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Health Hack: Ibuprofen Instead of Opioids

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Health Hack: Ibuprofen Instead of Opioids

Mar 01, 2019

Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares a recent eye-opening study about using over-the-counter pain relievers rather than opioids. Learn how to safely treat your pain on this Health Hack.

Episode Transcript

Announcer: "Health Hacks" with Dr. Troy Madsen on The Scope.

Dr. Madsen: Today's health hack is using a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen instead of an opioid for injuries and pain from those injuries. This is all based on a study. Came out in the Journal of the American Medical Association a few months ago. It was eye-opening for me, for a lot of people I work with because we've always assumed that opioids worked better.

So this study, patients got a combination of ibuprofen 400 milligrams and acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, 1,000 milligrams. These are standard over-the-counter medications, and they compared it to patients who got opioids. Those who got this combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen did just as well with their pain. So I think the take home from this would be if you're in the ER and you're offered opioids, ask for some Tylenol, ask for ibuprofen. Avoid the opioids and avoid that addiction potential.

Announcer: For more health hacks, check out thescoperadio.com. Produced by University of Utah Health.