ARE YOU TAKING TOO MANY PAINKILLERS?

DO you pop a painkiller every time you have a headache?

You’re not alone. In the UK, the average adult takes 373 painkillers each year, according to a British Medical Association report.

In fact, one in 20 take at least six painkillers every time they feel ill. However, this reliance on over-thecounter tablets can have serious repercussions.

TV presenter Judy Finnigan, 70, revealed recently she needed two life-saving blood transfusions when she developed stomach ulcers after taking ibuprofen “like sweeties” to help with a painful knee injury.

Chief pharmacist at oxfordonlinepharmacy.co.uk Stuart Gale explains what you need to know about the four main painkillers you can buy over the counter without a prescription.

PILL POPPING TV presenter Judy Finnigan, above, said taking pills so often left her with stomach ulcers