Which Medicine Is Best For Fever And Body Pain
The best way to take your over-the-counter pain reliever? Seriously. (Four Panel Brochure) Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers/fever reducers (the kind you can buy without a prescription) are safe and effective when used as directed. However, they can cause serious problems when used by people with certain conditions or taking specific medicines.
They can also cause problems in people who take too much, or use them for a longer period of time than the product’s Drug Facts label recommends. That is why it is important to follow label directions carefully. If you have questions, talk to a pharmacist or health care professional. What are pain relievers/fever reducers? There are two categories of over-the-counter pain relievers/fever reducers: acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Acetaminophen is used to relieve headaches, muscle aches and fever. It is also found in many other medicines, such as cough syrup and cold and sinus medicines. OTC NSAIDs are used to help relieve pain and reduce fever. NSAIDs include aspirin, naproxen, ketoprofen and ibuprofen, and are also found in many medicines taken for colds, sinus pressure and allergies.
- How do I use pain relievers/fever reducers safely? These products, when used occasionally and taken as directed, are safe and effective.
- Read the labels of all your over-the-counter medicines so you are aware of the correct recommended dosage.
- If a measuring tool is provided with your medicine, use it as directed.
What can happen if I do not use pain relievers/fever reducers correctly? Using too much acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage, which may not be noticed for several days. NSAIDs, for some people with certain medical problems, can lead to the development of stomach bleeding and kidney disease.
- What if I need to take more than one medicine? There are many OTC medicines that contain the same active ingredient.
- If you take several medicines that happen to contain the same active ingredient, for example a pain reliever along with a cough-cold-fever medicine, you might be taking two times the normal dose and not know it.
So read the label and avoid taking multiple medicines that contain the same active ingredient or talk to your pharmacist or health care professional.
S peak up A sk questions F ind the facts E valuate your choices R ead the label
: The best way to take your over-the-counter pain reliever? Seriously. (Four Panel Brochure)
Contents
Which tablet is best for cold fever and body pain?
Colds are very common. A visit to your health care provider’s office is often not needed, and colds often get better in 3 to 4 days. A type of germ called a virus causes most colds. There are many types of viruses that can cause a cold. Depending on what virus you have, your symptoms may vary. Common symptoms of a cold include:
Fever (100°F or higher) and chills Headache, sore muscles, and fatigue Cough Nasal symptoms, such as stuffiness, runny nose, yellow or green mucus, and sneezing Sore throat
Mild symptoms of COVID-19 may be similar to those of the common cold. Always check with your provider if you are at risk for COVID-19. Treating your symptoms will not make your cold go away, but will help you feel better. Antibiotics are almost never needed to treat a common cold. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help lower fever and relieve muscle aches.
Do not use aspirin.Check the label for the proper dose.Call your provider if you need to take these medicines more than 4 times per day or for more than 2 or 3 days.
Over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicines may help ease symptoms in adults and older children.
They are not recommended for children under age 4. Talk to your provider before giving your child OTC cold medicine, which can have serious side effects.Coughing is your body’s way of getting mucus out of your lungs. So, only use medicine to suppress a cough when your cough becomes too painful.Throat lozenges or sprays for your sore throat.
Many cough and cold medicines you buy have more than one medicine inside. Read the labels carefully to make sure you do not take too much of any one medicine. If you take prescription medicines for another health problem, ask your provider which OTC cold medicines are safe for you.
Use your rescue inhaler as prescribed if you are wheezing.See your provider immediately if it becomes hard to breathe.
Many home remedies are popular treatments for the common cold. These include vitamin C, zinc supplements, and echinacea. Although not proven to be helpful, most home remedies are safe for most people.
Some remedies may cause side effects or allergic reactions.Certain remedies may change the way other medicines work.Talk to your provider before trying any herbs and supplements.
Wash your hands often. This is the best way to stop the spread of germs. To wash your hands correctly:
Rub soap onto wet hands for 20 seconds. Make sure to get under your fingernails. Dry your hands with a clean paper towel and turn faucet off with paper towel.You can also use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol. Use a dime size amount and rub all over your hands until they are dry.
To further prevent colds:
Stay home when you are sick.Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into the crook of your elbow and not into the air.
Try treating your cold at home first. Call your provider right away, or go to the emergency room, if you have:
Difficulty breathing Sudden chest pain or abdominal pain Sudden dizziness Acting strangelySevere vomiting that does not go away
Also contact your provider if:
You start acting strangelyYour symptoms get worse or do not improve after 7 to 10 days
Upper respiratory infection – home care; URI – home care Cohen YZ. The common cold. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases,9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 58.
- Lopez SMC, Williams JV.
- The common cold.
- In: Kliegman RM, St.
- Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds.
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics,21st ed.
- Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 407.
- Updated by: Linda J.
- Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Why ibuprofen is better than paracetamol?
What is the difference between paracetamol and ibuprofen? – The main difference between the two medications is that ibuprofen reduces inflammation, whereas paracetamol does not. According to Hamish, there’s no advantage in taking ibuprofen or paracetamol brands such as Nurofen or Panadol over the cheaper chemist or supermarket versions.
Related: What’s the difference between branded and generic medications? “The main takeout is that paracetamol is safer, because of those groups that are slightly more at risk, but if there’s an inflammatory component, then you’re better off taking ibuprofen,” Hamish says. Taking either medicine consistently over a long period isn’t wise, particularly as you get older.
“If you have pain and it’s not settling within a day or two, see a doctor for personalised advice,” Hamish advises. Whether it’s lower back pain, a sore shoulder, sprained ankle or a migraine that keeps coming back, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to seeking help.
Which type of fever causes body pain?
What Are the Symptoms of Dengue Fever? The symptoms of dengue include a fever, headache, severe body and joint pain, and a rash.
How long does fever and body aches last?
How Can You Treat Body Aches From the Flu? – The flu—and the aches it causes—usually goes away in a few days and rarely lasts more than two weeks. In the meantime, there are things you can do to feel better while your body heals.
What is the best medicine for body pain?
Pain Relievers URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/painrelievers.html Also called: Analgesics, Pain killers, Pain medicines Pain relievers are medicines that reduce or relieve headaches, sore muscles, arthritis, or other aches and, There are many different pain medicines, and each one has advantages and risks.
Some types of pain respond better to certain medicines than others. Each person may also have a slightly different response to a pain reliever. (OTC) medicines are good for many types of pain. There are two main types of OTC pain medicines: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are examples of OTC NSAIDs. If OTC medicines don’t relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe something stronger. Many NSAIDs are also available at higher prescription doses. The most powerful pain relievers are,
(Food and Drug Administration) Also in
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