When Americans have physical pain, 20 percent of them just grab a bottle of over-the-counter painkillers and wash them down without a second thought to the combinations and complications that might come with ingesting certain medications.

That’s what a survey of almost than 1,300 U.S. adults found. The national survey conducted by the Middletown, Connecticut-based U.S. Pain Foundation, with support from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, was designed to determine whether pain pill poppers were taking into consideration such factors as other meds they were on, their current overall health status, their age, among other factors.

A clear finding of the study was that Americans trust their favorite over-the-counter painkiller to take away their pain: 97 percent said they felt confident when selecting their drug.

But the results showed that very few users of over-the-counter painkillers consider all the significant factors when choosing and using their drug of choice, and that one in five didn’t consider a single significant factor, but just went for the cure.

When asked about factors they consider when choosing and using an OTC painkiller, the top survey findings include:

45 percent do not consider the prescription medicines they are currently taking.
58 percent do not consider their pre-existing health conditions.
65 percent do not consider other over-the-counter medicines they are taking.
73 percent of those 60 and over do not consider their age.
20 percent do not consider anyof these important safety factors.

This information raises strong concerns among those who devised the survey.

“When choosing an OTC pain reliever, consumers should always balance finding effective relief with important safety considerations like their age, current health conditions, and other medicines they are taking,” says Paul Gileno, founder of the U.S. Pain Foundation. “People with pre-existing conditions, or those that are currently taking prescription medicines, need to be especially careful when choosing an OTC medicine for pain relief.”

What’s behind this lack of common-sense consideration? Says the report: “Consumers place the most value on how effectively and quickly the medicine will relieve their pain, rather than prioritizing factors that could seriously impact their health such as age and pre-existing medical conditions.”

By failing to think before popping, consumers are making themselves vulnerable to such reactions as a heart attack, stroke, or stomach bleeding, the study’s sponsors say.

“Not every OTC pain reliever is appropriate for everyone. When you're in pain, it becomes easy to reach for the first OTC pain reliever on the shelf, but it's always important to consider your current health profile,” says Dr. David Biondi, senior director of Medical Affairs and Clinical Research at McNeil Consumer Healthcare. “A pain reliever that was right for you in the past may not be the right choice for you now.”

The Pain Foundation offered the following guidance for those choosing and using over-the-counter pain relievers:

Choose the over-the-counter pain reliever that's right for you based on your health profile.
Always read and follow the drugfacts label. Facts labels change and so does our health.
Stick to the recommended dose and keep track of other medicines you are taking and how they might interact.
Know the active ingredient in your medicine and be sure to take only one medicine that contains the same type of active ingredient at a time.
Avoid taking over-the-counter pain relievers longer than directed on the label, unless told to do so by your health care provider.

Instant Insights /

Survey: Americans taking OTC meds without much consideration

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