Aspirin? Tylenol? or Advil? Bayer? Which is Best For Me?

Aspirin? Tylenol? or Advil? Bayer? Which is Best For Me?

We hear it all over the news, recalls here, and recalls there, but still Americans use these meds for many reasons. Which one is the best or safest for your family? Read more . . . .

Deciding on a pain reliever can be tough these days. Advertisements that tout one drug's advantages while slamming the competition are about as objective as political commercials.

For treating fever, headaches or routine aches and pains, different over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers are of similar effectiveness. But there are important differences.

Aspirin is the least expensive OTC painkiller. But it's also the most likely to cause stomach upset. This can range from trivial indigestion to life-threatening hemorrhages. No doubt you've all heard that low doses of aspirin, taken regularly, help prevent heart attack and colon cancer. While aspirin does offer some protection against these ailments, that other pain relievers don't, it also appears to raise the risk of bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).

Aspirin therapy (according to Doctors) to prevent heart attacks is appropriate for people over age 50 with cardiac risk factors (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.). My doctor recommends that I take a daily dose of 81 milligrams (one "baby" aspirin). But, that's me and you should check with your doctor to see what's right for you.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and other newer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are less likely than aspirin to upset the stomach. Ibuprofen is especially good for menstrual pain. But these drugs, including naproxen (Aleve) and ketoprofen (Orudis KT), are by no means perfectly safe.

Each year, an estimated 10,000 Americans are hospitalized for intestinal bleeding caused by newer NSAIDs. 1000 die of such bleeding. (We rarely hear of the deaths on T.V.). These drugs can also cause kidney problems and reduce the effectiveness of some blood pressure medicines.

Acetaminophen is all over the U.S. News these days. (Tylenol) is probably the safest according to some doctors out there. Myself, I do not take it because of the stories about Acetaminophen. This is because it's not entirely harmless. As Advil commercials correctly point out, drinking more than three alcoholic beverages a day while taking acetaminophen can cause liver damage. But if you drink that much alcohol and take ibuprofen or aspirin, your risk of fatal intestinal hemorrhage also climbs.

For certain individuals, some drugs are better choices. Each person is different, thus requiring different forms of treatment, so let you doctor tell you what's best for you, not a friend, or family member. They are not doctors, as some of my family think they are!!

Now. Anyone with a history of ulcers should stay away from aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs. Acetaminophen is usually a better choice, according to my doctor.

Anyone with chronic hepatitis or another liver problem should avoid acetaminophen. Aspirin or ibuprofen is better, according to my doctor.

Heavy drinkers should avoid regular use of all pain relievers. If one is needed, it should be taken at the lowest effective dose, and taken infrequently as possible, according to my doctor. Of course, the best bet is to cut back on drinking or stop altogether.

According to my doctor, elderly people should generally stick to acetaminophen for treating minor aches and pains. Taking aspirin to prevent heart attack is a separate matter, and one that should be discussed with your doctor.

For Children, acetaminophen and ibuprofen are safer than aspirin. But again, they had a recall on Children's Tylenol not long ago, so do your research on this. When kids with influenza are given aspirin, they can develop a devastating illness called Reye's syndrome.

Whichever pain pill you choose, remember to use it sparingly. All drugs cause side effects. If you do need a pain pill, forget all the marketing hype. Generic aspirin, acetamiophen, and ibuprofen are every bit as effective as Bayer, Tylenol and Advil.

If you have any suggestions, or comments to this article, myself, and my readers would love to hear from you. It is our desire for you, and your family to have a lovely holiday season. Use the comment section below. It is our hope that you continue to walk with God, as I promise that God is already walking with you. Thank you for your time today, and God bless. Also if you are looking for unique, one of a kind hand made gifts please visit our shop at http://lakewhitneywoodshop.weebly.com You can contact me in my shop at tomcmoore@amerion.com Happy Holidays!!

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