The Dangers of Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers

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What you don’t know about the risks associated with over-the-counter pain relievers can definitely hurt you.

 

Just because a product is available without prescription doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.

In fact, even people with chronic or recurring pain should be careful not to over-rely on popular, everyday pain relief products.

• More than 16,500 people die annually from these “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” (NSAIDs)
• Another 103,000 are hospitalized every year due to complications from products they probably bought at the grocery store.

The National Consumers League (NCL) finds that most Americans are under-informed on the dangers of over-the-counter pain relievers.

For example, one recent NCL survey founds that:

• 64% of those polled were unconcerned about possible side effects from NSAIDs (which include aspirin, ibuprofen and indomethacin).
• Nearly one in three had never even read the instructions on the labels of these drugs.

The result is that most consumers tend to self-diagnose and self-treat.

Unfortunately, the experts say, they can make serious mistakes in what they use to combat arthritis pain, neck and shoulder pain, upper back pain, lower back pain, shingles, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, pinched nerves, tendinitis or muscle sprain.

• These mistakes put them at risk for serious health problems.
• The consequences range from high blood pressure to stomach and intestinal bleeding, ulcers, kidney and liver problems.

Doctors at the University of California, San Diego have begun testing a new cream form of NSAID. 

They think that, because it is rubbed on the skin, it may avoid the dangers associated with oral NSAIDs. 

• Researchers asked 32 volunteers to apply the cream to aching muscles. 
• Then they measured NSAID levels in the participants’ blood and found them to be minimal.
• This finding supports the idea hat this rub-on NSAID will eventually be useful in helping patients with various chronic pain conditions.

For now, doctors encourage their patients to be cautious. 

Stick to acetaminophen-based pills (like Tylenol) or a natural relief formula like Premiere’s Herbal Pain Spray.  This remarkable pain-away spray temporarily relieves virtually every kind of common nagging pain. 

• Just spray it on the areas that hurt and enjoy hours of relief. 
• The more you spray, the stronger the relief.
• A favorite nationwide for over 15 years, Pain Spray offers instant relief that lasts 4-5 hours.