Here are some guidelines to help you choose which painkiller is best for you:
Generic name: Aspirin. Branded as Bayer, Bufferin.
Best for: relieving fever, headache.
Be careful if: you have hemophilia, because aspirin thins the blood and prevents blood clotting. Or if you have gastrointestinal bleeding, because aspirin prevents the stomach lining from protecting itself. Or if you have children, who should not take aspirin because it has been associated with Reye’s syndrome, a potentially deadly disease.
Details: Aspirin is the oldest pain reliever in the gang, patented by Bayer in 1900. Aspirin can be very effective in preventing heart attacks, as it thins the blood. Doctors advise people with a history of heart disease to keep a bottle on hand.
Generic name: Ibuprofen. Branded as Advil, Motrin. Best for relieving swollen muscles, arthritis.
Be careful if: You have kidney problems. Ibuprofen is metabolized by the kidneys and can damage the organs if taken too often. Or if you have hypertension. You should take it sparingly, because it can cause high blood pressure. If you have diabetes, you can take ibuprofen, but not too often, because diabetes weakens the kidneys.
Details: Take extra care to avoid ibuprofen if you haven’t eaten because it can easily irritate the stomach lining.
Generic name: Acetaminophen. Branded as Tylenol.
Best for: relieving fever and pain.
Be careful if: you have liver damage or any liver disease. The liver metabolizes acetaminophen, and too much can exacerbate liver damage. Or if you are drinking alcohol. The liver also metabolizes alcohol, so if taken in combination with acetaminophen, it can overwhelm the liver.
Details: Ariel Green, a Johns Hopkins resident, says acetaminophen is often her first choice when a patient complains of pain or fever. “It has the least side effects. . . . It’s our go-to.”
Generic name: Naproxen. Branded as Aleve, Naprosyn.
Best for: relieving menstrual pain.
Be careful if: You have gastrointestinal problems, because naproxen can irritate the stomach lining. Or if you have kidney problems, because naproxen is metabolized by the kidneys and can damage the organs if too much is taken.
Details: Naproxen can be used for sore muscles, but pharmacist Simone Orekoya does not think it is as effective as ibuprofen. For women with menstrual pain, he suggests a naproxen with sodium, which will make the medicine more soluble. The Washington Post
