Your Favorite OTC Pain Medicine

[Utopiate]

What is your favorite OTC pain reliever?

My favorite is acetaminophen, Tylenol brand only. I know it's bad, hepatotoxic, but it really works for me.

I'm also experimenting with the new Bayer Advanced aspirin. I think they reduced the size of the molecule somehow, so it might be considered a separate pain reliever.

So, I'm wondering what the favorites are here at PR.

Here's my list of the USA domestic OTC pain relievers, in order of my preference:

Acetaminophen

Naproxen

Aspirin

Ibuprofen


Did I leave any out?

[Quaalude]

Favorite OTC painkiller is the old-school Percogesic. Been a fan of this product for years and a pretty simple combo of acetaminophen and sedating antihistamine per tab. Provides a nice, relaxing body buzz and great for headaches and body aches.

IMO, Bayer Advanced Strength Aspirin is sales gimmick. All the fancy graphics and scientific talk about molecular size...please. I'd purchase a $.99 generic bottle of aspirin ANY DAY over a $10 bottle of "advanced aspirin". My aches and pains can wait for a regular tab to kick in for a $9 savings. I don't care if I felt it instantaneously , it's highway robbery for something as cheap as aspirin. Hate to be a downer guys but you're paying for the patent, fancy packaging and the advertising.

[betsky]

CI'd have to say ibuprophen, as an antiinflamitory aand pk.
Unisom? The older formulation with doxicyclon not benadryl.0_@

Best. Of luck on your pr journey

Betsky,

[teresita]

Mine is advil liquid gels, name brand only. Seems they work better than generics and the liquid gels go to work faster. Sometimes on bad days I take one with my tramadol and it helps.

[Roswell1947]

Mine is advil liquid gels, name brand only.
Seems they work better than generics and the liquid gels
go to work faster.

Thx @teresita . Gotta try those.
Usually 800mg Motrin or 2 Aleve.
Excederin Extra too but it's temp off the market (recall)

[audacity]

Ibuprofen without a doubt. Aspirin a not too far second. Acetaminophen is garbage; no anti-inflammatory properties, poor pharmacokinetics, and average effectiveness. If your stomach is made of tissue paper, then it's fine, but I expect my NSAID's to actually live up to its acronym.

[poocheroo]

For my back pain definitely tylenol. For anything else (lady stuff) Advil, works pretty well.

[strungoutlagwagon]

Naproxen (Aleve) works amazing for me for back/neck pain. I usually take it or at least have it on hand when I'm working. (I work as an electrician, so being in awkward positions for extended periods is definitely pain inducing).

For headaches, I swear by the mixture in Excedrin Migraine. I believe it's Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and Caffeine. Could be wrong about the ibu though.

[shaffekm]

Naproxen (Aleve) works amazing for me for back/neck pain. I usually take it or at least have it on hand when I'm working. (I work as an electrician, so being in awkward positions for extended periods is definitely pain inducing).

For headaches, I swear by the mixture in Excedrin Migraine. I believe it's Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and Caffeine. Could be wrong about the ibu though.

Active ingredient in Excedrin Migraine is Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Caffeine.

[strungoutlagwagon]

Active ingredient in Excedrin Migraine is Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Caffeine.

Thanks for fixing that. I knew the ibuprofen didn't sound right!

[IGoeOn]

Agreed. Good taste!

Mine is advil liquid gels, name brand only. Seems they work better than generics and the liquid gels go to work faster. Sometimes on bad days I take one with my tramadol and it helps.

[JoeyButtafuoco]

Hard to beat small dose aspirin daily. Do some research and you would be surprised at this wonder pill

For OTC pain-1 ibu, 1 naproxen

Dormin

[brandon7467]

800 mg of Ibuprofen for me. Maybe a naproxen on top of that but for my pain ibuprofen works best

[rustyRORER714]

when the lady hands me my prescription roxy's over the counter LOL LOL

[emerald]

I think ibuprofen is my favorite. It seems to help with a variety of things, especially headaches.

My ex used to like BC Powders after a night out. I guess it's the combo of aspirin and caffeine that gives a jolt. I didn't mind those, either. But these days I just stick with Advil for aches and fevers, etc.

[H20shed65]

I'm an Aspirin man..all the way! Not a huge fan of Tylenol(acetaminophen) due to potential liver toxicity issues. I like the NSAIDS too, but unless I've got a killer toothache and no Rx pain meds, It's aspirin or nada for me.

[cajunbulldog]

Alleve keeps my flare ups to a minimum so four of them daily for me.

[Lazyboy]

I switch out from Motrin to Advil daily (as my doctor suggested) and it seems to work well for my arthritis. Apparently by switching meds it makes the body react better, or so I'm told. It is what I do daily and so far it is working well. I just wish there was more I could do for my pain on the days my arthritis flairs up but don't we all?

[RAZZEL]

I switch out from Motrin to Advil daily (as my doctor suggested) and it seems to work well for my arthritis. Apparently by switching meds it makes the body react better, or so I'm told. It is what I do daily and so far it is working well. I just wish there was more I could do for my pain on the days my arthritis flairs up but don't we all?

The 222's (asprin and tylenol) from Canada. They are over the counter there!

[shaffekm]

What is your favorite OTC pain reliever?

My favorite is acetaminophen, Tylenol brand only. I know it's bad, hepatotoxic, but it really works for me.

I'm also experimenting with the new Bayer Advanced aspirin. I think they reduced the size of the molecule somehow, so it might be considered a separate pain reliever.

So, I'm wondering what the favorites are here at PR.

Here's my list of the USA domestic OTC pain relievers, in order of my preference:

Acetaminophen

Naproxen

Aspirin

Ibuprofen


Did I leave any out?

Ketoprofen and Celecoxib (Celebrex) are NSAIDs, not over the counter though. Ketoprofen used to be, but was pulled and placed behind the counter.