"Take two aspiririn and call me in the morning." The simplicity
and effectiveness of pain medications has made them a staple of home health
care. But there are differences among all the products that line multiple
shelves at the pharmacy. Here's how to select the right product for
you and your aches.
Ibuprofen
Best For: Toothache, headache, postworkout soreness, sprains, back pain. Ibuprofen
(e.g., Advil) blocks enzymes that produce inflammatory compounds called
prostaglandins.
Take: 200 to 400 mg every four to six hours but no more than 1,200 mg in 24 hours.
Beware: It suppresses Inflammation so well that it may impede cold or flu recovery.
A chronic imbalance of prostaglandins and other chemicals can raise your
heart attack and stroke risk.
Naproxen
Best For: Tendinitis or bursitis, headache, body aches. Like ibuprofen, this Aleve
ingredient is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which limits
the production of prostaglandins.
Take: One or two 220 mg tablets every eight to 12 hours but no more than 660
mg in 24 hours.
Beware: Naproxen and ibuprofen increase sun sensitivity. And like other NSAIDs,
they may cause GI side effects. Cardiac risk is uncertain, but check with
your doctor if you have heart issues.
Aspirin
Best For: The same aches you'd use ibuprofen and naproxen to treat. This pill
blocks production of both prostaglandins and cyclooxygenase, a precursor
in the inflammatory process.
Take: One or two 325 mg tablets every four hours but no more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours.
Beware: GI risks include stomach ulcers. Aspirin also blocks a clotting compound,
making bleeding hard to stop. Watch for swelling or trouble breathing;
1 percent of people are allergic.
Acetaminophen
Best For: Headache, fever, or any minor aches without swelling—acetaminophen
(e.g., Tylenol) doesn't ease inflammation. It may work by blocking
an enzyme in your nervous system.
Take: 325 to 1,000 mg every four to eight hours but no more than 3,900 mg in 24 hours.
Beware: Don't use it for a hangover, or if you regularly have two or more
drinks a day; it can damage your liver. Read the labels of cough and cold
meds—many contain acetaminophen.
SOURCES: NICOLE GATTAS, PHARM.D., B.C. P.S., ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY;
VERNON WILLIAMS, M.D., KERLAN-JOBE ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC, LOS ANGELES; DANIEL
NEIDES, M.D., CLEVELAND CLINIC WELLNESS INSTITUTE