Specialties Pain
Published May 11, 2006
letina
828 Posts
Hi, I'm a UK nurse, soon to be moving to the US and I have a question about what we call here "over the counter" meds. My question is.....do most of the pain-relieving tablets bought at the drug store/pharmacy all have the same properties? I've heard of Tylenol, Advil, and a few others, but just wondering, are some more effective than others? And are there any which a nurse should avoid taking whilst working, say if you just have a headache? It's just that I've read quite a few posts about nurses getting into trouble at work because they've taken pain meds.
Gompers, BSN, RN
2,691 Posts
There are no narcotic pain meds available over the counter, so anything you buy at a drugstore yourself is fine to take while working. It's people who have chronic pain issues whose doctors prescribe them narcotic pain meds that have to be careful.