A report found that a huge number of Americans might be overdosing on over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers by ignoring the suggested dosage on the labels. This could lead to severe health conditions including seizures and coma.
The study found that 43 percent of people suffering from chronic pain believe that the labels on the OTC painkillers are simply "guidelines." The same group admitted that they have knowingly taken more than the recommended dosage at some time.
The OTC painkillers include acetaminophen, aspirin, naproxen sodium and ibuprofen. Health experts said overdosing on OTC painkillers can result in stomach and intestinal damage as well as kidney and liver problems.
"People think if they can buy something at the drug store it's safe and can't hurt them. But it's not true that OTC equals safety," said Dr. C. Mel Wilcox, a professor of medicine at the University of Alabama and report co-author.
The study surveyed both gastroenterologists and consumers. Below are the new study's major discoveries:
• Chronic pain is a big issue admitted by 44 percent of consumers who participated in the survey. About 27 percent reported back pain issues while 17 percent pointed to knee pain.
• Among the consumers who reported chronic pain, 66 percent had been suffering from it for more than two years or longer.
• Among the people with chronic pain who reported taking OTC painkillers in the past year, about 79 percent said they had simultaneously taken a multi-symptom OTC drug for cold, allergy or flu. This could have resulted in painkiller overdose.
• Among the participants with chronic pain, 27 percent said they are prepared to take a dosage above the recommended one. This is because they falsely believe that it will help ease their symptoms faster.
• The gastroenterologists surveyed in the study said they've addressed patients who experienced OTC painkiller-related complications. About 73 percent of the patients tell them they wanted to get better faster while 45 percent believes getting relief from their symptoms entails taking more than the suggested dosage.
According to University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy's Scott Drab, there are often warning signs when patients take too much OTC painkillers.
The early symptoms of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) overdose can be in the form of stomach pain, heartburn and vomiting. These could progress to blood in the stool, bloody vomit, blurred vision, breathing difficulty and ringing in the ears. The worst cases could lead to confusion, coma and seizures.
Acetaminophen overdose symptoms in the first 24 hours could include stomach pain, vomiting, nausea and appetite loss. Acetaminophen meds don't usually upset the stomach so these gastrointestinal symptoms should be taken as warning signs. Symptoms of liver toxicity may occur, such as:
• Pain in the upper right side, where the liver is located
• Darker-colored urine
• Less urination than normal
• A yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin
These symptoms could eventually lead to blood in the urine, breathing troubles, general weakness, fatigue and blurred vision. The worst-case scenario also includes confusion and coma.
"Many patients have exceeded the recommended dose for years without experiencing harm," added Wilcox. "But it takes only one overdose for complications to occur and for that patient to end up in the hospital."
