Think twice the next time you reach for that bottle of Advil.

Though there’s a difference between being overly dependent on legal drugs, and taking them occasionally, too many of us fall into the first category.

Just because we have these drugs available doesn’t mean we need to always take advantage of them.

You have a headache, a fever or a cold: Do you need Advil or Tylenol right away, before giving your immune system a chance to work on its own?

Mike Eaton, freshman electrical engineering major, said he gives his body a chance to fight off the illness first, waiting a couple of days before taking over-the-counter medicine.

“[Over-the-counter painkillers] are used by tens of millions of people every week, and they are quite safe,” said Dr. Charles Ganley, director of the FDA office of nonprescription drugs, in a New York Times article.

However, Ganley went on to say that rare problems can add up when many people take those medications.

Ibuprofen, the main ingredient in Advil and Motrin, has been found to “increase the risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke,” according to Healthline.com.

This risk increases with prolonged use.

Aspirin, the main ingredient in Bayer Aspirin, can cause side effects of nausea, stomach pain, fever, hearing problems or ringing in the ears, among other things, according to Drugs.com.

Are these complications worth the risk?

For freshman nursing major Drew Stone, these risks are worth it if you’re informed.
Stone takes over-the-counter medication after a doctor has recommended it as the right drug to take.

Eaton agreed, saying the benefits of over-the-counter drugs were “worth the chance.”
Of course, these side effects are “rare problems” for a reason. Most are lucky enough not to develop them.

“I never had side effects because I never abused [over-the-counter drugs],” said Eaton.

For me, the bottom line is that there are too many possible negative side effects and health concerns for these over-the-counter medications.

Exercise caution when taking them, and let your body fight things off on its own, whenever possible.

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