Taking Pain Medications Safely
Posted on September 13, 2017
Taking pain medication to help manage pain is common. However, as the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be bad. To help keep you safe when you take over-the-counter pain medication, we asked nurses from one of Health New England’s trusted partners, Matrix Medical Network, for some tips. These tips are often shared with members during Matrix in-home health visits as part of a medication review.
It is very common for prescription pain medications to have Tylenol in them. It might not always be called “Tylenol” in the ingredients list because that is a brand name. The active ingredient may be called acetaminophen. Too much Tylenol or acetaminophen at certain doses may harm the liver over time. If you are taking a prescription pain medication, call your doctor before taking any additional over-the-counter pain medication.
Take your prescribed medications on time and only the recommended dose. This applies to over-the-counter medications as well. If you are feeling better before the directions say to stop, finish the cycle anyway. You will feel better longer. If the recommended pain medication dose isn’t helping you feel comfortable, call your doctor.
Some over-the-counter pain medications are not recommended for use if you are taking blood thinning medication. Contact your doctor to discuss what over-the-counter medications are safe to take while you are on a blood thinner. With these three tips in mind, you will take medications safely and feel your best.
About Matrix Medical Network:
Matrix Medical Network nurse practitioners conduct in-home health visits with Medicare members across the nation. Visits are one-on-one time with a health care professional in the comfort of home. For more information about a Matrix in-home health visit, simply go to MatrixForMe.com.
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