When we go to the pharmacy and purchase over-the-counter drugs without a prescription there is a certain measure of trust that we put into those products. For example, you have allergies? Pop a pick allergy pill. You have a headache? Pop some pain medication.
Over-the-counter, safe? Not necessarily…
We don’t often give it much thought, aside from the convenience of having such drugs openly available to us at all times. However, it’s just when we get into this frame of mind as consumers that things can easily slip past us and before we know it our health is at risk!
Speaking of pain medication, Ibuprofen (also known as Advil), is one such medication which has proven to have way more side-effects than it is worth. As of recent the Federal Food and Drug Administration strengthened its warning on Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAID’s that they can increase ones risk of stroke and heart attack, which of course ultimately lead to death.
This does not mean all OTC NSAID’s are bad necessarily…
Although aspirin is considered a NSAID the FDA’s warning did not extend to include that particular over-the-counter medicine. Additionally, although the FDA says that symptoms could be experienced within the first two weeks of taking the NSAID’s, that the longer someone takes it over time that the risk of experiencing these symptoms grows.
NSAID’s are typically used to treat a variety of symptoms revolving around pain from the symptoms of Osteo-arthritis and tendinitis all the way to menstrual cramps. The NSAID’s Ibuprofen and nanoproxen are contained in such products as Advil, Aleve, and Motrin for example.
“Be careful not to take more than one product that contains an NSAID at a time,” – Karen M. Mahoney, M.D., deputy director of FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Drug Products
The FDA recommends that you not take more than one NSAID at time if you must, and to be especially wary of taking multi-symptom medications as they typically contain more than one NSAID.
Where to look for NSAID’s? The label!
I know it isn’t fun for everyone to sit in the pharmacy or grocery store and to read labels all day, but ultimately when your health is at stake that is the best way to be a responsible consumer! The label detailing the risk of NSAID’s appeared in 2005, but more detailed information on stroke and heart attack risk should be arriving very soon.
Those who have experienced heart issues, a surgery, or are prone to heart issues due to old age should be very careful in their use of NSAID’s and over the counter NSAID’s. However, it’s important to note…
“There is no period of use shown to be without risk,” – Judy Racoosin, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director of FDA’s Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Addiction Products.
Therefore before you continue using your over-the-counter pain medication I urge you to slow down for a second and to consider what exactly is in your medicine, and if it’s the best decision for your overall health!
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