The shelves in the pharmacies are usually crammed with dozens of non-prescription pain relievers. Why are there so many of them? Which one should I choose? What is the difference between them? It is natural that these and many other questions appear when a person is interested in the safe and effective pain reliever. Let us clear everything up.
Non-prescription pain relievers (sometimes called over-the-counter) are used to relieve pain of different origin. They may be bought without a doctor's prescription, since they are claimed to be safe if taken strictly according to the instructions in the data sheet.
The main active ingredient in each OTC (over-the-counter) pain reliever is usually one of these generic drugs: acetaminophen and or one of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or ketoprofen. Therefore, hundreds of pain- relieving drugs in the pharmacies are due to the different brand names, not to the number or kind of active chemicals.
The following table contains the basic information on the most popular OTC pain relievers.
| Acetaminophen | Aspirin | Ibuprofen | |
| Brand names | Benadryl, Tylenol, Backaid, Inholtra, Theraflu, Excedrin | Ascriptin, Bufferin, Ecotrin | Advil, Motrin, Medipren, Profen, Combunox, Indocin, Ibuprohm |
| Types of pain to relieve | mild to moderate pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pain | headache, muscle ache and joint aches. Prevents cardio-vascualr diseases. | mild to moderate pain, fever, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, primary dysmenorrhea |
| Action | elevates pain threshold, lowers fever | slows down the production of prostaglandins, makes blood thinner | reduces inflammation (swelling), pain, and temperature |
| Start of action / duration | 10 - 60 minutes / up to 6 hours | 30 - 60 minutes / 4 - 12 hours | 1 - 2 hours / 5 - 10 hours |
| Side effects | safe when taken as directed. Heavy drinkers may experience liver damage. | stomach irritation, GI upset, Reye's syndrome | stomach irritation, drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision |
| Contra - indications | n/a | ulcers, asthma, uncontrolled high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, bleeding disorders | alcohol, anticoagulants. Ulcer, GI upset, asthma. |
| Key feature | non NSAID, does not irritate stomach | NSAIDs, irritate stomach | |
The above said medications are generic drugs for multiple brand names. The manufacturers usually add certain substances to the active component in order to lower its side effects and to increase efficiency and safety.
All the described pills are almost equally effective in fighting the pain. Every organism, however, is different. It can response better to some drugs, while others will provide no necessary effect in fighting pain or will cause undesirable consequences. If you have any doubt whether it is right and safe for you to use any OTC pain relievers, search for advice of a professional, even if the drugs you would like to take are non-prescription.
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