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Over-the-Counter Pain Pills & Your Gut

All medication has the potential to cause serious side effects, especially if not used as directed. These side effects can be as minor as nausea or as serious as liver toxicity or death. In this article the safety of OTC pain and fever medication is discussed.

 

T2B OTC

Many Canadians use over-the-counter (OTC) medication for aches and pains and fevers. In fact, in 2006, an IPSOS marketing survey found over 80% of Canadian adults had used an OTC pain medication in the past year. The survey participants also reported OTC pain medication misuse (e.g., taking too much, taking too often, and/or mixing with other drugs).

 

 

Over-The-Counter Pain Pills and Your Gut

 

Name of Medication

Potential Gastrointestinal (GI) Side Effects

 

Safety Recommendations for OTC Pain Medication

Ibuprofen

  • A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (e.g., Motrin® and Advil®).
  • Relieves pain, fever, and inflammation.


Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)

  • ASA is also known as Aspirin®.
  • Relieves pain, fever, and inflammation.
  • Reduces dangerous blood clot formation in small doses, helping to prevent heart disease and stroke.*

 

* Before taking a small daily dose of ASA, talk with your health care professional (HCP

 

  • Common GI side effects of NSAIDs and ASA include: indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, ulceration, and bleeding.
  • NSAIDs and ASA can also cause serious GI toxicity. GI toxicity can occur quickly or slowly, and you may or maynot show signs orhave symptoms.

 


  • Only take OTC medication if you need it.
  • Always read the medication label, follow directions, and never mix OTC pain medicines.
  • If you have had or have health problems like GI ulcers or bleeding, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, liver or kidney disease, bleeding tendencies, or anemia (low iron in the blood), talk to your pharmacist or HCP before taking OTC medicines.
  • Don’t give a child or teenager with a viral infection (e.g., a cold, a flu, or the chicken pox) ASA. This can result in Reye Syndrome, an illness which can damage the brain and liver and cause death.
  • If your child or teenager has a fever, talk to your pharmacist before giving them any OTC pain or fever medicine.
  • Don’t mix alcohol with acetaminophen. Both drugs are broken down in the liver. Mixing them can lead to serious liver damage or death.

Medication poisoning is a very common and serious risk to health.

Learn more by calling your local Poison Centre. Check out the Yellow Pages™ for their telephone number.

If you or a family member have taken too much medicine (i.e., an overdose) call 911 immediately.

 

Acetaminophen

  • A commonly taken drug(i.e., Tylenol®) that relieves pain and fever.

 

Acetaminophen is broken down in the liver. For that reason, taking too much (i.e., overdosing) can result in fatal liver poisoning. Individuals with acetaminophen poisoning may not have symptoms or show signs of liver poisoning.

 

 

Although OTC pain medication can be perceived as “safe”, overdosing on NSAIDs, ASA, or acetaminophen can result in serious illness and death. If you find yourself taking OTC pain medication too often, talk with your HCP. Educate yourself about OTC medicine, and its intended use. Make sure the OTC medication you are taking is helping you and not harming you.

 

KEY REFERENCES:

2006 Canadian Pharmacists Association. Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties. The Canadian Drug Reference for Health Professionals. Ottawa, ON.

Ipsos Reid. (February 1, 2006). Many Canadians take risks with OTC pain
medications. Retrieved January 4, 2010, from http://www.ipsos-na.com/?news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2957

 

last modified 2010-07-26