OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS
OTC
 Prescription not necessary

NSAIDS
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Prescription needed
 

NARCOTICS
Possibly Addictive or Habit Forming
Prescription needed

Analgesic                          Anti-inflammatory                                                     Antipyretic activity
                     

Analgesic activity only

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) 325 mg (4 hours)

Advil (ibuprofen) 200 mg (4 hours)   

Aleve (naproxen) 200 mg (8 hours)  

Excedrin (Aspirin with caffeine)          

Orudis (ketoprofen) 50 mg                                                               

Relafen (nambutetone 500 and 750 mg

Celebrex (celecoxib) 50, 100, 200, 400 mg

Clinoril (sulindac) 150, 200 mg

Motrin/Ibuprofen 400, 800 mg

Naprosyn, Anaprox (naproxen) 250, 375, 500 mg

Indocin (indomethacin) 25 and 50 mg

Orudis (ketoprofen) 75 mg            

Feldene 10/20 mg
 
             

Ultram (tramadol) 50, 100, 200, 300 mg

Vicodin (hydrocodone) 5,7.5, 10 mg acetominophen 325 mg

Meperidine (demerol) 50, 150 mg

Fiorinal/Fioricett (butalbitol, caffeine, acetaminophen)

NSAIDS are the common over the counter pain killers or anti-inflammatory drugs used for pain and general physical ailments. They originally came out as prescription drugs written as a doctor’s prescription only, but then went over the counter at a lower dose.

For example Motrin came out as a prescription only drug but was then offered over the counter as ibuprofen.

Taking too many NSAIDS can cause chronic, daily headache, called medication overuse headache and it can also aggravate or cause GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disorder.

NSAIDs are well known for having the following side effects:

Aggravating Medication Overuse if taken more than 2 days a week.

Decreased kidney function as a result of decreased blood flow to the kidneys. This can affect the way the body processes other medicines and can increase blood pressure.

Irritation of the lining of the stomach and bowels, which can cause internal bleeding.

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease with prolonged treatment.

This is an article by Britt Talley Daniel MD, member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Headache Society, migraine textbook author, and blogger.

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Britt Talley Daniel MD