has prescribed an NSAID like naproxen, you should also avoid all non-prescription products that contain other NSAIDs like ibu - profen. To be sure you are making the right choice, ask your pharmacist for help. Caution is needed with other forms too Some pain relief medication is also sold in forms not taken by mouth, such as products that you apply on your skin or supposi- tories. Even if these products are not taken orally, the amount of ingredient they contain could be enough to cause an accidental overdose if you take them together with an oral pain relief med- ication. It is the total quantity of medication that counts, not the way you take it. Your pharmacist can help If your pain is not sufficiently relieved by the medication you have been prescribed, talk to your pharmacist before increasing the dose or taking a second medication to relieve it. Your phar - macist will analyze your situation and be able to propose a safe and effective solution. Your pharmacist is there to make sure you are using your medications correctly, for example by ensuring they do not interact and are suited to your needs. Always follow his or her recommendations, and ask questions if you have any doubts or concerns. www.guardian-ida-remedysrx.ca/en/article/acetamino- phen-anti-inflammatories-and-overdose#
How to Avoid Accidental Overdose of Common Pain Medication Your Pharmacists can help with Medication Questions Pharmacist Meagan McGill
Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications you can buy with- out a prescription at the pharmacy, whether to relieve headaches, back pain, temporary muscle aches, or menstrual cramps. They are also of- ten prescribed to relieve chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis If your doctor has prescribed a medication to relieve your chron- ic pain, you should be especially careful about using over-the- counter (OTC) medications at the same time. By doing so, you could be consuming the same active ingredient twice and get- ting a dose that’s too high, without you realizing it. and other chronic diseases. Risk of accidental overdose Every year in Canada, approximately 4,500 people are hospi - talized for mistakenly taking too much acetaminophen. When taken in high doses, acetaminophen can damage the liver, while anti-inflammatories can cause serious heart, stomach or kidney problems. Know what to look for Don’t simply rely on the name on the label (brand name) when buying over-the-counter medication as many products with dif- ferent brand names may contain the same active ingredient. Take the time to read the ingredient list or ask your pharmacist. It is also important to be very careful with cold and flu or allergy medications. “All-in-one” medications often contain acetamino - phen or an NSAID such as ibuprofen. If your doctor prescribes you an anti-inflammatory from the NSAID family, you must also be careful not to take a second over-the-counter NSAID, which may have different active ingre - dient names. Since NSAIDs all act in a similar manner, their ad - verse effects tend to be cumulative. For example, if your doctor
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