I don't use pills unless they are prescribed by the doctor (e.g., I take Metformnin, a/k/a Glucophage) or unless I truly feel I need them. We have Vicodin in the house, prescribed when I had some dental work done, and I have taken it because of pain.

However...500 mg Vicodin (a/k/a hydrocodone) will take 24 hours out of my life, and my wife flushed the 750s. One of the 500s, followed by a Tylenol with Codeine, followed by Tylenol (if still needed) is just fine for such things as the dental implants I had done.

Plain old Tylenol works fine for those scarce times when I have a bad headache or muscle ache.

99% of the time I don't take anything for pain....