The Safest and Most Effective OTC Painkillers
Which pill works best for what ails you? With more than 75 percent of us taking over-the-counter painkillers at least once a month (per a Self.com poll), it's key to know the safest and most effective choice.
Lee Helland, SELF magazine
Acetaminophen (found in Tylenol)Best for:
- Fever
- Mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain
- Mild to moderate back pain
- Mild to moderate headache
Pain-signal reducer
How
it functions isn't well understood, but acetaminophen may block COX-3, a
protein that helps send out the body's pain signals. It's not as potent
as some other OTC painkillers such as naproxen
and ibuprofen, so it's typically effective only for low-intensity
aches. If you've had alcohol in the past 24 hours (or plan to), hit the
brakes: Too much acetaminophen and alcohol
can damage the liver. An advisory committee to the FDA has proposed
lowering the maximum daily dose from 4 grams (which may be too much for
some people); watch these pages for the new limit. If you feel weak or
"off" after use, see a doc, stat.
Aspirin (found in Bayer and Anacin)
Best for:
Best for:
- Mild toothache
- Moderately sore muscles
- Mild to moderate back pain
- Blood decluttererAspirin eases pain and inflammation by slowing the production of prostaglandins, molecules that activate pain receptors. The active ingredient, acetylsalicylic acid, also makes blood platelets less sticky, which is why people at risk for heart attack take aspirin to help prevent clots. In many people, acetylsalicylic acid reaches toxicity faster than do ibuprofen and naproxen (the maximum daily dose is 4 grams), so regular use has a higher risk for side effects such as gastric irritation. Thus aspirin is useful for mild to moderate, but not severe or chronic, pain. If you just had or are about to have surgery, steer clear.Ibuprofen (found in Advil) and naproxen (found in Aleve)Best for:
- Acute muscle injury
- Arthritis
- Joint pain
- Mild to moderate headache
- Lower-back pain
- Moderate to severe headache
- Moderate to severe menstrual cramps
- Anti-inflammatoriesLike aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen inhibit prostaglandin production to stop inflammation and pain. But they can also disrupt H2, a gut histamine, stimulating the overproduction of gastric acid and leading to stomach upset and even bleeding, warns Rollin M. Gallagher, M.D., of Philadelphia, past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. If you have a history of stomach problems (like ulcers), these might not be for you. Call your doc if you have stomach pain, vomiting or black stools or if you cough blood after taking one. The max daily dose for ibuprofen is 1,200 milligrams; for naproxen, 600 mg.
The most important ruleListen
to your body! An OTC pill that works well for one person may not help
another, so trial and error can be your best pal. One caveat for
pregnant ladies: Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen can cause heart
problems in the fetus, so consult your M.D. before you take any pill.
DISCLAIMER: THIS is NOT medical advice---consult your medical doctor for that!!!
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