Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023)

Chronic pain is a prevalent public health concern in the United States, frequently managed with over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers without professional medical supervision. This study investigates household-level patterns of over-the-counter painkiller use utilizing a nationally representative dataset from NielsenIQ, focusing on how reported health conditions, whether self-identified or professionally diagnosed, affect purchasing behaviors. By linking consumer purchase data with self-reported ailment information, this study analyzed painkiller expenditures across different ailment types and demographic groups. Results show that over-the-counter painkiller purchases were highly symptom-driven, particularly for headache-related products, which were the most frequently purchased category across all household types. Nearly one-third of single-member households purchased over-the-counter painkillers for headaches, regardless of diagnosis type, indicating a strong role of perceived need in driving behavior. Females and older individuals more frequently reported ailments, with consistently higher proportions across both pain-related and other conditions. Nonetheless, a notable share of households reported over-the-counter painkiller use without any reported ailments. The findings suggest that diagnostic status plays a limited role in determining over-the-counter painkiller usage, emphasizing the need for improved public health messaging around safe self-medication. These insights can inform targeted education, labeling regulations, and policy interventions to support safer and more equitable pain management practices at the population level.