A guide to pain-relieving drugs

Advil had long been my go-to pain-reliving drug. It worked well for my arthritis pain, but I learned, too late, that it was the cause of my acid reflux, so I quit taking it, which put an end to that side effect. Anyhow, The New York Times published a useful guide to pain relievers, which I’ll summarize here.

There are two types of pain relievers: acetaminophen (Tylenol), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and aspirin.  NSAIDs help relieve pain by rushing to sites of inflammation throughout the body. They reduce or block two enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) that are involved in inflammation and pain. Tylenol acts on receptors in the brain and spinal cord, but scientists aren’t sure how it works.

NSAIDs are best at treating inflammation pain anywhere in the body, whether it’s localized, such as a toothache, or spread throughout, such as arthritis. All the NSAIDs work similarly, so you’re advised to choose the one that works best for you. Aleve (naproxen) keeps pain away longer than the others—about 12 hours. The others last for about six hours.

Tylenol is most effective for mild pain, such as body aches or mild arthritis. It won’t treat symptoms of inflammation, such as swelling or redness.

You can take Tylenol and NSAIDs together, either at the same time or by alternating them, a technique that lets you benefit from both mechanisms. However, avoid mixing NSAIDs, such as Advil and Aleve.

Avoid too many NSAIDs at once or for long periods of time. Such usage increases your risk of developing chronic acid reflux, nausea, ulcers or kidney problems. Doing so also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. Tylenol is less likely to cause such side effects, although it can be toxic to your liver when taken at high doses.

I now take a prescription drug called diclofenac, which is an NSAID. It was prescribed at the time of my knee replacements and seems to work well. I only take it a couple of times a week. Tylenol doesn’t do much for me. 

For an introduction to this blog, see I Just Say No; for a list of blog topics, click the Topics tab.

For an introduction to this blog, see I Just Say No; for a list of blog topics, click the Topics tab.