There are many different types of pain medicines. Some only relieve pain. Some treat both pain and swelling. Here’s a closer look at what you should know about some popular pain medicines.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) relieves pain and fever, but not swelling. Therefore it is often used to treat headaches or sinus pain. It is unclear exactly how acetaminophen works. It can be bought without a prescription, but that does not mean it’s risk-free. It can cause serious damage to the liver at higher than recommended doses.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or “NSAIDs” are another type of pain medicine. For some NSAIDs you must have a prescription, but others you can buy over-the-counter. NSAIDs treat both pain and swelling.
NSAIDs work by blocking an enzyme called COX. There are two forms of the COX enzyme in the body:
• COX-1, which is found in the body and is important for protecting the stomach lining
• COX-2, which is made when joints are damaged and may cause some of the pain and swelling of arthritis
Non-selective NSAIDs act on both forms of the COX enzyme. Naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil), and aspirin are all examples of NSAIDs that block both types of enzymes.
There are other types of NSAIDs called COX-2 specific inhibitors. They target the COX-2 enzyme, but not the COX-1. CELEBREX