Use over-the-counter pain relievers safely

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband suffers from systemic pain, sometimes worse than others. He has been resistant to taking over-the-counter pain medication because he thinks it upsets his intestinal tract. He has been taking two glucosamine tablets each morning for quite a while, but doesn’t think it is effective. After reading your advice to take ibuprofen for its anti-inflammatory effect, I persuaded him to take one Advil a day. He has been doing this for a week and feels less pain. Is it safe to take one Advil indefinitely? Should he switch between Advil, Aleve, etc.? Would it be safe to take two Advil to see if it relieves pain better? — K.S.

Ibuprofen (Advil and many others) and naproxen (Aleve and others) are over-thecounter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. They are the most commonly used medication for mild or moderate pain from osteoarthritis. They are reasonably effective, though some people respond better than others.

The low dose your husband is taking makes the likelihood of side effects very small, and it can be taken safely by most people. Among the possible side effects of ibuprofen are stomach upset, stomach ulcers, diarrhea and kidney damage, but again, those risks are very low when staying below the recommended dose. People taking other medications that can cause bleeding issues — such as aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix) — are at a higher risk.

In your husband’s case, two or three tablets a day is likely to have a greater benefit.

It is not recommended to switch among different NSAID drugs, as that increases toxicity without increasing effectiveness. He should pick the one that works best for him and stick with it. One advantage to naproxen (Aleve) is that its effects may last longer.

I don’t recommend more than one or two of the 220 mg OTC tablets once or twice daily.