How Do Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers Work? (& 5 Other Common Questions About Them, Answered)

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Choosing the right over-the-counter pain reliever depends on the type of pain. You should understand the differences between the medications before combining or switching between them.

April 5, 2022

Katie McCallum

Article Highlights

Ibuprofen and acetaminophen work differently. Ibuprofen reduces inflammation and pain by targeting inflammatory processes in the body, while acetaminophen works differently to help relieve pain and lower fever.
The best headache medicine depends on the type of headache. Ibuprofen may be a better choice for migraine headaches, while either ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with tension headaches.
Ibuprofen can help ease period symptoms. While it won't stop your menstrual cycle, it may reduce both menstrual pain and heavy bleeding.
Different pain relievers may make more sense in different situations. For example, ibuprofen may provide better symptom relief for inflammatory conditions such as a UTI, while acetaminophen may be the preferred option after alcohol use, such as when treating a hangover headache.

With several different over-the-counter pain relievers available, you might be wondering whether it matters which you choose.

According to Dr. Lola Okunnu, a primary care physician at Houston Methodist, it can matter in some cases.

The goal of any pain medication is to relieve pain, of course, but the common types of pain relievers do so in distinct ways. Plus, the different classes of pain medications act on different parts of the body, with some working on your kidneys and others working on your liver.

That's probably not the only question you have about pain medications.

In the video above, Dr. Okunnu answers: