Pain Medicine I Have on Hand

Pain Medicine is our most frequently taken item.  If you didn’t read my medicine cabinet organization post — FYI, I buy smaller bottles of all of these things, instead of a larger bottle that expires all at once {that doesn’t mean I throw them out the second they expire, I do allow some expiration leeway}.  Plus, we don’t really take a whole lot of any of these… 1.  Aspirin

I just recently bought this after ACLS.  I don’t keep it on hand to TAKE for pain.  I keep it on hand to chew if anyone has signs/symptoms of a heart attack.  That’s right — when you’re on the phone with the paramedics they will tell you to CHEW 2-4 baby aspirin.  So, have some around.  Or, be my neighbor. 🙂 *Aspirin isn’t something to mess around with if you’ve had internal bleeding.  Please keep your blood inside your body.  Thanks. 🙂

2.  Tylenol.

This is the only pain med I take anymore.  I buy the extra strength.  New problems are happening with people taking tylenol too often.  Check the dosing, and don’t go above it if you’re a fan of your liver.  I, personally, am a lover of my liver.

3.  Ibuprofen.

After I had P I may have taken a bit too much of this for those darn after-birth pains.  I rarely take it now, and if I do (and it has to be a pretty bad headache if I do) I take it after a full meal.  It can RIP your stomach up if you take it at the wrong time. Beware.

4.  Alieve.

Mostly for Drew, it has the same issues as Ibuprofen. 4.  Something stronger — I do keep past prescriptions of stronger pain pills in the event I get kidney stones again.  I don’t have any oxycontin and codine makes my nose itch like crazy (as does Morphine).  But I do keep a bit on hand.  If anyone in my family had issues with any addiction problems, these would obviously get tossed and I probably need to be more careful with them than I am.

5.  Ben-Gay

(or some generic muscle relief type product). I sometimes over-do it with the firm.  I need to get my muscles back on MY side. 🙂 So, that’s what’s up with pain medicine at my house.  Anything I’m missing.  It’s been a full month of Sundays being drug day.  Anything else drug-related you want me to talk about?

This is in a series of medicine I keep on hand.  Other posts you might find of interest are {some may be posting soon — if you don’t see it now — check back!}

• Drug Storage
• Children’s Medicine
• Tummy Medicine
• Cold/Allergy/Cough {Respiratory} Over the Counter Medicine

I am a registered nurse who likes to be prepared.  I am not recommending you take any of these items, I would suggest talking with your physician before starting any new over the counter product.  This is just what OUR FAMILY keeps on hand.  I hope it’s helpful to someone.  If you have a medical or psychiatric emegency, please call 911.  If you have any questions or need medical advice, please talk to a doctor.