Over-the-counter painkillers seem like a convenient solution to pain, but it’s easier that you’d think to take too many. Find out how much is too much.
October 2022. This article is independently written by Shelby Golding. All opinions given are hers. Shelby has been certified as a personal trainer and nutritional specialist since 2007. In 2008, she found her passion for writing about these topics and hasn't looked back.
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A Word of Caution
Painkillers aren’t a magic solution, and they can damage your health if you take too many. But many people aren’t quite sure how much is too much, and few people track how many painkillers they take each day.
At Kailo, we believe that it’s always best to handle your pain without painkillers whenever possible. The Kailo pain relief patch is designed to relieve pain in seconds, but what about when you need painkillers anyway? In that case, it’s essential to be cautious that you’re never ingesting more that your body can readily handle.
We’ve collected information about common over the counter (OTC) painkillers, along with dosage guidelines. Keep reading to find out if you’ve been taking too much and bookmark this guide as a reference for future aches, pains, and injuries.
At Kailo, we believe that it’s always best to handle your pain without painkillers whenever possible. The Kailo pain relief patch is designed to relieve pain in seconds, but what about when you need painkillers anyway? In that case, it’s essential to be cautious that you’re never ingesting more that your body can readily handle.
We’ve collected information about common over the counter (OTC) painkillers, along with dosage guidelines. Keep reading to find out if you’ve been taking too much and bookmark this guide as a reference for future aches, pains, and injuries.
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The best approach to painkillers is a cautious one. Always read the back of the bottle before you take painkillers. This is your first and best source of dosage information, and you should never take more than the recommended amount. Never take more than the recommended dosage on the bottle or more than your provider recommends.
It’s also important to speak with your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking an OTC painkiller that’s new to you. If you’re taking other medications, you need to ensure that the painkiller you’ve chosen won’t interfere with or overlap with your current prescriptions.
It’s also important to speak with your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking an OTC painkiller that’s new to you. If you’re taking other medications, you need to ensure that the painkiller you’ve chosen won’t interfere with or overlap with your current prescriptions.
Additionally, speak with your doctor if you take OTC painkillers frequently so you can watch out for side effects. Read the warning label before taking painkillers and throw them away once they’re past the expiration date.
Important: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to help you treat or manage an overdose. If you or someone you know may have overdosed on painkillers, call local emergency services (911) or the National Poison Control Centers (1-800-222-1222) immediately.
Guidelines for Common OTC Painkillers
OTC painkillers can help relieve minor aches and pains, as well as fevers. And because they’re over the counter, you can buy these painkillers without a prescription from your doctor.
The most common types of OTC painkillers include:
- Acetaminophen
- Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen and ibuprofen
There are benefits and risks with every type of painkiller, and some painkillers are better for different people or types of pain. We’ve outlined the guidelines for these common OTC painkillers below for your reference.
Aspirin and Other NSAIDs
Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. It’s one of the most widely used medications in the world with 58 billion doses taken each year. Ibuprofen and naproxen are also popular NSAIDs.
These medications work by inhibiting the production of enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) responsible for pain, fever, swelling, inflammation, and blood clots (aspirin only). Here’s more about each one:
Aspirin: OTC aspirin is used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. It can help with muscle aches, headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis pain, toothaches, and back aches. In some* cases, with a doctor’s supervision, aspirin is also used to prevent heart attacks, ischemic strokes, and mini-strokes.
Ibuprofen: OTC ibuprofen is used to relieve and reduce minor aches, pains, and fevers. It can help with muscle aches, headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis pain, toothaches, and backaches.
Naproxen: OTC naproxen is used to relieve and reduce mild pain and fevers. It can help with muscle aches, headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis pain, toothaches, and backaches.
Ibuprofen: OTC ibuprofen is used to relieve and reduce minor aches, pains, and fevers. It can help with muscle aches, headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis pain, toothaches, and backaches.
Naproxen: OTC naproxen is used to relieve and reduce mild pain and fevers. It can help with muscle aches, headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis pain, toothaches, and backaches.
*Note: While aspirin was once recommended for everyone to reduce the risk of heart attack, these guidelines are changing. Do this under a doctor’s supervision.
Benefits
The benefits of aspirin and other NSAIDs include:
- Relieves and reduces aches, pains, fever, swelling, and inflammation.
- Safe for most people when taken for periods no longer than 10 days.
Warnings
The benefits of aspirin and other NSAIDs include:
- Never take two types of NSAIDs together unless otherwise instructed by your doctor to avoid accidental overdose.
- Aspirin is not safe for children under the age of 18 due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
- NSAIDs may interact with other medications, especially blood thinners, and must be cleared by a doctor or pharmacist.
- Talk to your provider before taking NSAIDs if you have stomach ulcers, digestive tract bleeding, kidney disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
Overdose Symptoms
Aspirin and NSAID overdose can cause symptoms including:
- Burning pain in the throat or stomach
- Confusion
- Decreased urination
- Dizziness
- Double vision
- Drowsiness
- Excited mood
- Fear or nervousness
- Fever
- Hallucinations
- Irritability
- Loss of consciousness
- Restlessness
- Seizures
- Talking a lot and saying things that do not make sense
- Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- Vomiting
If you notice these symptoms and suspect that you or someone you know may have overdosed on aspirin or NSAIDs, call local emergency services (911) or the National Poison Control Centers (1-800-222-1222) immediately.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol or paracetamol, is a non-NSAID painkiller that offers many of the same benefits. It does not relieve inflammation, as NSAIDs do, but it is often recommended for arthritis pain because it presents fewer side effects than many other pain medicines.
It’s theorized to work by inhibiting the uptake and blocking the production of COX enzymes. However, this is still speculative information and researchers do not fully understand the mechanisms by which acetaminophen functions.
It’s theorized to work by inhibiting the uptake and blocking the production of COX enzymes. However, this is still speculative information and researchers do not fully understand the mechanisms by which acetaminophen functions.
Benefits
The benefits of acetaminophen include:
- Relieves headaches, fever, and common aches and pains.
- Does not cause as many stomach issues and side effects as other medications.
- Safe for most people when taken for periods no longer than 10 days
Warnings
The risks and warnings associated with acetaminophen include:
- Never take more than 3,000 mg (3 grams) of acetaminophen in one day, as large amounts can damage your liver. This is equivalent to 9 regular OTC pills or 6 extra-strength OTC pills.
- If you have liver disease, do not take more than 2,000 mg (2 grams) of acetaminophen in one day. It’s best to check with your doctor to find a safe amount for your health.
- Consult your doctor if you are taking other OTC or prescription pain medications before taking acetaminophen.
- Taking too much acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage that leads to the need for liver transplantation surgery or cause death.
Overdose Symptoms
Acetaminophen overdose can cause symptoms including:
- Extreme tiredness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Pain in the upper right section of the stomach
- Sweating
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Vomiting
- Yellowing of eyes or skin
If you notice these symptoms and suspect that you or someone you know may have overdosed on aspirin or NSAIDs, call local emergency services (911) or the National Poison Control Centers (1-800-222-1222) immediately.
How Much Is Too Much?
It’s okay to take NSAIDs or acetaminophen for occasional pain, but these OTC medicines usually aren’t good for long-term use. "People don't realize that these doses all add up, and before you know it you've exceeded the recommended dose," says Harvard’s Dr. Melisa Lai Becker.
Here are the general recommendations:
-
NSAIDs: Unless otherwise recommended by your doctor, avoid taking NSAIDs for more than 10 days in a row for pain and three days for fever.
-
Acetaminophen: Unless otherwise recommended by your doctor, avoid taking acetaminophen for more than 10 days in a row.
For maximum daily dosage and dosage spacing, consult the bottle. This varies based on the strength and release method of the specific OTC painkiller you’re taking.
Track your painkiller use on a calendar, writing down how much of what OTC medicine you take each day. Record each dose and ensure you’re never taking them for more than 10 days in a row or exceeding the daily limit.
While recording every pill might seem tedious, it’s an essential step to protecting your health if you use OTC painkillers. This information can also help your doctor with diagnosis if you experience symptoms from taking too many painkillers.
Track your painkiller use on a calendar, writing down how much of what OTC medicine you take each day. Record each dose and ensure you’re never taking them for more than 10 days in a row or exceeding the daily limit.
While recording every pill might seem tedious, it’s an essential step to protecting your health if you use OTC painkillers. This information can also help your doctor with diagnosis if you experience symptoms from taking too many painkillers.
There’s a Better Way
It’s easy to accidentally take painkillers for more than 10 days in a row when you live with chronic pain. Or to exceed the daily recommended dosage on bad days. That’s the risk with OTC painkillers because you can buy as many as you’d like without a doctor’s supervision. Always record your painkiller use and pay close attention to how many you’re taking and how often.
We recommend using the Kailo Pain Patch to help reduce your OTC painkiller use. It’s designed to relieve pain within seconds and doesn't involve any OTC (or prescription) painkillers – scientists theorize that it works by interfering with the body's electrical system. A recent clinical study showed that 97% of users were extremely satisfied with Kailo over oral medication and that 98% of patients significantly decreased their use of oral medication when using Kailo.
Disclaimer: Kailo should not be used if you have a pacemaker or are pregnant. Always consult your doctor or health care professional before using Kailo.
We recommend using the Kailo Pain Patch to help reduce your OTC painkiller use. It’s designed to relieve pain within seconds and doesn't involve any OTC (or prescription) painkillers – scientists theorize that it works by interfering with the body's electrical system. A recent clinical study showed that 97% of users were extremely satisfied with Kailo over oral medication and that 98% of patients significantly decreased their use of oral medication when using Kailo.
Disclaimer: Kailo should not be used if you have a pacemaker or are pregnant. Always consult your doctor or health care professional before using Kailo.
