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.

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.

Unlike NSAIDs , acetaminophen doesn't target inflammation at the site of injury — only pain. Benefits and risks. Acetaminophen is generally considered safer than other pain relievers. It doesn't cause side effects such as stomach pain and bleeding.

Opium and its derivatives have been known for millennia to relieve pain. Laudanum, or tincture of opium (a mixture of opium and alcohol), was used as early as the 1600s as an analgesic.

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.

The reason Tylenol is "the pain reliever hospitals use most," as the ads say, has little to do with quality, a consumer-advocacy magazine contends. Rather, Tylenol is, among other things, cheaper to hospitals than other brands, thanks to deep discounting by its maker, Johnson & Johnson.

What is the most effective painkiller for arthritis? ›

NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling. The problem is that some of those enzymes also help blood to clot and protect the lining of your stomach.

Tramadol. Tramadol is a powerful painkiller related to morphine that can be used to treat neuropathic pain that does not respond to other treatments a GP can prescribe. Like all opioids, tramadol can be addictive if it's taken for a long time. It'll usually only be prescribed for a short time.

The strongest painkiller for moderate to severe pain is a combination of medications such as codeine and acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen relieves fever and headaches, and other common aches and pains. It does not relieve inflammation. This medicine does not cause as many stomach problems as other pain medicines do. It is also safer for children.

Pain medicines include the following: Opioids, powerful pain medicines that lower the perception of pain, may be given after surgery. Intravenous opioids may include fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone and tramadol.

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.

Which Is More Effective at Relieving Pain? Since naproxen and ibuprofen work in the same way, they are generally equally effective for relieving pain. However, the type of pain you're experiencing may help you decide which to take. On average, Aleve lasts eight to twelve hours, while Advil lasts just four to six hours.

Ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) are both NSAID pain relievers that are fast and effective at providing pain relief, reducing inflammation, and fighting a fever. Ibuprofen works in as little as 20 minutes, whereas naproxen needs about an hour to take effect.