With all of the over-the-counter minor aches and pain relief drug choices, at times it’s difficult to know what name means what and which drug is best for which ailment.
Here is a quick guide to know what to use when the body needs a bit of medicine. Remember, OTC and prescription drugs should be taken exactly as directed on the prescription or package label. If there is still doubt as to what exactly you should use, please consult your physician or a pharmacist.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is used to relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, and reactions to vaccinations (shots), and to reduce fever. Acetaminophen may also be used to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis (arthritis caused by the breakdown of the lining of the joints).
Remember, taking too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage, sometimes serious enough to require liver transplantation or cause death.
Tylenol is known as a form of acetaminophen.
Aspirin
Aspirin is best used for a number of conditions, including headache; fever and pain associated with the common cold; rheumatic fever; and inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Taking aspirin before air travel in cramped conditions has been suggested to decrease the risk of deep-vein thrombosis.
Aspirin has also become increasingly popular as an antiplatelet – used to prevent blood clot formation – in long-term low doses to prevent heart attacks and strokes in high-risk patients. Aspirin is often given to patients immediately after a heart attack to prevent recurrence or cardiac tissue death.
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness and menstrual pain. Specifically it reduces fever and relieves mild pain from headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, menstrual periods, the common cold, toothaches, and backaches. Ibuprofen is in a class of medications called NSAIDs. It is said to be more effective than aspirin.
Some popular brands are Advil, Motrin and Nuprin.
Naproxen
Naproxen is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, tendinitis, bursitis, gout, or menstrual cramps. It can also help with dental pain, the common cold, backaches and fever.
The most common brand of naproxen is Aleve.
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine; FDA.gov; Webmd.com.
