People experiencing dental pain often self-medicate with non-prescription pain relievers prior to seeking dental care. This course describes the efficacy of acetaminophen and the over-the-counter drugs that can be used in combination with it to augment its analgesic effects. The potential toxicity of acetaminophen is also described. The course also discusses the analgesic efficacy of prescription and non-prescription ibuprofen and naproxen in the treatment of dental pain.
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the analgesic efficacy of acetaminophen.
- List the labeled warning for use of acetaminophen.
- List the over-the-counter drugs that add to the analgesic effects of acetaminophen.
- Describe the toxicity effect caused by acetaminophen.
- Describe the analgesic efficacy of over-the-counter ibuprofen.
- List the three warnings of use of over-the-counter ibuprofen.
- List the brand names for non-prescription ibuprofen products.
- Compare the analgesic efficacy of non-prescription ibuprofen to celecoxib (Celebrex).
- Describe the analgesic efficacy of over-the-counter naproxen.
- List the two new non-prescription products for dental pain.
