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Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are medicines that you can buy at a store without a prescription from your health care provider. They can decrease or stop pain. They can also lower fevers. But not all pain relievers work the same way. Some kinds of pain respond better to one pain medicine than another.

OTC pain relievers can be helpful in treating many types of pain. These can include headaches, arthritis pain, earaches, toothaches, back pain, and pain after surgery. They can also treat pain from a cold or the flu, sinusitis, or a sore throat.

For most people, OTC medicines relieve their symptoms. If an OTC medicine doesn’t help you, contact your healthcare provider. You may have another issue and need a prescription medicine.

There are two main types of OTC pain relievers:  acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs).

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) seems to work on the parts of the brain that receive pain messages. It also works with the part that controls body temperature.

Use acetaminophen to:

• Relieve headaches
• Ease common aches and pains
• Treat arthritis and other chronic painful conditions
• Lower fevers

Acetaminophen doesn’t reduce inflammation the way other pain medicines do. But it has fewer side effects. This makes it safer for long-term use and for children.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Your body makes prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance that irritates your nerve endings and creates the feeling of pain. NSAIDs reduce the level of prostaglandins in your body. This reduces the feeling of pain.

• NSAIDs are helpful to:
• Reduce fever
• Relieve menstrual cramps
• Relieve pain caused by muscle aches and stiffness
• Reduce and ease pain from inflammation (swelling), such as with muscle sprains

There are several types of NSAIDs, including:

• Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (Brand Name Aspirin)
• Ibuprofen (some brand names: Advil, Motrin)
• Naproxen (brand name: Aleve)

How do I safely take OTC pain relievers?

Read the directions on the drug facts label before taking any medicine. Learn how much to take and how often to take it. If you have any questions about how much medicine to take, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Follow these tips to make sure you are taking the right amount of medicine:

• Take only the amount recommended on the medicine’s label. Don’t assume that more medicine will work better or quicker. Taking more than the recommended amount can be dangerous.
• If you are taking a prescription medicine, ask your healthcare provider if it’s okay to also take an OTC pain reliever.
• Don’t use more than 1 OTC pain reliever at a time unless your healthcare provider says it’s okay. They may have similar active ingredients. Taking more than 1 can lead to other health problems.

 Never give aspirin to children younger than 18 years old. Keep a record of which OTC medicines you are taking and when you take them. If you need to go to a healthcare provider, take this list with you.

How can I safely store OTC pain relievers?

Store all medicines out of reach and out of sight of young children. Keep them in a cool, dry place so they don’t lose effectiveness. Don’t store them in bathrooms, which can get hot and humid

Things to consider

Most healthy adults who use pain relievers once in a while don’t have side effects. However, talk with your healthcare provider if you take OTC pain relievers often. Taking them frequently can cause harmful side effects.

Acetaminophen

 Sometimes, acetaminophen can lead to liver damage. You’re more prone to this if you take it too much or while drinking alcohol. For an adult, more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen (8 extra-strength 500 mg tablets) a day is too much.

Do not take acetaminophen if you:

• Have severe kidney or liver disease
• Have 3 or more alcoholic drinks per day
• Are already taking another product containing acetaminophen

NSAIDs

Serious side effects when taking NSAIDs can develop quickly, including:

• Upset stomach and bruising or risk of bleeding in the stomach.
• Kidney damage
• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
• Skin reactions, such as a rash or blisters

Talk with your health care provider before you take an NSAID, especially aspirin, if you:

• Are allergic to aspirin or other pain relievers
• Have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day
• Have bleeding in the stomach or intestines, or have peptic (stomach) ulcers
• Have liver or kidney disease
• Have heart disease
• Have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day
• Take blood-thinning medicine or have a bleeding disorder

Children and teenagers younger than 18 years of age should not take aspirin.