If you’re in pain and want over-the-counter medications to relieve the pain, you have plenty of options.
There’s acetaminophen, or Tylenol. There’s ibuprofen, which is found in products like Advil and Motrin. There’s aspirin, which, like ibuprofen, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). And there’s naproxen, which is found in Aleve, which is also an NSAID.
So what’s the difference between these products, and why would you choose one over the other when you have a headache or other pain?
That’s why we, Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, HuffPost’s podcast “Am I Doing It Wrong?” – Asked Dr. Darryl Brown, a pain management and anesthesiology specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City He stopped by our studio to talk about the best ways to manage pain.
Press play on your player to hear the full episode.
“Over-the-counter medications work and should be the first choice for pain you feel at home,” Brown says. “I think of pain in two categories: medications that affect how you experience pain, and medications that actually treat the inflammation that’s causing the pain.”
Acetaminophen, or Tylenol, alters the perception of pain.
“It’s a very safe drug and can be taken during pregnancy, but it doesn’t necessarily address the inflammation that’s causing the acute pain,” Brown says.
Doctors and scientists don’t fully understand how acetaminophen relieves pain.
One “A promising, but still speculative, explanation“The downside of this drug is that it inhibits the production of certain enzymes in the brain, which may block the further transmission of pain nerve impulses,” meaning that while the pain sensation is dulled or eliminated, it does not resolve the inflammation that may be causing the pain.
“Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, and Motrin treat the actual inflammation,” Brown explains, “meaning they inhibit an enzyme to stop ongoing inflammation, thus treating pain.”
So if you have a headache, should you take acetaminophen or an NSAID?
“That’s a good question. It depends on what’s causing the headache,” he said. “I think Tylenol is the best first-line treatment to start with.” [because] It is centrally acting. Headaches are generally centrally acting because they involve the perception of pain. It is also a drug that carries very low risk for taking. [generally] There are no side effects whatsoever.”
If your headache is accompanied by muscular or skeletal pain or inflammation, an NSAID may be a better choice. There are also products that combine both types of medication, which may be a good option for some people and their symptoms.
Of course, you also need to consider potential side effects, frequency of use of these medications, and dosage. For example: Taking high doses of Tylenol It can cause liver damage. Advil can cause stomach upset and be dangerous for people with kidney disease or renal failure.and other issues, so it’s always wise to consult a medical professional before making any health-related decisions.
We also spoke with Dr. Brown about how cannabis can relieve pain, when to see a doctor if you’re in pain, the clinical differences between “shooting pains” and “throbbing pains” and other types of pain, and what causes them.
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