Comparison of various OTC products: pain relievers

The first one that was requested was comparison of the pain relievers and when to use them. If you have any other ones that you want me to do, please let me know!  I've been using this off of a textbook as I was taught.  Please refer to your primary care provider for any further questions that you may have.

Acetaminophen (APAP)-Tylenol

• To take this medication, follow dosing as directed on the box.  
• Children dosing
• Do not give this product to a child that's less than 2 years old
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• Dosing chart for a child, follow the weight over the age!
• give to child every 4-6 hours as needed
• Do not use more than 5 doses in a 24 hour period
• If you child has been having pain for over 5 days or been having fever for over 3 days, please contact your primary care provider
• Max dose: new label is stating 3250 mg so follow that over the previous label of 4000 mg to ensure that you don't overdose.
• once you intake more than this amount, liver damage is likely
• some symptoms that you might experience if you take too much, if you are experiencing it, immediately call your primary care provider
• nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, abdominal pain
• What is it good for? Headache, Arthritis, soothe sore throats (used in theraflu), fever reducer
• Do not have more than 3 alcoholic drinks while taking Tylenol
• Be cautious as there are A LOT of cough/cold/flu products that contain acetaminophen in there!
• Contact primary care provider if you start noticing allergy symptoms (i.e. rash, swelling, etc.)
• Example products that contain acetaminophen that you wouldn't expect
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Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)

• Follow directions on the box for dosing in adults 
• Max dose: 1200 mg 
• Children dosing
• Motrin:
• Advil: 
• like Tylenol, follow the weight over the age
• Do not use in children less than 6 months of age
• Give every 6-8 hours as needed
• Do not use more than 4 doses in 24 hour period
• Taking food in both children and adults will help with the stomach upset
• What is it good for? In adults, better fever reducer; menstrual cramps; helps soothe sore throats (I haven't seen much syrups using ibuprofen in it); sinusitis, backache, muscle soreness, earache, toothache, better for hangovers (doesn't interact with the liver like acetaminophen does)
• Do not have more than 3 alcoholic drinks while taking ibuprofen
• Side effects: indigestion, heartburn, nausea, anorexia, pain in below the rib in the upper abdomen, stomach ulceration, stomach perforation, stomach bleeding
• Ibuprofen does decrease the efficacy of aspirin, so take acetaminophen if you need to take aspirin
• Contact primary contact provider if you are taking taking this for more than a couple of days, starting to notice symptoms of an allergic reaction (rash, hives, etc), or experiencing anything abnormal while taking this medication.

Naproxen (Aleve)

Follow directions on the box for dosing in adults

Max dose: 660 mg per 24 hour period

In the same class as ibuprofen, so do not take both at the SAME TIME

Recommended in patients greater than 12 years old

Since it's in the same class as ibuprofen, refer to that as to what it's good for and the side effects

Aspirin

• Do not use under the age of 18
• reason is because of Reye's syndrome
• Do not take more than 4000 milligrams per day
• Increase bleeding risk
• 81 mg chewable tablets are used as an antiplatelet therapy
• If you are on this therapy, please talk to your primary care provider about using other pain relievers while taking this medication
• Side effects: indigestion, heartburn, nausea, anorexia, pain in below the rib in the upper abdomen, gastritis, stomach ulceration

How to measure liquids

• Do no use household measuring devices (incorrectly measures the medicine)
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• Correct measuring devices (if you don't have one, you can always ask your pharmacy, or any pharmacy, for one)
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Reources
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self-Care, 18th Edition