| Whether you’ve got a nagging back, a | | | | irritation. You can reduce stomach upset |
| sprained ankle, or cramps you curse each | | | | by com-bining ibuprofen with food, or |
| month, here’s our guide to which pain | | | | with acid reducers (like Tagamet or |
| reliever works best. | | | | Zantac) or acid blockers (like |
| Workout Aches | | | | Prilosec). |
| Works best: Acetaminophen | | | | Killer Headaches |
| As Tylenol, acetaminophen has been | | | | Works best: Caffeine combos |
| available over the counter for years. | | | | The caffeine in Excedrin (which contains |
| Kinder to the stomach than Advil | | | | aspirin and acetaminophen) and Anacin |
| (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen sodium), | | | | (which contains aspirin) turbocharges |
| acetaminophen is a good option for many | | | | the action of those pain relievers. Some |
| ailments typically treated with those | | | | studies suggest the caffeine-boosted |
| other drugs. In fact, acetaminophen is | | | | versions are better than aspirin or |
| the first choice of many pain | | | | acetaminophen alone for headaches. The |
| specialists for relieving delayed-onset | | | | FDA has approved Excedrin for migraines; |
| muscle soreness from working out, mild | | | | both drugs are an option for sore backs |
| arthritis pain and stiffness, headaches, | | | | and menstrual cramps. |
| and mild to moderate joint and back | | | | Use something else if you get headaches |
| pain. It’s also the best choice for | | | | frequently. Caffeine constricts blood |
| pregnant women because it doesn’t | | | | vessels, and when it wears off, it can |
| appear to boost miscarriage risks the | | | | prompt agonizing rebound headaches. This |
| way aspirin and ibuprofen do. | | | | is unlikely with occasional use, but if |
| Use something else if you regularly | | | | migraines dog you, ask your doctor if |
| drink a fair amount of alcohol. Mixed | | | | prescription medications make more |
| with more than three glasses of alcohol | | | | sense. |
| a day, acetaminophen can wreak havoc on | | | | Long-Lasting Relief |
| your liver. It’s not clear whether | | | | Works best: Naproxen sodium |
| fewer drinks put women at risk, but | | | | As Aleve or Naprosyn, this OTC and |
| experts still urge caution. Whether you | | | | prescription NSAID works in much the |
| drink or not, it’s important to pay | | | | same way as ibuprofen, and is good for |
| attention to how much of this drug you | | | | the same ailments. But it lasts longer |
| take: It’s easy to overdose | | | | (8 to 12 hours versus 6 for ibuprofen), |
| unwittingly, because there are more than | | | | so you probably won’t have to take it |
| 400 products that contain it. The | | | | as often. It’s a good choice if you |
| recommended daily dose is 4,000 | | | | have a condition that’s likely to be |
| milligrams, or roughly 8 to 12 pills, | | | | around for a while—if you’ve had |
| depending on the strength. Overshooting | | | | minor surgery, for instance, or if you |
| that mark can cause big trouble—like | | | | have arthritis. |
| liver failure. | | | | Use something else if your risk of heart |
| Painful Periods | | | | disease is above average. New data |
| Works best: Ibuprofen | | | | suggests that naproxen, like Vioxx, |
| A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug | | | | might be unfriendly to your heart. |
| (NSAID), ibuprofen blocks key enzymes | | | | Though the evidence is anything but |
| involved in the production of body | | | | conclusive, use it sparingly and check |
| chemicals that trigger pain, fever, | | | | with your physician. |
| inflammation, and uterine contractions. | | | | Arthritis |
| Often purchased over the counter as | | | | Works best: Etodolac |
| Advil or Motrin, it can ease menstrual | | | | You may not have heard of this |
| cramps. It’s also good for pain caused | | | | prescription NSAID, but it may be a |
| by acute inflammation from muscle | | | | smart replacement for Vioxx. In studies |
| sprains, tendonitis, and bursitis, and | | | | it seems to be as easy on the stomach as |
| for irritation and redness from cuts and | | | | that drug, but it’s half as expensive, |
| bruises. Experts say it’s a good | | | | just as effective, and safer. A 2004 |
| choice for injuries where there’s | | | | study found that Etodolac caused 60 |
| swelling. | | | | percent fewer GI tract complications |
| Use something else if you have a | | | | than drugstore NSAIDs, protected the |
| sensitive stomach. Because they stop | | | | stomach as well as Vioxx, and didn’t |
| secretion of stomach-coating mucus, | | | | boost heart risks. |
| NSAIDs like ibuprofen are hard on the | | | | Use something else if more convenient |
| stomach and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, | | | | OTC choices get the job done without |
| and can sometimes cause ulcers. A 2004 | | | | causing stomach problems. Also, keep in |
| Baylor College of Medicine study showed | | | | mind that even Etodolac can cause some |
| that 71 percent of people who take an | | | | stomach irritation if you use it for a |
| NSAID for 3 months or more have GI tract | | | | long time. |