Many Kids Take Too Many
Headache Pills
The June 10, 2004 Reuters Health reports that a
new study released June 10, shows that nearly one quarter of children and
teens with chronic headaches are overusing over-the-counter pain relievers.
The study defined overuse of pain relievers as taking more than three doses
per week for over six weeks.
The
study noted that approximately one in seven kids said they took the
medicines without telling their parents. Almost one in five participants
said they had headaches every day, or nearly so. Most of the daily headache
sufferers were girls and students who got high grades in school. Study
author Dr. A. David Rothner, of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio told Reuters
Health, "Most likely children and teens are taking this medicine because
they think it will relieve their headaches, and not to get any type of
"high."
The study noted that there
are many reasons why kids shouldn't overuse these medicines. Some pain
relievers contain aspirin, which puts children under the age of 19 at risk
of Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal disorder. Additionally, other risks
of overuse of over-the-counter pain medicines include kidney failure, liver
problems, and intestinal and stomach bleeding.
The study author, Dr.
Rothner concluded with a warning for parents, "If you see they're using the
medicine more than twice a week, then bingo! You've got a problem on your
hands, and you've got to do something about it."
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