November 2011

Recent labeling and dosage revisions to pediatric OTC products may be a sign of future changes for adult products.

Patients selecting an over-the-counter (OTC) remedy for pain have a bewildering array of options from which to choose.

Brief overviews of commonly asked questions regarding OTC acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and key messages for patients.

With so much health care information online, it can be hard sometimes for patients to tell which websites and resources provide reliable and accurate information, especially when it comes to complex topics such as the risks and benefits of different OTC options for pain.

There are many herbs and supplements on the market that are thought to be effective by some patients and practitioners for managing pain. However, for many of these herbs and supplements, there is little in the way of reliable evidence supporting these claims. Nonetheless, millions of patients may be using these agents to supplement the pain care provided by their physicians and other clinicians, often without informing them of this fact.