Pain Relievers (2024)

FAQs

What are the best pain reliever? ›

Naproxen (Aleve) is the most powerful anti-inflammatory pain reliever available without a prescription. It is especially effective for sprains, sunburns and arthritis and other conditions. Similar doses of Naproxen tend to last longer than other non-prescription pain relievers.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin/citric acid/sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer), naproxen (Aleve), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin are some of the top-rated over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medications.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually safer for older adults than other pain medicines. Topical pain medicines (also called topical analgesics) can also help.

People sometimes refer to a specific over-the-counter medication (OTC)--Tylenol, aspirin, Advil, etc. --even if they don't have a specific brand in mind. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers all three effective for the same minor aches and pains.

Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is usually recommended as a first line treatment for mild to moderate pain. It might be taken for pain due to a skin injury, headache, or conditions that affect the muscles and bones. Acetaminophen is often prescribed to help manage osteoarthritis and back pain.

IV morphine, for example, acts the fastest. Within 5–10 minutes , a person can feel pain relief. Intramuscular injections take a little longer, between 10 and 30 minutes. Oral opioids may take about 30 minutes before they start working.

Opioid medicines, such as codeine, morphine and oxycodone – these medicines are reserved for severe or cancer pain. Local anaesthetics (drops, sprays, creams or injections) – used when nerves can be easily reached.

Naproxen (Aleve) is the strongest NSAID available without a prescription. Pain relief lasts longer, so you do not have to take it as often as ibuprofen (Advil).

If you're over 65, ibuprofen can make you more likely to get stomach ulcers. Your doctor will prescribe you a medicine to protect your stomach if you're taking ibuprofen for a long-term condition.

What are 5 drugs to avoid in the elderly? ›

To avoid addiction, many doctors, patients and health authorities have sought an alternative that provides as much relief from pain without creating the dependence on use. Vertex's drug, code-named VX-548, belongs to a new class of medicines that targets molecular mechanisms involved in feeling pain.

There are two main types of OTC pain medicines: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are examples of OTC NSAIDs.

For most older adults, the safest oral OTC painkiller for daily or frequent use is acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol), provided you are careful to not exceed a total dose of 3,000mg per day. Acetaminophen is usually called paracetamol outside the U.S.

A relatively new analgesic, tramadol, appears to be a useful therapy for patients who do not receive adequate pain relief with acetaminophen and are at risk for NSAID-related side effects. For localized chronic pain associated with OA, topical capsaicin is also an effective analgesic.

While acetaminophen only works in the brain, ibuprofen works in the brain and the rest of the body. This means acetaminophen only helps reduce pain and fever, while ibuprofen has the added benefit of reducing inflammation and swelling at the site of an injury.

Naproxen (Aleve) is the strongest NSAID available without a prescription. Pain relief lasts longer, so you do not have to take it as often as ibuprofen (Advil).

Is there a difference between hydrocodone and oxycodone? One key difference is that oxycodone is more potent than hydrocodone. This means that it takes less oxycodone to produce the same effects as hydrocodone. Oxycodone is also more likely to be abused than hydrocodone because it produces stronger effects.