Summary: Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are the two most common pain reliever medications.Whenever you have a cold, fever, or an injury, you might consider taking an NSAID like an aspirin to relieve your symptoms. However, if you're not monitoring how much you're taking, you could be putting yourself at risk for some dangerous and serious health issues. In fact, emergency hospital visits have drastically increased due to people who've accidentally overdosed on NSAIDs. Before you begin taking NSAIDs, you want to be sure of three things. First, you should read the label of the NSAID you're taking. Second, you should take only one NSAID product at a time. Lastly, if you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to talk to healthcare provider/pharmacist. What about taking acetaminophen? Is it just as dangerous? Acetaminophen is another common pain reliever and fever reducer, and the most common form of acetaminophen is Tylenol. There are side effects to taking acetaminophen, just like any other medication and you should ask your doctor of any potential risks to your health. Can you alternate between taking acetaminophen and NSAIDs? Since Tylenol doesn't have the exact side effects as those categorized under NSAIDs, it might even be helpful to alternate between taking the two (at the recommended dose). Dr. Byron Cryer joins Dr. Mike to discuss the differences between acetaminophen and NSAIDs and the recommended uses for each.
