Over-the-Counter Overdoses A Review of Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, and Aspirin Toxicity in Adults

There are several different forms of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and they are classified on the basis of their chemical structure. The 3 most popular forms are ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin. These medications are of the most commonly self-administered medications to date, not only alone but found as ingredients in combination medications (e. g., sleep aids and prescription narcotics). It is imperative that the clinician can recognize the signs and symptoms of acute ingestion and quickly prescribe the appropriate treatment. Moreover, many of the signs and symptoms are not initially evident when the patient with toxic syndrome presents to the emergency department. For this reason, once the diagnosis has been established, the clinician should be able to recognize and predict future symptoms so that appropriate action may be taken. The purpose of this article is to discuss the 3 most common medications frequently seen in overdose cases (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin) and comment on signs and symptoms patients may display as well as current trends in treatment of these toxic syndromes.