The dos and don'ts of taking over-the-counter pain medications

Summary

Life Kit (NPR) Podcast Summary
Episode: The Dos and Don'ts of Taking Over-the-Counter Pain Medications
Host: Marielle Segarra
Date: May 18, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Marielle Segarra explores the safe and effective use of over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin). Joined by Life Kit reporter Andy Taegel, pharmacists, and medical experts, the conversation focuses on helping listeners make informed choices, understand risks, and maximize both safety and relief.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. When and Why to Take OTC Painkillers

• Recognize the Nature of Your Pain:
  • Dr. Tricia Pasricha (Harvard Medical School) recommends asking yourself:
    • “Is this a one-time thing… or am I going to the drugstore all the time for pain?” (02:08)
    • Recurring pain may signal a bigger issue—consult a doctor.
• Role of OTC Medications:
  • Meant for occasional, self-diagnosable issues (e.g., headache, period cramps, minor injuries).
  • But, “Pain is there for a reason. It’s how our bodies warn us something’s wrong.” (01:19)

2. OTC Medication Safety & How They’re Approved

• Criteria for Over-the-Counter Status: (05:03)
  1. Self-diagnosable condition.
  2. Self-treatable.
  3. Low potential for misuse/abuse.
• Safety is tied to correct usage. Overuse—even with OTC meds—can be dangerous or fatal.

3. How to Use Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Safely

• Recommended Use: First-line for fevers and body pain; generally gentler than NSAIDs. (08:13)
• Risks:
  • Exceeding max daily dose (4 grams/4000mg) risks liver toxicity.
    • “It is responsible for over 56,000 ER visits, over 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths per year.” — Candy Sarones, UCSF (08:43)
  • Especially risky if combined with alcohol or if you have liver disease.
    • “If you’re a regular drinker of alcohol, you might want to avoid using acetaminophen as your primary pain reliever.” — Candy Sarones (10:24)
  • Only significant drug interaction: blood thinners like warfarin. Always check labels and with your pharmacist. (10:45)

4. Guidance on NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aspirin, etc.)

• When to Use NSAIDs:
  • Best for pain involving inflammation (e.g., sprains, muscle aches).
    • “Pain often has an inflammatory component to it…NSAIDs are much more efficacious.” — Dr. Pasricha (11:46)
• How to Choose:
  • Naproxen (Aleve): Longer-acting (8–12 hrs), max daily dose 660mg, may cause drowsiness.
  • Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin): Shorter-acting (4–6 hrs), max daily dose 1200mg (OTC), generally safe for children over 12. (13:06)
• Risks & Side Effects:
  • Can cause kidney issues, gastrointestinal ulcers, bleeding (especially with chronic use—even at recommended doses).
    • “You…stick to the exact instructions. But if you do that every single day…you have put yourself at higher risk of damage.” — Dr. Pasricha (14:21)
  • Don’t take on an empty stomach. Watch for dark stool or sharp abdominal pain—these are emergencies. (13:23)
  • Avoid if on blood thinners, heart meds, corticosteroids, or with certain health conditions. (14:42)

5. Consulting Pharmacists—Your Available Expert

• Pharmacists are a “first stop” for questions about OTC medications and interactions.
  • “We can help you make a safe choice and ask questions you may not even think about...” — Blama Twigbi, UCSF pharmacist (03:04, 08:03)

6. Alternating and Combining Pain Relievers

• Switching Between Tylenol and NSAIDs:
  • Safe for both kids and adults, but use the smallest dose, for shortest period, and never double up on the same type.
  • “If you’re not feeling better after a few days…talk to your doctor.” (16:29)
  • You can stagger doses (e.g., NSAID at noon, Tylenol at 3pm if symptoms flare before NSAID’s next window). (16:29)

7. Combination Medications—Be Careful

• “Know what’s in your medications and be careful that you’re not accidentally overmedicating…” — Dr. Pasricha (18:09)
• People on daily aspirin, blood thinners, or other meds should double-check ingredients in combo pills like Excedrin or Midol.

8. Dosing Timing: Don’t Wait Too Long

• Don’t be overly stoic—taking a small dose early can prevent the need for bigger, riskier doses later.
  • “It’s much easier to turn off the faucet than it is to plug a leak later.” — Dr. Pasricha (18:51)

9. Dangers of Overuse & ‘Ceiling Effect’

• More is not better. Exceeding recommended doses won’t increase pain relief, but does heighten risk:
  • “NSAIDs have a ceiling effect...once you’ve taken a certain amount, you’re not getting any more bang for your buck.” — Dr. Pasricha (19:50)

10. Consider Alternatives to Oral Medications

• For some conditions, start with non-pill solutions:
  • Hot/cold packs, yoga, topical NSAIDs (gels/creams), capsaicin.
  • “Topical NSAIDs can be really effective for pain relief.” — Dr. Pasricha (21:54)

11. Expired Medications: Don’t Use!

• Potency declines after expiration. Don’t risk using expired meds.
  • Bring unused/expired meds to pharmacy for safe disposal—never down the drain or in the trash if possible.
    • “In terms of over-the-counter medications that are expired, do not use them. They’re not going to help you.” — Blama Twigbi (22:25)

12. General Recap & Best Practices

• Take the smallest amount needed, for the shortest period possible.
• Acetaminophen: best for fever/body pain, avoid with alcohol or liver disease.
• NSAIDs: best for pain with inflammation, avoid with certain health conditions and if sensitive GI/kidneys.
• Always consult a pharmacist or doctor if unsure, or if pain persists/recurs.

---

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Tricia Pasricha:

  • “Is this a one-time thing or am I going to the drugstore all the time for pain?” (02:08)
  • “NSAIDs have a ceiling effect... you’re not actually getting any more bang for your buck.” (19:50)
  • “It’s much easier to turn off the faucet than it is to plug a leak later.” (18:51)

• Blama Twigbi, Pharmacist:

  • “We can help you make a safe choice and ask you questions you may not even think about.” (03:04)
  • “Do not use [expired medications]. They’re not going to help you.” (22:25)

• Candy Sarones, Clinical Pharmacy Professor:

  • “If you’re a regular drinker of alcohol, you might want to avoid using acetaminophen as your primary pain reliever.” (10:24)

• Andy Taegel, Reporter:

  • “The takeaway here, as we’ve said I feel about a million times at this point: talk to your pharmacist, talk to your doctor early and often.” (20:20)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Pain as Body’s Warning System / When to See a Doctor: 02:08–02:24
• What Makes a Medicine OTC: 05:03–05:44
• Risks of Mixing NSAIDs (Aspirin/Ibuprofen): 06:14–06:28
• How to Take Acetaminophen Safely: 08:13–10:41
• NSAID Guidance and Risks: 11:10–14:37
• Alternating Pain Relievers: 16:24–17:33
• Dosing Timing / Avoiding Overuse: 18:37–19:57
• Alternative & Topical Treatments: 20:46–21:54
• Expired Medications & Safe Disposal: 22:01–23:38
• Recap / Practical Takeaways: 23:42–25:37

---

Bottom Line Takeaways

• Use the smallest dose for the shortest possible time.
• Acetaminophen: safer for most, risky with alcohol or liver conditions.
• NSAIDs: effective for inflammation, risky long-term and for certain health conditions.
• Pharmacists are your go-to resource.
• Don’t wait until pain escalates; treat early with recommended dose.
• Never exceed recommended doses or combine meds with overlapping ingredients.
• Consider topical/non-pill alternatives when appropriate.
• Check expiration dates—discard old meds safely at a pharmacy.
• Persistent, recurrent, or unclear pain? See your doctor.

---

Transcript

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

This message comes from Kachava. It can be tough to stick to your wellness routine, especially when you're on the go. Cachava's new travel packs make it easier. Just one packet provides nutrition ready for wherever life takes you with protein, fiber, greens, probiotics, electrolytes and more. Take your daily ritual with you. Go to cachava.com and use code NPR. New customers get 15% off their first order. That's K A C H A V A.com KACH code NPR.

[Marielle Segarra]

You're listening to Life Kit from NPR. Hey, everybody, it's Marielle. For a decade plus, when I would get my period, I would have terrible cramps the first day. And I would just ride it out like I'd be doubled over, unable to leave the house, really. I tried heating pads, which do help, but for some reason I didn't think I should take a painkiller. I don't know, I guess I just thought it was safer to go natural. But then one day when I was maybe 25, I popped an ibuprofen. And then a short time later, the pain was gone. It would start to creep back up again a little later. And then I took another. And after that I was over the hump. My cramps were manageable at that point. I kind of regretted waiting that long. I went through so much unnecessary pain. Pain is a part of the human experience. We get cramps and aches and migraines. We burn our hands cooking or trip and sprain an ankle. And when you're right in the middle of one of these moments and feeling that pain deep down in your bones, painkillers, especially the over the counter kind that are easy to get, they feel like a miracle now. They are not without risks. If you take over the counter painkillers the wrong way or take too many of them, you can have serious complications or even die. And they can mask your problems, too. Pain is there for a reason. It's one of the ways our bodies warn us that something's wrong. Dr. Tricia Pasricha is an instructor at Harvard Medical School, and she says we need to consider that when we're thinking about taking painkillers.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

I think there's a question that we should ask ourselves when we have pain, which is that is this like sort of a one time thing or once in a blue type of moment that I'm having? Or am I going to the drugstore all the time for pain? And is it the same kind of pain? Because I think in my mind that really differentiates what we need to be

[Marielle Segarra]

doing about it because if this pain keeps coming up, it might be time to see a doctor, make sure everything's okay. Life Kit reporter Andy Taegel has been looking into how we use over the counter drugs. And in this episode we're going to talk specifically about painkillers like acetaminophen and NSAIDs, non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin and the like. These are some of the most commonly used over the counter medications. Andy talked to Dr. Pasricha and to two pharmacists including Blama Twigbi at UCSF's outpatient pharmacy at Mission Bay who says, yeah, talk to your pharmacist. This is their world and they have the training to help you and we

[Blama Twigbi]

can help you make a safe choice and we'll ask you questions that you may not even think about, like what other medications are you taking? Oftentimes there can be drug interactions with prescription medication and an over the counter med. So it's really to your benefit to ask a pharmacist about what you should use.

[Marielle Segarra]

Andy and I are going to talk about how to use these drugs safely, what they're each good at and what you might consider if you're looking for an alternative. That's coming up after the break.

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

This message comes from Apple Card. Apple Card members can earn unlimited daily cash back on everyday purchases wherever they shop. This means you could be earning daily cash on just about anything, like a slice of pizza or a latte from the corner coffee shop. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app to see your credit limit offer in minutes subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and

[e-mail] this message comes from ZipRecruiter. Finding great candidates to hire can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack unless you use ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter doesn't depend on candidates finding you, it finds them for you. That's why four out of five employers who post a job on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. And right now you can try ZipRecruiter for free at ZipRecruiter.com Zip that's ZipRecruiter.com

[Andy Taegel]

Zip for poor people in one of the world's fastest growing megacities, development means displacement and violence. We're homeless now. Know where to stay, nobody to sleep.

[Marielle Segarra]

On the Sunday story, the human cost of building Lagos, Nigeria into the Dubai of Africa. Listen now to the Sunday story from the up first podcast on the NPR app. Okay, to start. I've always wondered, why are some meds available over the counter while others require a prescription?

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, me too. It's a good question. So if a medicine is available over the counter, that means it's been deemed safe and effective by the FDA for most people. And if used correctly. And they have to meet three basic criteria in order for that to happen. One, you have to be able to self diagnose the problem, like I have a headache from there. Two, you have to be able to self treat that headache. And then three, there has to be a low potential for misuse and abuse. All of these medications are tested and regulated through something called a drug monograph. And what those are are kind of a recipe book which cover acceptable ingredients, doses, formulations, and labeling. These are continually updated by the FDA to make sure that the public is safe and inform.

[Marielle Segarra]

But if you use over the counter meds the wrong way, you could die, right? In some cases, they're not without risk. They can be fatal or addictive.

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, Marielle, just because an over the counter med is deemed safe doesn't mean they can't still be harmful. So Dr. Tricia Pasricha, she's the physician we heard at the top, and she's also done a lot of research in neurogastroenterology, says we all know we should take our medications as directed by the label and our medical provider. But that's just not always how it happens.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

There was a study in 2018, which I cite often, which found that more than a third of over the counter ibuprofen users were taking other NSAIDs like aspirin and apraxin at the same time. And most of those people didn't realize all the products they were taking were NSAIDs in the first place.

[Andy Taegel]

So what that means is you can easily enter this false sense of security that everything you get over the counter must be completely safe. And that's really not true. They can be safe and they can be effective, but you need to take the time to understand what it is you're treating, be confident that medication you're taking treats that thing, and be clear on the optimal way to take it. For example, Pasricha mentioned patients of hers who suffer from heartburn. So they would take proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec and would reach for that medication right before bed.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

Well, right before you go to bed is not a very helpful time to take it. It would have been much more efficacious if you'd taken it 30 minutes before your meal. Sometimes that could. That this entire instruction just gets lost in translation. And they think that, well, the proton pump inhibitor isn't working. This medication isn't working for me. I have something else going on. Or my heartburn is refractory to medication. Actually, that's not the case at all. It's just that we weren't taking the medication optimally. And sometimes having a conversation with your healthcare provider, say, this is what I've been trying, could help clear that right up.

[Marielle Segarra]

Yeah. So who can we talk to about over the counter drugs and how to use them if we're not sure?

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah. Good news on that front, Marielle, you don't have to make an appointment with your doctor. There are other trained professionals out there ready and willing to help with this exact problem. So just like we heard at the top from UCSF pharmacist Plama Twigbi, you can walk into any local pharmacy and talk to your pharmacist. When you do that, they'll need to know what chronic diseases you have, what medications you're taking, and a note that should include any vitamins or supplements.

[Marielle Segarra]

All right, let's get into some of the specifics. One, commonly used over the counter painkiller is acetaminophen, also known by the brand name Tylenol. And it's used for fevers and body pain.

[Andy Taegel]

So, yeah, the experts we talked to would agree that's the go to reason. And they would also recommend reaching for acetaminophen first because generally speaking, it's gentler on the body than NSAIDs, and the safer choice overall. With some caveats. Yeah.

[Marielle Segarra]

What are the risks if you're taking acetaminophen? This is the one I know can cause liver damage if you take more than you're supposed to.

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, that's exactly right. So it's called acetaminophen toxicity, and according to recent data, it's one of the most common causes of liver transplantation in

[Candy Sarones]

the US and it is responsible for over 56,000 emergency room visits, over 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths per year. Now, I know that sounds horrible, but when used appropriately and safely, most people don't have to worry.

[Andy Taegel]

This is Candy Sarones. She's a professor of clinical pharmacy also at ucsf. And some of her work entails educating providers and patients about the appropriate use of medicine.

[Marielle Segarra]

Okay, so what is the recommended dosage for acetaminophen to keep your liver safe?

[Andy Taegel]

The maximum dosage is no more than 4 grams or 4,000 milligrams in 24 hours. And you also want to be really careful of alcohol consumption because alcohol is also hard on your liver. So doing both increases your risk of severe liver damage. I asked our experts if they could give us any hard and fast rules around drinking and Tylenol, you know, is there a time limit maybe or within a 24 hour period, a certain number of drinks. And they said that's not really how it works. But Pasricha says the thing about acetaminophen toxicity is it's often an acute presentation, meaning the damage hits hard and fast.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

It's often because they're drinking heavily, you feel a little sick after you've had a lot to drink and then you might start to kind of lose track of how much you're self medicating at that point.

[Andy Taegel]

So clearly that's something you want to avoid. So Seruna says there's no magic number here, but if you have any pre existing liver condition, liver disease, best to avoid acetaminophen. And then more generally, if you know you've been drinking and then say you're suddenly hit with a fever or you sprain your ankle, that's probably an instance to look for other pain relief options.

[Candy Sarones]

The moral of the story is if you're a regular drinker of alcohol, that you might want to avoid using acetaminophen as your primary pain reliever. But again, I always would recommend that people talk to their pharmacist or their doctor about the details.

[Marielle Segarra]

Any other drug interactions we should know about with acetaminophen?

[Andy Taegel]

You know, alcohol is a biggie if you're on blood thinners like warfarin. That's the only other major one often mentioned. Any other prescription meds you have will likely come with a warning label saying you shouldn't take it with acetaminophen. But of course, talk to your doctor, talk to your pharmacist if you have concerns, alright?

[Marielle Segarra]

Another commonly used over the counter painkiller is the nsaid, which stands for non steroidal anti inflammatory drug. I'm assuming these work by lowering inflammation in the body.

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, exactly. So these drugs do what they sound like they do. They reduce pain by limiting your body's production of certain chemicals that cause inflammation. So you want to reach for these if you're dealing with any type of swelling, bruising, muscle aches and pains, you know, a headache, a sprained ankle, muscle soreness after a big workout. Acetaminophen, on the other hand, works differently. It's A bit of a black box, but we know it works on different pain receptors and helps reduce and regulate body temperature. That's why your doctor pharmacist will often steer you in one clear direction for fever. But for pain, it's not so clear

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

cut, depending on the kind of pain. And it can sometimes be hard to know when you're just like, well, I have a headache or, you know, my back hurts. It's hard to know sometimes exactly what's driving it. May be musculoskeletal injury, it may not be. Pain often has an inflammatory component to it, in which case people often find that NSAIDs are just much more efficacious for pain than acetaminophen.

[Marielle Segarra]

And then it's also confusing when you're walking through the medicine aisle.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

Right?

[Marielle Segarra]

Because with acetaminophen there's just the one drug, but there are lots of different types of NSAIDs. So how do you know which one to choose? Is there one that's stronger than the others or more effective for certain kinds of pain?

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah. So let's compare just two of the most popular, well known NSAIDs, ibuprofen brand names like Advil or Motrin and Naproxen brand name Aleve. Naproxen or Aleve is longer lasting, so you only have to take it every eight to 12 hours. And there's a maximum daily dose of 660 milligrams. So if you're someone who doesn't like taking pills, that might be appealing. But some people find that naproxen makes them drowsy. So you have to make sure that's a side effect that you can plan for. Ibuprofen, on the other hand, doesn't last as long as you take them every four to six hours as needed. And you can take up to 1,200 milligrams a day. So if you're looking for more regular, quicker hits of relief throughout the day, maybe you're dealing with newer pain, like from a break or a fall. This type of NSAID might make more sense for you.

[Marielle Segarra]

Okay.

[Andy Taegel]

Also, it seems safe over the counter for the 12 and younger crowd, while naproxen isn't. So any parents can take note there. Bottom line, best is relative and importantly, each medication comes with risk and potential side effects.

[Marielle Segarra]

Okay, and what are the risks of taking NSAIDs?

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, so, you know, a lot of people will choose NSAIDs over acetaminophen because they find them more effective. The thing about that is they can also be riskier. So with a lot of NSAIDs. There are potential effects on the kidneys and the GI tract, which is why it's important not to take these meds on an empty stomach. You want to give yourself some buffer. Taking NSAIDs could lead to minor uncomfortable side effects like gas, heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, up to more serious complications. Specifically, they could have an impact on the blood flow in the stomach and the small intestines that might lead to gastrointestinal ulcers or bleeding. So Pasresha says if you feel sudden, sharp, stabbing pains in your gut or if your stool is black after taking these meds, those are emergency room situations because they could be signaling some of those more serious gastrointestinal problems. And her big problem with NSAIDS is that she says sometimes even if you're following the recommended dosage and usage, you can still experience negative side effects if you take them over a longer period of time.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

There are many formulations, but you can stick to the exact instructions. But if you do that every single day and you do it chronically, even sort of going by the book, you have put yourself at higher risk of damage. And that's just because of the nature of the medication.

[Marielle Segarra]

Okay. And are there any drug interactions we should know about when it comes to NSAIDs?

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, there are a few more than acetaminophen. So if you're somebody who's taking a regular blood thinner, if you have atrial fibrillation or if you're on heart medications, also corticosteroids, those are all conditions in experts say to reach for acetaminophen instead of NSAIDs.

[Marielle Segarra]

We'll have more Life Kit after the break.

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

This message comes from Apple Card. Apple Card members can earn unlimited daily cash back on everyday purchases wherever they shop. This means you could be earning daily cash on just about anything, like a slice of pizza or a latte from the corner coffee shop. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app to see your credit limit offer in minutes. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and

[e-mail] this message comes from ZipRecruiter. Finding great candidates to hire can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Unless you use ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter doesn't depend on candidates finding you. It finds them for you. That's why four out of five employers who post a job on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. And right now, you can try ZipRecruiter for free at ZipRecruiter.com Zip that's ZipRecruiter.com Zip it can be hard to keep

[Andy Taegel]

up with all the new movies on streaming services. How do you tell the good ones worth watching from the bad, or the silly ones you can laugh along with?

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

Or at least on NPR's Pop Culture

[Andy Taegel]

Happy Hour, we're recommending some fun movies you may have missed. Listen via the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Marielle Segarra]

What about switching between different pain relievers, like when you have the flu or something? Is that okay?

[Andy Taegel]

Short answer this is okay for both kids and adults. Both Twegby, the pharmacist from UCSF, and Dr. Pasricha signed off on alternating between acetaminophen and NSAIDs, with the caveat that you should always take the smallest amount that you need for the shortest interval possible to get the job done. And if you're not feeling better after a few days, Pasricha says, certainly within three or four, Talk to your doctor. Now, if you're in a lot of pain or you're treating a flu with a high fever, what should your schedule look like? Pasricha says you still want to follow the guidelines on the back of the NSAID box, but if needed, it's okay to supplement with acetaminophen about halfway through. So let's say you take Zimadville for aches and pains and fever at about noon. You're trying to hold off until 6pm till your next dose, but at 3pm your fever spikes okay to take a dose of Tylenol.

[Marielle Segarra]

And is the idea here that you just want to limit your use of NSAIDs as much as possible?

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, that's definitely part of it. But there's also been some recent research that alternating between acetaminophen and ibuprofen is a really effective pain relief method, especially for acute pain.

[Marielle Segarra]

I'm also wondering about combination pain relief meds like Excedrin or Midol pm. Where do they fit in with this conversation? Is there anything people should keep in mind before reaching for one of these?

[Andy Taegel]

Marielle, I'm so glad you brought that up. I get migraines fairly often and if I don't take Excedrin in time, I am completely out of commission. So this was a big question for me. I asked Pasricha about this and she had a couple of tips. The first, very similar to what she said at the very top of the episode. Know what's in your medications and be very careful that you're not accidentally over Medicating yourself and also think about your specific health needs.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

Are you somebody who, you know, you take a daily aspirin every day anyway because of your heart health? Think about that. When you, when you're, you're grabbing an Excedrin and you have a headache, are you already on a blood thinner and now you're grabbing one or two more NSAIDs, you're putting yourself at a much higher risk than somebody who doesn't take a blood thinner every day anyway. So they're fine, they're good medications, they get the job done. But just try to be very, very careful that you know what is in the ingredients of everything that you're putting into your body.

[Andy Taegel]

And the other tip she had here about NSAIDs was to be aware of your timing. Sometimes people want to hold out on a headache or menstrual cramps. They want to, you know, ride it out, go the stoic route. But she says sometimes it makes more sense to take a small dose when

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

you start to feel the pain, as opposed to now. You're, you know, you've let two or three hours go by, got this raging headache, then the medicine has like a lot more catch up work to do. And then, and then I find that that's when people, they take that first dose so it doesn't work. So then, you know, half an hour later, let me just try one more dose that doesn't work too hard. They keep. And then suddenly you end up taking more medicine than if you had just taken it at the start of the problem because it's just much easier to, you know, turn off the faucet than it is to plug a leak later. And that's sort of the situation people end up in.

[Marielle Segarra]

Yeah, that also sounds like it could be dangerous.

[Andy Taegel]

You're absolutely right. You know, Marielle, when you're in a lot of pain, it can be really tempting to just throw whatever you've got at it, maybe just pop a few extra Advil. But Pasricha says that's a really bad idea because depending on how you do it and what you're trying to treat, doubling down like that not only increases your risk of experiencing side effects, but it also won't necessarily provide you any more pain relief. That's because NSAIDs have a sealing effect,

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

after which, you know, you've taken a certain amount of that medication and you're not actually getting any more bang for your buck.

[Andy Taegel]

So she says she's seen patients come into the emergency room bleeding from an ulcer because they took too much pain medication.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

And probably whatever was causing the problem in the first place, you know, wasn't going to respond fully to, you know, NSAIDs in general. Like, they, they probably hit that effect, but then they just kept going. And so all they were getting then were the side effects of the medication and they were like stopped receiving any benefit from it.

[Andy Taegel]

So, you know, the takeaway here, as we've said I feel about a million times at this point, talk to your pharmacist, talk to your doctor early and often. Make sure the pain you're feeling can and should be treated with an OTC medication. And bonus tip from Pasricha, if it does, you can always buy generic versus brand name pills because she says they will always have the same active ingredient. They have to. And they've gone through the same FDA approvals, so why not save yourself a few bucks?

[Marielle Segarra]

I guess it's worth saying here as we talk about painkillers, over the counter medication isn't the only option, right? There are things you can do that don't involve taking a pill.

[Andy Taegel]

Yeah, Marielle, you know, the thing about over the counter medication is because it's so readily available, because it's so easy to reach for, often patients just don't even consider talking about what other options might be available for their back pain, their period cramps, their, their migraines, you know, but we have other ways that we can treat ourselves first when we're in pain. If it's a migraine, maybe it's hot packs or cold packs, maybe a little yoga. And another option you might try, depending on what it is you're treating. Topical pain medication. There are many NSAIDs available over the counter in cream, gel or patch form. So you can pick up ibuprofen as a cream. For example, Saruna's mentioned diclofenac, popular for arthritis pain. And Pastricha mentioned capstaicin, which, fun fact, uses the spicy elements of chili peppers to help relieve pain. It's kind of like a fight fire with fire approach. And while some of these may cause some skin irritation to some people, overall, Pasricha is a big fan of avoiding oral NSAIDs where you can and says topical NSAIDs can be really effective for pain relief.

[Dr. Tricia Pasricha]

I think sometimes people just don't think to try it and because it's like way less common, but it's all there sitting in the drugstore for you.

[Marielle Segarra]

All right, here's a question that I think comes up a lot for folks who have over the counter meds in their cabinet. When do I have to throw them away? Because like, sometimes I'll realize I have a headache and I go to reach for the Tylenol. But then it expired last year.

[Andy Taegel]

Yes, I am very guilty of this. I have done it a lot. Twugbee says don't do it. Stop doing it.

[Blama Twigbi]

The active ingredient starts to degrade once the expiration date hits. And particularly with your expired prescription medications. You can now drop that stuff off at your local pharmacy and they'll dispose of it for you without you throwing it into the toilet and damaging the water system. But in terms of over the counter medications that are expired, do not use them. They're not going to help you.

[Andy Taegel]

So what Twegby says here is if this is something you've done before, you likely haven't harmed yourself. If you've taken a painkiller that was a few months old, just might not have been as effective as you'd want it to be. But it's still just not a good practice, not something you want to make a habit of. So check those medicine cabinets regularly. Do a sweep. Anything that's expired, take it to your local pharmacy. Before reporting this episode. Marielle, I'll be honest. I would just toss old pills in the trash.

[Marielle Segarra]

Yeah, me too.

[Andy Taegel]

But you don't want to do that for a couple of reasons. If you have any pets or small kids at home, that's a big safety risk. You wouldn't want any littles accidentally ingesting those expired meds if they somehow get into your garbage. And, and it can also be bad for the environment if those medications end up in your local landfill. So just bring them to your nearest drug take back location. Or you can mail them using prepaid drug mailback envelopes.

[Marielle Segarra]

All right, Andy, thank you for looking into this.

[Andy Taegel]

Thanks, Marielle.

[Marielle Segarra]

All right, it's time for a recap. Over the counter pain medications can be really helpful and effective, but remember, they're not without risk, so aim to take the smallest amount you need for the shortest time possible to treat your pain. In general. Acetaminophen works well for fevers, but you should steer clear of it if you've been drinking. Alcohol and NSAIDs work better for pain plus inflammation. Think about a sprained ankle, for instance. But they can be hard on the stomach, so it's best to take them with food and be aware of any possible side effects. Think about your lifestyle, chronic conditions and other medications before you reach for an over the counter medication. Like do you have a heart condition? Liver condition? Are you on a blood thinner? Understand any potential complications before you decide and don't stray from the directions on the box or bottle. Pharmacists are a great resource when you have questions about over the counter drugs. And if you find yourself continually reaching for an over the counter pain reliever, talk to your doctor. By the way, just a reminder, you can sign up for LifeKit plus to support our work at NPR and get curated playlists on popular Life Kit topics. Start Listening today at plus.NPR.org LifeKit this episode of Life Kit was produced by Claire Marie Schneider. Our digital editor is Malika Garib, our visuals editor is CJ Ricolon. Megan Cain is our senior supervising editor and Beth Donovan is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Margaret Serino and Sylvie Douglas. Engineering support comes from Kwesi Lee. I'm Mariel Segarra. Thanks for listening. We flush a lot of things down the toilet. You know, the obvious ones. But drugs like cocaine are also going down the drain and into our waterways. That's changing the animals that live in it.

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

It's definitely present in most ecosystems on Earth now, unfortunately, we're only sort of really starting to scratch the surface into understanding the potential consequences of that.

[Marielle Segarra]

Forget cocaine bear, Learn about cocaine salmon on short wave in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.