THE LESS "EFFECTIVE" THE BETTER:

Pain relievers tested on kids' broken arms (AP, August 18, 2009)

Kids with a broken arm do better on a simple over-the-counter painkiller than on a more powerful prescription combination that includes a narcotic, a surprising study finds.

It tested ibuprofen - sold as Advil, Motrin and other brands - against acetaminophen plus codeine, a combo called Tylenol No. 3 that is also sold in generic form. [...]

"They were more likely to play, they ate better and they had fewer adverse effects," [Dr. Amy Drendel of the Medical College of Wisconsin] said.

Pain is inconvenient. Narcotics debilitating.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 18, 2009 6:51 AM