Aspirin? Ibuprofen? Tylenol? Advil?

It is always confusing deciding what type of over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever to take for aches and pains. Here is a short primer on the types available and the difference between them.

There are two main types of OTC pain relievers available.

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.) NSAIDs include the following:
  • Aspirin (Bayer, St. Joseph)
  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  • Naproxen (Aleve)

How are they alike?
Acetaminophen and NSAIDs both help to reduce fever and relieve pain.

How are they different?
NSAIDs reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen does not.

Further, Acetaminophen and NSAIDs treat pain differently. Acetaminophen relieves pain and reduces fever by working on the parts of the brain that receive pain messages and control the body’s temperature.

NSAIDs relieve pain and fever by reducing the level of hormone-like substances (called prostaglandins) that your body makes. These substances cause the feeling of pain by irritating your nerve endings. They also are part of the system that helps your body control its temperature.

How do I know which one to take?
First and foremost, do not take acetaminophen or NSAIDs if you:

• Have severe kidney or liver disease
• Have 3 or more drinks that contain alcohol every day

Additionally, talk with your Nurse Practitioner before you take an NSAID, especially aspirin, if you:

• Have bleeding in the stomach or intestines, or have peptic ulcers
• Have heart disease
• Take blood-thinning medicine or have a bleeding disorder

In general though, OTC pain relievers can be helpful in treating many types of pain.

Acetaminophen can be a good choice for relieving headaches and other common aches and pains. It can be used safely on a long-term basis by most people for arthritis and other chronic painful conditions.

NSAIDs are helpful for relieving menstrual cramps and pain from inflammation (such as muscle sprains).

Can I mix acetaminophen and NSAIDs?
Yes. Some products already contain both acetaminophen and aspirin. This is particularly true of OTC cold and flu remedies as well as certain OTC pain medicines, like Excedrin Migraine. Although it is fine to mix them, it is important to pay attention to what and how much you are taking. Read all labels carefully and do not exceed recommended doses.

Risks
There are risk associated with chronic use of both acetaminophen and NSIAD. You should consult with your Nurse Practitioner before considering either. Also, always check before giving aspirin to children under the age of 18 with certain illnesses due to the risk of Reye’s Syndrome.

Liz McDonald
Social Media Associate – WhiteGlove
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QUESTION and ANSWERS: Do you have other tips or ideas? Please share a comment with us. If you have further questions please send them directly to questions@whiteglove.com and we will get to them as quickly as possible.

See all the WhiteGlove Self-Help posts.

Additional information:

• Stop Pain: Inflammation Relief for an Active Life (book)
• Muscular Retraining for Pain-Free Living (book)