to be concerned when using over the counter medications, according to a study done by the National Consumer’s League. Yet 103,000 people will be hospitalized and 16,500 will die this year in the U.S. from adverse reactions to these very drugs. Clearly there is reason for concern.
By far the biggest culprit is failure to read and follow the label directions. When it comes to medications, the poison is in the dose. Most over-the-counter drugs are safe and work quite well if we follow the directions.
Consumers must also know and understand their own health history and any potential threats a particular drug may pose to them.
For instance, most people know that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, should not be taken by anyone with a history of liver problems. But did you know you should not take Ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Motrin, if you have suffered a stroke or have a history of blood clotting disorders? While we are talking about blood clotting, many people do not realize that the herb Gingko Biloba, promoted in this country as a means for increasing memory, causes thinning of the blood and so should never be mixed with aspirin or prescription blood thinners such as Coumadin.
There is also a wide variety of “combination drugs” targeted at an array of illnesses such as a cold or the flu. It is important to read the label to know what drugs you are ingesting to prevent an overdose. For example, an adult dose of Nyquil taken with two extra strength Tylenols would give you double the adult recommended dose of acetaminophen, and half the total amount allowed in a 24-hour period – all at one time.
Another potential problem with self medication without your doctor’s input is rebound headaches. Over-the-counter pain medications are intended for occasional use for mild to moderate pain.
But when you repeatedly take a pain medication over a prolonged period it can be a problem. The area in your brain that helps regulate the flow of pain messages stops being effective, and you may end up with an even bigger headache than the one you were originally trying to get rid of.
This creates a vicious cycle where you now take more medication, the headache returns even stronger, you repeat the dose, etc…. This situation requires a physician’s help to break the cycle that could have been avoided by simply following the directions.
The moral of the story is: Just because you can obtain a drug without a prescription does not mean that there are not potential serious side effects.
Discuss all medications you plan to take – including over-the-counter or herbal – with your health-care provider. By being informed consumers we can safely, and more effectively, keep our aches and pains in check.
Cindy Arpin, is a registered nurse and Stroke Coordinator at The William W. Backus Hospital. This advice should not replace the advice from your physician. Email Ms. Arpin and all the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org or comment on their blog at healthydocs.blogspot.com.
# posted by ----------------- @ 9:47 AM 
