But there are several types, and the trick is knowing which to choose, and why.
First let’s talk about what is meant by types of over-the-counter pain medication.
As youll see, active ingredients can be grouped together into drug classes.
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Sometimes a drug will serve both purposes; other times it will not.
Most drugs come with a long list of side effects, and NSAIDs are no different.
And finally, the drugs discussed below are available as a prescription in higher doses.
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Although rare, aspirin can have serious side effects, not the least of which are stomach problems.
But unlike other NSAIDs, aspirin, when used correctly, mayimprove cardiovascular health.
Speak to your healthcare provider about this if you would like to know more.
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Because of that, many experts believe that of all the NSAIDs, aspirin is the best choice.
And, the People’s Pharmacy says, evidence suggests that aspirin may confer anti-cancer benefits, as well.
Ibuprofen is also used to alleviate muscle aches and calm pain due to back strain.
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Brand names include Motrin and Advil.
Anti-inflammatory drugs with ibuprofen as their active ingredient inhibit the production of prostaglandins, and therefore inflammation and pain.
Side effectsmay include stomach problems and cardiovascular events.
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This was to inform the public about thespecific risksassociated with this active ingredient.
Naproxen
Naproxen, another NSAID, is used to relieve pain due tomuscle strainand arthritis.
This includes osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis such ankylosing spondylitis.
As with the other anti-inflammatory drugs, naproxen works largely by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins.
Brand names include Aleve and Naprosyn.
This may be because naproxen is a long acting drug, where ibuprofen is short acting.
Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Tylenolis the most frequently used pain reliever on the market.
It can be taken for short-term relief when you have mild or moderate back or neck pain.
It is not an NSAID.
Tylenol helps muscle-related back pain and/orarthritis.
It also exerts a cooling effect by inhibiting theprostaglandinsthat play a role in the brain’s heat-regulating center.
Is Pain Medication Really for You?
This pain and frequency relationship is especially strong, they say, between first bouts and subsequent ones.
And each time it does, it will be more severe, and likely cause more disability.
The authors point out that spine pain is one of the top five disabling conditions in the U.S.
While the NSAIDs did help with the pain, it wasnt that much.
One very popular strategy you might try is exercise.
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