When Should You Stop Taking Over-the-Counter Medication?
- Posted on: Nov 25 2020
Most people turn to over-the-counter pain relievers and other medication at the first sign of pain. In many cases, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen is enough to deal with minor aches, pains, and inflammation. However, these over-the-counter medications are far from a cure-all, and they are not meant to manage pain long-term or even more than the very short-term. Here are signs that you need to stop taking these medications and seek medical attention for your condition or to manage your pain.
The Pain Gets Worse
If your pain continues at the same level or gets progressively worse over the course of several days, your first instinct may be to take more over-the-counter medication. However, this can be dangerous, especially if you take more than the recommended dose. Worsening pain is a sign that you have an injury that is not healing on its own or other condition that is going to require something more than temporary pain relief.
The Pain Continues for More than a Few Days
If taking medication doesn’t make the pain go away, even if it lessens, you should seek medical attention. Pain is the body’s way of alerting you that something is not right, and if that pain is continuing, it means the problem is still there. You may need physical therapy, surgery, or other treatment before you will be pain-free. In some cases, you may be dealing with chronic pain. If that’s the case, you will need ways of managing the pain that does not rely on over-the-counter medications.
You Begin Experiencing Additional Pain or Symptoms
If you start experiencing pain in other parts of your body or symptoms such as vomiting blood or having issues breathing, you need to stop taking the over-the-counter medication and get help. Some of these symptoms could be signs that you have taken too much of the medication or that it’s interacting with other medications you take. In some cases, over-the-counter medication could make a condition worse. You may not even know you have this condition until symptoms appear.
Need help treating your chronic pain or diagnosing the cause of it? Contact Maximum Orthopedics today to schedule an appointment.
Posted in: Blog, Work Injuries, Workers Compensation Benefits