<hijack>For whatever reason, I became dependent on / addicted to codeine based pain pills. During that period of my life I used an incredible amount of A.C. & C., which is an over-the-counter, codeine containing medication available in Canada. I know most people don’t become addicted to codeine, but it is possible. I urge those who use those medications to use them as sparingly as possible. The stuff sneaks up on ya.</hijack>
I wish we could get codeine over the counter.
Be careful with Tylenol, I hear it can be murder on the liver.
Wow … I’m allergic to aspirin and tylenol has the potential for liver side effects (especially since I take medication that affects my lifer) and the ibuprophin is bad for my already bad kidneys… that leaves me with “endure the pain” Although sometimes I do take asprin as it is the lesser of the evils if I am in a lot of pain!
I like Aleve (naproxen sodium, one of the NSAIDs I believe) as well; I started taking it for dysmenorrhea in college, when it was still prescription-only in the US, and was never so happy as when it went OTC. I take it now for headaches; I get migraines but was not told anything special to do for them the last time I went to see a physician.
Codeine is not, AFAIK, available as an OTC medication in the US.