Over-the-Counter Painkillers May Alter Emotions

A recent research review focusing on nonprescription painkillers found that these types of medicines can reduce a person’s ability to empathize with the pain of others, make some more willing to part with possessions, and can even impair information processing. Lead researcher Dr. Kyle Ratner writes, “In many ways, the reviewed findings are alarming… Consumers assume that when they take an over-the-counter pain medication, it will relieve their physical symptoms, but they do not anticipate broader psychological effects.” Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, February 2018