Dr. Portenoy answers the question: 'Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers Harmful?' — -- Question: Can Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers Be Harmful, And Are They Safer Than Other Drugs (Narcotics)?

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications are generally safe and effective, but daily or long-term use isn’t recommended. Several factors, including drug side effects and your medical history, can ...

Migraine is a common brain disease of recurrent attacks of moderate to severe head pain that can worsen with movement and can come with associated symptoms of nausea and/or vomiting and/or light and ...

Dr. Portenoy answers the question: 'Over-The-Counter Pain Killers, Caffeine?' — -- Question: Why Do Some Over-The-Counter Pain Killers Contain Caffeine, And Is That A Good Thing? Answer: Another ...

When hit with a headache or fever, people often reach for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as their first line of defense. Used ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife was having problems getting to sleep and has stocked our medicine cabinet with various p.m. versions ...

The medication is commonly used at lower doses for pain relief and migraines, but the NHS says there are serious side effects ...

"OTC stands for 'over the counter,'" says Dr. Mandy Leonard, senior director of pharmacy clinical services at Cleveland ...

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This story was originally published on April 18, 2025, and has been updated. On Monday, President Trump announced that the Food and Drug Administration would be discouraging the use of acetaminophen ...