Q: I never know what type of on -the -counter pain medication to use for different types of pain, such as headaches, stride ankles or painful muscles. What works best for these unique situations?
When you have various ailments and pain, it can be difficult to decide which over -the -counter analgesic is better suited to your affliction – Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, Motrin?
The choice, according to experts, really comes down to two classes of drugs: acetaminophen and non-steroidal (or NSAID) anti-inflammatory drugs.
Everyone deals with pain in their own way, said Mary Lynn McPherson, professor at the Pharmacy School of the University of Maryland. And not all types of pain meet both, she added.
Here’s how to say what types of pain these drugs are the most effective in relieving and how to use them safely.
How they work
NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxene (Aleve) and Aspirin (Bayer), help relieve pain by rushing to inflammation sites throughout the body, said Dr. Katherin Peperzak, medical director of the Center for Pain Relief at Washington Medical Center.
