Are you taking
It’s all too easy to pop a pill every time you feel unwell, but over-the-counter medications can cause serious side effects, says MICHELE O’CONNOR
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, with one in 20 taking at least six every time they feel ill. But this reliance on over-the-counter tablets can have serious repercussions.
Daily Express columnist and TV presenter Judy Finnigan, 70, revealed recently she needed two lifesaving blood transfusions after developing four stomach ulcers after taking ibuprofen “like sweeties” to help with a painful knee injury. Here, Stuart Gale, chief pharmacist at oxfordonlinepharmacy.co.uk tells you all you need to know about the four main painkillers available without prescription.
This non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) works by targeting and reducing the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals responsible for inflammation, pain and fever.
Nurofen, Cuprofen, Anadin Ibuprofen.
No more than two 200mg tablets every four to six hours. A maximum of six 200mg tablets – 1,200mg – in a 24-hour period.
Brands: Dose: PROS
● Particularly good for sport injuries and inflamed joints.
● It works quite quickly.
● Comes as tablets, capsules, gel or cream, sprays and liquid (for children).
CONS
● Can damage the stomach and gastrointestinal tract if taken in high doses, especially in the over-50s.
● Prolonged and heavy use can lead to blood pressure and kidney problems. Can cause asthma attacks.
● Can interact with some antidepressants, beta blockers and diuretics.
● Needs to be taken with or after food to avoid gastric irritation.
TOP TIPS
If you take it regularly, speak to your GP about also taking a PPI medicine such as omeprazole to protect the stomach. Studies have confirmed that NSAID creams and gels can be just as effective as tablets, without the gastric side effects.