NSAIDs can get nasty

Ben Affleck, Lisa Kudrow and Janet Jackson suffer from migraines, as do 39 million other Americans. Tension headaches will afflict probably everyone at one time or another. Add to that the fact 100 million folks in the U.S. deal with chronic pain and it’s hardly surprising that 30 billion doses of prescription and over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and celecoxib, are consumed annually in the U.S. Only 70 million are for prescription NSAIDs; the rest are self-prescribed and taken however you (and you and you) determine.

Little wonder a new study out of Boston University School of Medicine found that many adult ibuprofen users make healththreatening mistakes when taking those meds. Fifteen per cent took more than the maximum recommended dose in a one-week period.

Overdoses also occurred from: (1) taking too much daily; (2) taking two different NSAIDs at the same time; or (3) failing to wait long enough between doses.

The bottom line: never use an NSAID for pain for more than 10 days without talking with a doctor. And drink at least eight ounces of water per pill. Misuse increases the inherent risks of NSAIDs, which include gastrointestinal distress, internal bleeding and ulcers, as well as an increased chance of high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.

So for acute pain, follow NSAID use instructions carefully. For chronic pain, work with your doctor to develop a pain-management program, including physical and cognitive therapy, meditation and the safe use of pain-relieving technology and medications, both OTC and Rx.