4 Common Pain Relievers — and When to Use Them

What’s the best over-the-counter pain medication? It depends on what hurts — and why. 

“If you can target the pain with a medication that treats the underlying cause, the pain relief will be better,” says Sunny Linnebur, a professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Aurora. 

Although your specific health conditions can alter the equation, here’s a general look at what’s best for what ails you.

1. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Midol), Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan)

What it is/What they are: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) that reduce fever and block prostaglandins, compounds that cause pain and inflammation

Best for: Headaches, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, toothaches, backaches, sunburn. These are safer choices than aspirin for those with bleeding risks.

Don’t use for: Nerve pain

Avoid if: You take blood thinners or have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart failure, or a history of ulcers or liver or kidney disease.

2. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, FeverAll, Panadol)

What it is/What they are: An analgesic and antifever medication that works in the brain to reduce mild to moderate pain by changing the way the body senses pain

Best for: Headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, toothaches, backaches, and sprains and strains. Best painkiller for people with GI issues

Don’t use for: Nerve pain or inflammatory conditions like arthritis

Avoid if: You are a heavy drinker. Take no more than 4,000 mg daily to avoid liver issues.

3. Aspirin

What it is/What they are: An NSAID that stops the production of prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation. It also reduces fever and blood clotting.

Best for: Headaches, arthritis, toothaches, muscle aches, sprains, strains. It’s also the only NSAID that reduces heart attack and stroke risk, though adults 60 and older should not start an aspirin regimen to lower their risk of a first heart attack or stroke, new guidelines say.

Don’t use for: Wounds or bruises (aspirin may promote bleeding) or nerve pain (it just won’t touch it)

Avoid if: You take blood thinners or have uncontrolled high blood pressure, kidney disease, or ulcers or other bleeding risks.

4. Topical pain relievers

What it is/What they are: Anesthetics that temporarily relieve pain at the skin’s surface. A topical NSAID called diclofenac sodium topical gel 1 percent can be effective for joint pain.

Best for: Neuropathic pain, nerve pain, sunburn, joint pain and soft-tissue injuries

Don’t use for: Wounds, open sores, headaches, toothaches

Avoid if: You are allergic to lidocaine. If you have liver or heart issues, don’t use the medication without consulting your doctor.

Don’t forget to talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking — even the over-the-counter variety. Just because they are available without a prescription doesn’t mean they are free of potentially harmful side effects and drug interactions.