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Take Pain Medicine
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| FAST
FACTS |
- Approximately
one in five seniors take some kind of medication for chronic
pain.
- One in four
of those individuals taking pain medication suffer from
some side effect. The possible risk of an interaction with
other medication places a person at risk for complications.
- Some of the
most common medication used to treat pain associated with
arthritis, bone and joint pain, and lower back pain may cause
side effects ranging from an upset stomach, ulcers, to excessive
bleeding.
- Use of common
pain medications, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium,
and aspirin, are the cause of the majority of adverse drug
reactions in the U. S.
- Individuals over 60 years of age often use six to seven medications per day. This increases the risk of harmful interactions with commonly used over the counter pain medications.
- Daily use of
pain medication for six months or more may increase the
risk of serious stomach and intestinal complications.
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| WHAT
TO DO |
- Consult with
your physician, nurse, or pharmacist before adding a pain
pill to your daily medications. This may help avoid harmful
side effects.
- Review all of
your medication, including prescribed, over-the-counter,
herbal, and pain medication, with your doctor or nurse at
every visit.
- Report to your
doctor any difficulties you have experienced with any of
your medications including nausea, loss of appetite, and lightheadedness.
- Never take another
person's prescription medication.
- Pain pills should
never be used with alcohol.
- Do not take
more than one anti-inflammatory medication at a time.
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| WHERE
TO GO |
- Contact your
doctor, nurse, or pharmacist with any questions regarding
use of pain medications.
WEB LINKS
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