Taking over the counter pain relievers safely

For aching joints or a throbbing head, millions of Americans turn to aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) every day. They are generally safe, but if not used carefully NSAIDs can have a dark side, according to the September 2013 Harvard Women's Health Watch. NSAIDs are widely used because they perform double duty. “They not only relieve pain, but they reduce inflammation too,” says Dr. Lucy Chen, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and attending physician in the anesthesia, critical care, and pain medicine department at Massachusetts General Hospital. NSAIDs work by blocking the production of chemicals in the body that contribute to pain and inflammation. Yet like all medications, NSAIDs have side effects and NSAIDs may not be right for everyone. Because many women take NSAIDs daily for months or years to relieve chronic pain (such as arthritis and low back pain), they can have side effects. These include upset stomach, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney damage. Chronic use of NSAIDs can also increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. For most women, the occasional ibuprofen or naproxen tablet shouldn’t cause problems. But women who take them for longer periods of time should talk to their doctor. “Usually we don’t recommend that patients take an NSAID long-term,” says Dr. Chen. Doctors recommend taking NSAIDs at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest du...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news