Do Not Exceed Dose Warnings

The sale of painkillers has escalated in recent years; they are as much a part of the weekly shop as a bag of sugar.  

The wide range of different types and names is confusing to many people and often they fail to read any instructions or to check if they are suitable. Over the counter drugs are safe if they are used as directed, what people fail to realize is that overdoses of acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage and even death.

Warnings that state “Do not exceed dose” should be taken very seriously. With aspirin, ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, there is a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury even when patients take the correct dose. The drugs are linked to thousands of deaths every year.