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In pain?...KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!Sep 01 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line OTC medications can be a beneficial ally when you are ailing. However, educating yourself is your best protection.
Pain is the body's way of getting your attention. Sometimes your body is simply telling you to eat, rest, or slow down. However, severe pain CAN be a symptom of a serious illness or injury and needs to be reported to your physician IMMEDIATELY! Pain is caused by a variety of reactions in your body. For example, your pain may be caused by swelling associated with arthritis, inflammation causing a sore throat, obstruction caused by kidney stones, or as a result of injuries from fractures, strains, or sprains. The purpose of this review is NOT to educate readers of what pain may indicate. Rather, the intention is to inform you of what the differences are among the variety of OTC pain relievers available. Manufacturers confuse consumers by using TRADE NAMES and marketing campaigns to lure you into buying their products. Therefore it is very important that you READ THE INGREDIENTS before you buy anything. Recently, I went to a drugstore and found over a dozen medications from different companies ranging in price from $1.29 to $5.29 with one active ingredient....ACETAMINOPHEN. In other words, THEY WERE ALL THE SAME THING! There are countless medications on the market. However, they can be broken down into 4 basic categories (excluding natural and herbal derivatives). ACETAMINOPHEN is one of the most widely used pain relievers and is commonly known as TYLENOL. Acetaminophen is an effective pain reliever and antipyretic (fever reducer). It reduces pain by blocking pain impulses and is only therapeutic in the management of mild pain. It DOES NOT have a significant impact reducing inflammation. Therefore, it is not the most effective choice if treating pain caused by a tissue injury (sprained ankle). It is important to note that while ACETAMINOPHEN is usually a safe drug, it does have side effects. Liver damage has been reported with ACETAMINOPHEN usage, especially if the consumer drinks alcohol, takes other medications, or exceeds the recommended dosage. Finally, if you have the flu or other symptoms like cough and congestion, you may be taking multiple OTC medications. It is IMPERATIVE that you read the labels of EVERYTHING you are taking because ACETAMINOPHEN is added to MANY OTC remedies and you could be taking excessive amounts without realizing it. ASPIRIN, also known as ANACIN or EXCEDRIN, is another drug used to treat pain and fever. It works by blocking prostaglandin synthesis which decreases swelling and may even lower the pain threshold. It is very beneficial in the treatment of both pain and reducing fever. However, it has many side effects as well. ASPIRIN interacts with MANY other medications which can increase the risk of bleeding, reduce or increase the effectiveness of other medications, and cause stomach upset. In addition, it should not be given to children or teens with chicken pox and other flu-like illnesses due to Reye's Syndrome which can be fatal. Aspirin also thins the blood. While that can be a positive thing by reducing the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and hyper-clotting of the blood, it can also be a negative result causing bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and excessive bleeding if you cut yourself. Finally, keep ASPIRIN (and all medications)out of reach of children. Aspirin is one of the leading causes of poisoning in children. The third pain reliever is IBUPROFEN, most commonly identified as MOTRIN. It is listed as a NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory).It works by producing anti-inflammatory , analgesic, and antipyretic effects by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. It is used to treat mild to moderate pain. It is one of the best choices to treat arthritis and soft tissue pain. Side effects from IBUPROFEN range from stomach upset to sun sensitivity to dizziness. The biggest negative effect for most people is stomach upset, which can be helped by taking the medication with food and milk. IBUPROFEN can also cause gastrointestinal bleeding so it is important to monitor your GI function when taking this or ANY drug. In addition, like other drugs, IBUPROFEN interacts with many OTC and prescription drugs. Many people who are sensitive to ASPIRIN and other NSAIDS are also sensitive to IBUPROFEN. Finally, NAPROXEN SODIUM or ALEVE is another OTC pain reliever. It decreases pain by the same method that IBUPROFEN works. It is effective in the management of mild to moderate pain, especially arthritis, joint pain, tooth pain, cramping and back pain. An enormous benefit of this drug is that you only need to take it every 12 hours, so it is more convenient than the others which requiring dosing every 4-6 hours. However, it has the same side effects that some of the others have as well. Headache, dizziness, stomach upset, gastrointestinal bleeding, rash, and visual disturbances to name a few. NAPROXEN SODIUM also interacts with other medications and can decrease the effectiveness of your blood pressure medications and other medications. By now I am sure you have headache from all the information. It can seem overwhelming and frustrating. However, it is important that you educate yourself so you can stay healthy. Perhaps the most important issue on this topic is to CALL YOUR DOCTOR. There is no doubt that your physician is your BEST resource for meeting your healthcare needs.  |
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