Acetaminophen is generally considered safer than other nonopioid pain relievers because it doesn't cause side effects such as stomach pain and bleeding.
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.
Paracetamol is generally considered to be safer than other commonly used analgesics such as NSAIDs or opiates.
Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, ibuprofen may be more effective than acetaminophen for treating inflammatory pain conditions. However, acetaminophen carries a lower risk of serious side effects than ibuprofen.
Painkillers that are available without a prescription have been approved for the treatment of mild to moderate pain. They shouldn't be used for more than a few days in a row, and the specified maximum daily dose shouldn't be exceeded.
Most plans for managing long-term pain include simple pain-relief medications: paracetamol and NSAIDs. However, if pain continues or becomes more severe, stronger medication may be needed. This will usually be opiate-based and can include codeine, tramadol or morphine.
Deep-brain stimulation, or DBS, may offer an alternative to existing treatments. It is already used to treat epilepsy and movement disorders, and there is emerging evidence that it may be effective for chronic pain.
It's safe to take paracetamol regularly for many years, as long as you do not take more than the recommended dose.
Long-term use of paracetamol may also cause heart problems. The systematic review of eight observational studies showed that four found a heightened risk, ranging from 19 to 68 percent, of cardiovascular problems. Higher doses of paracetamol was also associated with heart attack and stroke, according to another study.
The MH verdict: ibuprofen wins!
An easy pill to swallow for the one in three who don't know the difference anyway, but ibuprofen's anti-inflammatory firepower blows paracetamol out of the pharmacy. Just use the lowest effective dose, and use sparingly. You can tough out the odd case of DOMS.
You shouldn't take ibuprofen if you: have a history of a strong, unpleasant reaction (hypersensitivity) to aspirin or other NSAIDs. have a current or recent stomach ulcer, or you have had one in the past. have severe heart failure.
Naproxen. Another anti-inflammatory drug, which works much like ibuprofen. Some studies show this may be a better choice than ibuprofen for people at risk for heart disease.
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. If OTC medicines don't relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe something stronger.
Because of their mind-altering properties, the most misused prescription drugs are: Opioids used to treat pain, such as medicines containing oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet) and those containing hydrocodone (Norco)
While both medicines are safe, paracetamol has fewer risks associated with it among groups of people such as the elderly, and those with kidney disease or prone to gastrointestinal bleeding.
However, if you have pain that requires stronger pain relief than paracetamol, talk to your doctor. They might prescribe co-codamol if they think this is the best option for you.
Having said that, there is very little difference between the majority of Nurofen products and a standard ibuprofen product - especially because the doses of the active ingredients are the same in both products. However, Nurofen's fast acting tablets do just that, and act faster than your standard ibuprofen product.
Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin) is particularly effective for treating headaches and reducing fevers. “Acetaminophen is often the OTC pain reliever I recommend first for minor ailments,” Dr. Miller says.
Disease can also be the underlying cause of chronic pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia are well-known culprits, but persistent pain may also be due to such ailments as cancer, multiple sclerosis, stomach ulcers, AIDS, and gallbladder disease.