Pain medication
Also, people with heart failure should avoid this medication due to its sodium content. People under the age of 19 should not take aspirin because doing so has been linked to Reye’s syndrome - a condition that can damage the liver and brain - if taken in uncontrolled doses. Eight out of 10 reviewers said Alka-Seltzer was worth taking.īecause it contains aspirin, this OTC pain relief medication has the same warnings and precautions as taking plain aspirin, including blood-thinning effects. Antacids work to neutralize stomach acid and tend to be most effective for pain caused by stomach upset and heartburn, as opposed to other types of pain. In aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer), the aspirin works as a pain reliever, while the sodium bicarbonate and citric acid are antacids. Aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate – worth it score: 78% If your healthcare provider gave you a prescription for ibuprofen, make sure you follow their instructions on how much to safely take. The maximum daily dose is 1,200 mg for the OTC version of this pain reliever. The side effects of ibuprofen are like those of most NSAIDs, including:ĭo not take the medication if you have a history of a kidney disorder without speaking to a healthcare provider. But you may start to feel the effects of it just 30 minutes after taking it. In general, ibuprofen reaches its peak level in the blood about 1 to 2 hours after you take it. How quickly ibuprofen starts to work depends on whether you are taking the liquid or tablet form as well as on individual factors like your body composition. Since it’s an OTC anti-inflammatory, ibuprofen can be especially effective for some types of pain like arthritis, joint pain, and muscle pain. In fact, out of 892 reviewers, nearly 9 out of 10 said the drug was worth taking. Many people consider this to be one of the best pain relief medications. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that treats pain, fever, and swelling. We’ll also cover important considerations to keep in mind for each pain relief medication. These scores take into account factors like effectiveness and side effects, which we’ll cover in more detail. We’ve included “worth it” scores below for the top 5 OTC pain relievers to reflect how well they worked for the people reviewing them.
Turns out most people find that OTC pain relievers work well - at least 75% of reviewers said each of the below medications was worth it. Our sample included more than 4,000 people. The reviews were based on users’ real-life experiences with these medications. To find out how satisfied people were with OTC pain relievers, we went through a database of drug reviews from our friends at Iodine. In addition to brand-name OTC pain relievers, pharmacies carry generic versions, which are generally cheaper and work just as well. They’re also more affordable and easy to find. Unlike prescription pain medications containing opioids, OTC painkillers aren’t habit-forming and likely won’t leave you feeling groggy, dizzy, or constipated. Have a headache, a pulled muscle, or cramps? Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen may be able to help.