Beware of Over-The-Counter Pain Relief

Because addiction is born from habit, it’s very valuable to understand the potential dangers of your habits—and believe it or not there can be many possible health risks resulting from irresponsible use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. If you assume that OTC drugs like Tylenol or Advil are safe just because you don’t need a prescription, then think again. Misuse of OTC pain medications or multi-symptom cold and flu medications can be a by-product of disregarding the labels that give directions and describe side effects. By disregarding these facts people put themselves at health risks without realizing it, and even worse, people who get into a routine habit of taking OTC drugs face an even greater health risk.

Life will always throw unexpected things at you. Especially living in a city like Boston, Massachusetts (MA), you’re going to deal with stresses more often. You’re going to have headaches. You’re going to get sick every once in a while. You’re going to have muscle pain. OTC drugs can be an almost instant relief to these kinds of symptoms, and when used properly, OTC drugs are very practical. But when people get into a habit of taking these kinds of drugs too often or in an irresponsible manner, the health risks can be significant. For example if someone gets into the habit of taking pain medications every day, even on days when they don’t need them and at times where they aren’t necessary, they can develop a chemical and mental dependency and addiction to these drugs which can lead to future dosage and tolerance issues. These pain medications can all the while irritate the lining of the stomach (leading to ulcers and bleeding), lead to kidney disease or failure, or lead to unsafe high blood pressure. Another example: if someone develops a habit of taking cold medicine like Nyquil before sleep every night this can also lead to health risks. The potential for addiction to these kinds of “safe” drugs is very real if you don’t monitor your habits.

Simply put: practicing bad habits can lead to addiction. And addiction or chemical dependency on drugs is a very dangerous but realistic result from practicing bad habits. For those in the Boston, Massachusetts (MA) area who may be having difficulty with any kind of addiction, it is wise to seek help sooner rather than later. Seabrook is an internationally recognized private and exclusive inpatient drug rehab and alcoholism detoxification treatment center. At Seabrook, we offer the individually structured programs that will lead to the most successful recovery from addiction or chemical dependency. Our facilities are located in Bridgeton, New Jersey (NJ), Tioga County, Pennsylvania (PA), and New York (NY). A problem with addiction no matter large or small should be addressed immediately so contact Seabrook to get on the road to recovery today.