Show The Human Side Over the Counter Pain Relief By Connie King C Redwood Health Center hi ina i ia a typical drugstore you'll you find a multitude of the over counter OTC products for for every sort of pain Actually OTC anti matory drugs Aspirin Ibuprofen Advil or and the newer N Sodium Sodium Sodium So So- Aleve work by blocking the effects of chemicals called dins When certain dins are present you feel pain are arc excellent products for arthritis joint pain and in in- in juries The second type acetaminophen acetaminophen acetaminophen phen Tylenol or affects the pain c centers nt rs in the brain and andis is effective against pain and fever but not inflammation OTC does not mean harm harm- less As with any drug read labels and nd follow dosages Regarding the If there is an aspirin intolerance or allergy the other two OTC should be avoided This class of medications can cause a moderate amount of f upset stomp even ach ulcer ulcer so should an so one take them with food Aspirin products products prod prod- acts also thin the blood and are arenow arenow arenow now used in small daily doses to help prevent heart attacks in some patients Nevertheless less check with your health care provider before self-medicating self for this as there are precautions Bruising could result re result result re- re sult because of the blood thinning Aspirin products should not be taken by women who are pregnant pregnant pregnant preg- preg preg preg- nant or nursing nor should aspirin aspirin aspirin aspi aspi- rin be given to children under 16 years of age who have chicken chickenpox chickenpox chickenpox pox or flu symptoms because of the risk of Reyes Reye's syndrome Acetaminophen is good for aches pain and fever does not in interfere interfere interfere in- in with blood clotting and is isa isa isa a good aspirin substitute for women who are nursing or pregnant pregnant pregnant preg preg- nant for children under 16 and for people with an aspirin allergy Nevertheless Nevertheless Nevertheless Nev Nev- high dosage over along lo g peri period of t time c tp may yo damage liver and kidneys Acetaminophen is not an inflammatory anti-inflammatory product and andis is therefore not effective for arthritis pain All of the OTC pain relievers discussed in this article can be purchased in generic brands except except except ex ex- the newer Aleve leve which is held under patent by Laboratories Laboratories Laboratories Lab Lab- oratories for three years Becomes a label reader and be aware of what medication you are taking The Health Centers have Advil and Tylenol on hand if you need some while you are on campus Hours at South City Campus ampus are an 90 9 12 a.m. P pm p.m. Monday Monday Mon Mon- day through Friday and at aTRed Reff Red Redwood wood Campus Monday and Thursday 9 am a.m. 3 pm p.m. and Wednesday Tuesday 9 a.m. 1 pm p.m. Stop by if you have a question or need advice on which OTC to take |