Over the Counter Medications for Lower Back Pain
Dealing with back pain can be a real pain, but it doesn’t have to be. Over the counter medications are medications that anyone can buy at a store without a prescription. These medications can be helpful in the reduction of back pain. It is important to remember to follow the directions on the medication bottle to ensure you are taking the medication correctly.
Medications are safe when taken correctly, but when taken incorrectly they can damage your internal organs. If you are experiencing uncontrollable pain, pain longer than two weeks, or pain that is severely limiting daily activities make sure to see a healthcare specialist to ensure everything is okay.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Tylenol, also known as acetaminophen, is a common over the counter medication that can help reduce lower back pain. This medication comes in regular strength 325 mg and extra strength at 500 mg. The maximum recommended dose is 1000 mg three times a day. That would be two extra strength Tylenol spaced out every eight hours.
It is extremely important to follow these directions because taken incorrectly this medication can lead to liver damage and in severe cases it can cause death. [1]
Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin)
Advil and Motrin are commonly known as ibuprofen. Ibuprofen can be used to reduce lower back pain. These medications are different from Tylenol because they will reduce inflammation. This anti-inflammatory effect makes these medications useful in reducing your lower back pain.
Over the counter ibuprofen is 200 mg. While taking this medication over the counter do not exceed 1200 mg in a day. If the pain is a little more severe you can take 400mg in one sitting and then take another in 4-6 hours.
Just make sure you do not go over 1200 mg in one day. Ibuprofen can be hard on the stomach and should not be taken on an empty stomach. Make sure to drink milk or eat food before you take this medication to prevent ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Naproxen (Aleve)
Aleve, also known as naproxen, is an over the counter medication that can help with lower back pain. This medication has an advantage over ibuprofen in that it lasts for twice as long inside the body. Over the counter Aleve comes in a 220mg dose.
For the first dose you may take one or two tablets. You will then wait 8-12 hours and you can take 1 more tablet. Make sure you don’t exceed three tablets in a 24 hour period. [2] This medication has the anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen and should not be taken on an empty stomach.
In Summary
No one wants to live in pain if they don’t have to. These medications are extremely helpful, but they do not replace healthcare professionals. Back pain can come from many different things and in some cases that pain won’t go away with just over the counter medications. This is why it is important to follow the directions on these medications and to record symptoms as they occur. If you are experiencing lower back pain for prolonged periods of time, pain that is not controlled with medications, or pain that is severely affecting daily activities make sure you set up an appointment.
Sources
1. Sinha, S. (2022, April 28). Tylenol Drug Uses, Dosage & Side Effects. Drugs.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://www.drugs.com/tylenol.html
2. National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Naproxen Drug Facts. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=456815fd-1e98-43fa8f20-47cc3b8a15bd&type=display
