For many of us, whether it’s combating chronic headaches, mild body aches and pains, PMS, or old injuries, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications can be crucial to getting through the week. But over-usage of these medications do have their disadvantages.
The two most commonly used types of OTC pain meds are ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or acetaminophen (Tylonol). Each one has slightly different properties and should be used accordingly.
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which means that it reduces swelling, pain, and fever in the body by blocking natural substances that cause inflammation. It is best used to treat headaches, fevers, sore throat, menstrual cramps, and body aches.
But prolonged usage of ibuprofen can result in stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal issues, and increase risk for cardiovascular disease, which is why many doctors recommend alternating doses with acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen is also a pain reliever and fever reducer, but rather than hitting the pain where it’s happening (by reducing the inflammation in that area), it’s thought to work by blocking pain receptors in the brain. This means that it’s better for headaches, rather than a sore elbow for instance.
Acetaminophen also comes with risk factors, mainly that overdosage can cause liver damage, which is why it’s extremely important to check all of your medications when taking acetaminophen, because lots of OTC medications contain it — including many cold, allergy, pain or sleep medications.
Many experts say that best practices for alternating doses of these medications is to use ibuprofen for body aches (including injuries and muscle pains) and fever reduction, while acetaminophen is better for headaches and arthritis.
Written by Olivia Murphy
