Editor’s note: The following is part of a class project that originally began in Professor Adam Kuban’s classroom at Ball State University in the fall of 2021. Professor Kuban continued the project this spring semester, challenging students to find sustainability efforts in the Muncie area and pitch their ideas to Ron Wilkins, interim editor of The Star Press, Journal & Courier and Palladium Items. Stories related to health care will be featured this spring.
Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or Tylenol can easily be purchased at your local drug store for under $10. No doctor’s visit is necessary.
If you take medicine the pain should go away.
As the opioid epidemic in the United States continues, over-the-counter drugs, Contains nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophenhas become a popular alternative for treating pain.
According to a survey published by Big Village, American Heart Association 2023In a survey of nearly 3,000 U.S. adults, about 50% said they take over-the-counter painkillers at least once a week, with adults ages 45 to 54 taking them most frequently, and only about 30% said they had discussed potential side effects of painkillers with their doctor.
Philip King and Lauren Chosnowski, pharmacists and internal medicine specialists at IU Health, said each time a patient is admitted to the hospital, they keep a record of the medications they’re taking.
“Almost all patients frequently take over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol or ibuprofen, but may not realize that they are actually important medications,” King said.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen
There are two main types of over-the-counter pain relievers: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (which include ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen) and acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol). Both treat pain and fever, but they work in different ways.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen, According to the University Hospitalwhich inhibit the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are involved in regulating body temperature and stimulate nerve endings that cause pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen can help relieve pain caused by swelling and inflammation. However, Acetaminophen, according to a 2023 study According to Suneil Agrawal in “StatPearls: Treasure Island,” it reduces pain by inhibiting prostaglandins and acting on the hypothalamus region of the brain, which regulates body temperature. It is also effective against arthritis and headaches.
While dosages for different drugs vary by age and weight, King and Chosnowski said they never recommend taking more than 2,400 milligrams of ibuprofen a day, or 12 tablets. For Tylenol, they said people should never take more than six to nine tablets, or 3,200 milligrams, depending on the strength of each tablet.
“Especially with the recent concerns about opioid overuse, we want to try to use the safest, most effective painkillers,” Chosnowski said.
Continuous use of ibuprofen can According to the Cleveland ClinicSide effects include diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, high blood pressure, liver toxicity, heart attack, and stroke. Ibuprofen may also interact negatively with other medications, such as other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and blood thinners.
acetaminophen overuse, According to the University HospitalIt is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States.
Alcohol may not mix well with painkillers
King said mixing alcohol and painkillers can also cause problems.
Taking Tylenol for a hangover can increase the production of toxic metabolites that can cause further damage to the liver. According to the National Cancer Institute:is a substance produced when your body breaks down food, drugs, and chemicals. It’s part of your metabolism, producing the energy and materials your body needs to grow, reproduce, and stay healthy. It also helps get rid of toxic substances. Side effects of this damage can sometimes not be seen for years.
“Just because it’s available over the counter doesn’t mean it’s not harmful,” King said.
Consider age when using painkillers
According to a study published in the journal Pediatric Medicine in 2022 by Victoria C. Ziesenitz: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most frequently used medications in pediatric patients.
“I think it’s really important that patients and parents really pay attention to finding the right formula for their child’s age,” Chosnowski says.
According to the American Heart Association, Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, 30.5% lower than other generations Before taking over-the-counter medications, ask your health care professional about alternative pain relief methods.
Coran Jefferson is a member of Gen Z, but he always checks with his doctor before taking ibuprofen.
Jefferson, a sophomore criminal justice major at Ball State University, has been taking ibuprofen since his senior year of high school. He was prescribed Percocet after experiencing pain in his ankles and shins while playing football. He took it for a short time before a doctor prescribed ibuprofen, and he’s been taking it ever since.
Jefferson takes ibuprofen twice a day, three or four times a week. Because he plays basketball throughout the week, he takes 1,600 milligrams, or eight tablets, 30 minutes before playing. He says ibuprofen relieves much of the pain from previous injuries, and other students who play basketball with him often take ibuprofen as well.
“Our bodies are not the same as they were when we were kids. So [ibuprofen] “To get through,” he said.
Jefferson started playing basketball and immediately felt pain in his shins. He was so plagued by pain in his shins that everything hurt, especially when he ran. He always started playing slowly.
“The ibuprofen really helped me in the second and third games,” Jefferson said. “It gave me energy instead of taking it away.”
Although ibuprofen was beneficial to him, he told his doctor how much he was taking and was instructed to reduce the dose.
Jefferson wasn’t listening.
He knows there can be long-term side effects, but he has seen very few of them.
The Psychology of Painkillers
People often continue to take painkillers because they fear their symptoms will return if they stop, says Ari Gleckman, a psychologist and Ball State University alumna. Over-the-counter painkillers pose a low risk of addiction, but they can have side effects if you suddenly stop taking them.
“There’s something called medication overuse headache,” King says. “If someone who takes Tylenol every day stops taking it, they may actually get a headache and feel like they have to take more Tylenol to stop the headache.”
Gleckman is president of ASA (an abbreviation of her children’s names) Concierge Psychological Services, a private mental health clinic that helps patients struggling with pain and addiction.
He primarily treats people suffering from chronic pain. According to the Cleveland ClinicIt can last longer than six months and continue even after treatment for an injury or illness.
Gleckman said he sees no reason to avoid over-the-counter painkillers as long as they are part of a treatment plan to reduce pain, not the whole of it. He said people have become less tolerant of pain because they can go to the pharmacy and find a solution.
“Humans don’t like pain,” he says. “Pain is something we try to cope with and avoid.”
