Over-the-Counter Painkillers...or Plain Killers?

Yet again, the news is filled with headlines concerning the dangers of pharmaceutical drugs. This time the drug in the spotlight is acetaminophen, the over-the-counter painkiller that is the principle ingredient in Tylenol and Excedrin. You know, the one "doctors recommend most." For decades, people have used acetaminophen for relief from the aches and pains associated with many conditions.

Acetaminophen is also found as an ingredient in a number of popular prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin and Percoset, which an advisory committee to the FDA has recently recommended banning. The reason? Acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage, and even death, especially when it's combined with other drugs. According to the FDA, acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. In fact, acetaminophen is actually #5 on the list of the top 15 drugs associated with fatal events. (Remember Vioxx? Big Pharma is hoping we'll forget about this painkiller, which was responsible for killing an estimated 60,000 Americans before it was taken off the market.)

As part of a review of the drug's safety, an FDA panel recently voted to lower the maximum daily dosage of over-the-counter acetaminophen products. But many admit that limiting dosages will not necessarily stop people from taking as much pain medication as they think they need to control pain.

We already know plenty about how over-the-counter pain medicines can be problematic, particularly when taken regularly and in maximum dosages. Here's a run down:

• Acetaminophen can damage your liver in as little as two weeks, even at currently acceptable maximum levels.
• Acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S., sending 56,000 people to the emergency room, and the cause of over 400 deaths annually.
• High doses of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen) can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding in the brain.
• People who take regular, heavy doses of painkillers are more likely to have diabetes, arthritis and signs of heart disease, according to a study by Eric Larson, MD, of Seattle's Group Health Center for Health Studies.

Unfortunately, many doctors do not know much about the role that nutritional supplements can play in managing joint pain and inflammation, but there are safer, more effective alternatives out there. Glucosamine, for instance, has been shown in multiple clinical studies to be more effective at providing long-term relief for joint pain than both acetaminophen and NSAIDs.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: When you have chronic joint pain, you may be inclined to take a pain medication day after day, for years on end. While popping an over-the-counter pain pill may seem fast and efficient, it can have serious health damaging effects. The recent warnings about acetaminophen are proof that just because your doctor may prescribe it, and even if it's "over-the-counter," that doesn't mean it's completely safe.