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

Episode Date: May 18, 2026

Ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin — there are many over-the-counter pain medications available, but are they all the same? And how much should you really take? In this episode, pharmacists and a doctor cover your drug options, including side effects, dosage and what to reach for the next time you have a headache or fever. This episode was originally published on March 31, 2025.Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekitSign up for our newsletter here.Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? Email us at [e-mail] the show and listen to it sponsor-free by signing up for Life Kit+ at plus.npr.org/lifekitSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

You're listening to Life Kit from NPR. Hey everybody, it's Mariel. 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. Pain killers, 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. Trisha Pesricha is an instructor at Harvard Medical School, And she says we need to consider that when we're thinking about taking painkillers.

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 doctor 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 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 Teagle has been looking into how we use.

over-the-counter drugs. And in this episode, we're going to talk specifically about painkillers like acetaminafin and ensigns, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ibuprofen, naproxin, aspirin, and the like. These are some of the most commonly used over-the-counter medications. Andy talked to Dr. Pesricha and to two pharmacists, including Blama Twagby 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 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-countermed. So it's really to your benefit to ask a pharmacist about what you should use. 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. Okay, to start, I've always wondered, why are some meds available over the counter while others require a prescription? 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, 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 informed. 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. Yeah, Mariel, just because an over-the-counter med is deemed safe doesn't mean they can't still be harmful.

So Dr. Trisha Pusricha, she's the physician we heard at the top, and she's also done a lot of research in neuro-gastroenterology, 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. There was a study in 2018, which I cite often, which is which on that more than a third of over-the-counter ibuprofen users were taking other insets like aspirin. and an approximate at the same time, and most of those people didn't realize all the products they were taking were inseds in the first place. 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, Pesricha mentioned patients of hers who suffer from heartburn. So they would take

proton pump inhibitors like Prylasek and would reach for that medication right before bed. 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're taking it 30 minutes before your meal. Sometimes 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, you know, 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 health care providers say this is what I've been trying could help clear that right up. Yeah, so who can we talk to about over-the-counter

drugs and how to use them if we're not sure? Yeah, good news on that front, Mariel. 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 B, 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. All right, let's get into some of the specifics. One commonly used over-the-counter painkiller is acetaminopin, also known by the brand name Tylenol, and it's used for fevers and body pain. So, yeah, the experts we talk to would agree that's the go-to reason, and

they would also recommend reaching for acetamin first, because generally speaking, it's gentler on the body than ensigns and the safer choice overall, with some caveats. Yeah, 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. Yeah, that's exactly right. So it's called acetaminopin toxicity. And according to recent data, it's one of the most common causes of liver transplantation in the U.S. 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. This is Candiceurinus. 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. Okay, so what is the recommended dosage for acetaminopin to keep your liver safe. 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 Pesricha says the thing about acetaminopin toxicity is it's often an acute presentation, meaning the damage hits hard and fast. 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. So clearly that's something you want to avoid. So Serruna says there's no magic number here, but if you have any preexisting liver condition, liver disease, best to avoid acetaminopin. And then more generally, if you're not, if you're not going to be able to you.

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. The moral of the story is if you're a regular drinker of alcohol that you might want to avoid using acetaminopin as your primary pain reliever. But again, I always would recommend that people talk to their pharmacist or their doctor about the details. Any other drug interactions we should know about with acetaminopin? 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 acetaminopin.

But of course, talk to your doctor, talk to pharmacists if you have concerns. All right. Another commonly used over-the-counter pain killer is the N-SED, which stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. I'm assuming these work by lowering inflammation in the body. 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. Acidaminopin, 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 or pharmacist will often steer you in one clear direction for fever, but for pain, it's not so clear 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 my back hurts. It's hard to know sometimes exactly what's driving it. Maybe musculoskeletal injury, it may not be. Pain often has an inflammatory component to it,

in which case people often find that ensets are just much more efficacious for pain than acetamepin. And then it's also confusing when you're walking through the medicine aisle, right? Because with acetaminopin, there's just the one drug, but there are lots of different types of insides. 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? Yeah. So let's compare just two of the most popular well-known ensigns. Ibuprofen, brand names like Advil or Motrin, and naproxin, brand name Aleve. Naproxin, or Aleve, is longer lasting. So you only have to take it every 8 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, you're a few people, people find that naproxin makes them drowsy, so you have to make sure that's a side effect that you can plan for. Ibrofen, on the other hand, doesn't last as long. 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 endsaid might make more sense for you. Okay. Also, it seems safe over the counter for the 12 and younger crowd, while naproxin 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. Okay, and what are the risks of taking nseds? Yeah, so, you know, a lot of people will choose nsets over acetaminopin because they find them more effective. The thing about that is, they can also be riskier. So with a lot of inseds, 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 ensigns 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 Peserisha 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 Ns 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. 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. Okay. And are there any drug interactions we should know about when it comes to Ns? Yeah, there are a few more than acetaminopin. 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 corticesteroids, those are all conditions in which experts say to reach for acetaminopin instead of insets. We'll have more life kit after the break. What about switching between different pain relievers, like when you have the flu or something? Is that okay? Short answer, this is okay for both kids and adults, both Twigby, the pharmacist from UCSF and Dr. Posricha signed off on alternating between acetaminopin and ensed 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, Peserichia 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? Peserichia says you still want to follow the guidelines on the back of the insid box, but if needed, it's okay to supplement with acetaminin about halfway through. So let's say you take some Advil for aches and pains and fever at about noon. You're trying to hold off until 6 p.m. until your next dose, but at 3 p.m. your fever spikes, it's okay to take a dose of Tylenol. And is the idea here that you just want to limit your use of enseds as much as possible? Yeah, that's definitely part of it.

But there's also been some recent research that alternating between acetaminopinin and ibuprofen, is a really effective pain relief method, especially for acute pain. 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? Mariel, 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 Piss Riech 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. Are you somebody who, you know, you take a daily aspirin every day anyway because of your heart health? Think about that when you're grabbing an acedrine and you have a headache. Are you already on a blood thinner? And now you're grabbing one or two more nseds. You're putting yourself at a much higher risk than somebody who doesn't take a blood thinner. It's, 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. And the other tip she had here about Nseds was to be aware of your timing. Sometimes people want to hold out on a headache or menstrual cramps. They want to, you know, write it out, go the stoic route. But she says sometimes it makes more sense to take a small dose when you start to feel the pain. As opposed to now you're, you know, you've let two or three hours go by, got the

raging headache. Then the medicine has like a lot more catch-up work to do. 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 early it, well, let me just try one more dose. That doesn't work too. And then suddenly you end up taking more medicine than if you would just take 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. Yeah, that also sounds like it could be dangerous. You're absolutely right. You know, Mariel, 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 Pesricha 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 Ensets have a ceiling effect. 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. So she says she's seen patients come into the emergency room bleeding from an ulcer because they took too much pain medication. And probably whatever was causing the problem in the first place, you know, wasn't going

to respond fully to, you know, inseds in general. Like 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. 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 Pusritsha here. 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? 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. Yeah, Mariel, 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 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 insides available over the counter in cream, gel, or patch form. So you can pick up ibuprofen as a cream, for example. Surunus mentioned dichlofenac, popular for arthritis pain, and Pusricha mentioned capstan, 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, Pusrucha is a big fan of avoiding oral insides where you can and says topical. Nseds can be really effective for pain relief. I think sometimes people just don't think to try it because it's like way less common, but it's all there sitting in the drugstore for you. 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. Yes, I am very guilty of this.

I have done it a lot. Twugby says, don't do it. Stop doing it. The active ingredient starts to degrade once, you know, 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 know, you're throwing it into the toilet and damaging, you know, 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. So what Twugby says here is if this 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. It 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, Mariel, I'll be honest, I would just toss old pills in the trash. Yeah, me too. 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 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 takeback location or you can mail them using prepaid drug mailback envelopes. All right, Andy, thank you for looking into this. Thanks, Mariel. 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, acetaminopin works well for fevers, but you should steer clear of it if you've been drinking alcohol. An insides 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 Life Kit Plus to support our work at NPR

and get curated playlists on popular life kit topics. Start listening today at plus.npr.org slash life kit. This episode of LifeKit was produced by Claire Marie Schneider. Our digital editor is Malika Garib. Our visuals editor is C.J. Rikelon. Megan Kane is our senior supervising editor, and Beth Donovan is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Margaret Serrino and Sylvie Douglas. Engineering support comes from Quasi Lee.

I'm Mary El Segarra. Thanks for listening.