The over-the-counter (OTC) market is a crowded and competitive one, with no shortage of pain relief products to choose from. Those who suffer from arthritis have it especially tough as they must wade through the sea of OTC options in search of something that will actually work for them. The good news is that there are plenty of OTC treatments available to help reduce arthritis pain. In this blog post, we'll take a look at oral and topical OTC pain relief products that can be purchased without a prescription. The purpose of this guide is to educate you so that you can select the OTC pain reliever that works best for you!
Oral OTC Pain Relievers
First, we will take a look at the uses and side effects of popular oral OTC pain relievers.
Tylenol (acetaminophen)
According to Drugs.com, here are the uses and common side effects of taking Tylenol:
Uses
Provide temporary relief for:
- headaches
- muscle aches
- arthritis
- backaches
Common side effects:
- nausea
- upper stomach pain
- itching
- loss of appetite
- dark urine
- clay-colored stools
- jaundice
Tylenol may also have interactions with other prescription medications. Consult your physician if you currently take other medication before using Tylenol.
Aleve (naproxen)
Aleve is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
According to Drugs.com, these are the uses and common side effects for Aleve:
Uses
Provide temporary relief for:
- arthritis
- muscle aches
- backache
- menstrual cramps
- headache
- toothache
- may also temporarily reduce fever
Common side effects:
- indigestion
- heartburn
- stomach pain
- nausea
- headache
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- bruising
- itching
- rash
- swelling
- ringing in ears
Aleve may also have interactions with drugs used for other conditions. As always, consult with your doctor if you currently use any other prescription medication for anything.
Advil (ibuprofen)
Advil is an NSAID.
According to Drugs.com, the uses and common side effects for Advil are:
Uses
Helps reduce fever, pain, and inflammation for:
- headache
- toothache
- back pain
- arthritis
- menstrual cramps
- minor injury
Common side effects:
- nausea
- vomiting
- gas
- bleeding
- dizziness
- headache
Advil may have other interactions with prescription drugs and other NSAIDs. Consult with your doctor if you are before taking Advil if you are currently using other medications.
Topical OTC Pain Relievers
Now let’s take a look at popular topical arthritis pain relievers. The main benefit of the topical category is that they do not have nearly as many side effects as the oral OTC category.
Capsiva (homeopathic capsaicin)
Capsiva is a homeopathic topical pain relief gel, meaning ingredients are used in a lower concentrate which have no known side effects. Its formula includes capsaicin, the agent in hot peppers that makes them hot. Capsiva uses a breakthrough formula in the topical space that allows you to experience the pain-relieving benefits and none of the burning or stinging of traditional capsaicin.
According to Drugs.com, the uses for capsaicin topicals are the following.
Uses
Regular use can help
- arthritis pain
- joint pain
- muscle pain
- bruising
- backaches
- nerve pain
Traditional capsaicin does have common side effects such as burning, itching, or redness of the area applied. But, because Capsiva uses a proprietary homeopathic formula, there are no known side effects for this topical.
Capsiva also has no known drug interactions and is safe to use if you have a pre-existing condition.
Voltaren (diclofenac topical)
Voltaren is a topical NSAID.
According to Drugs.com, the uses and common side effects of Voltaren are:
Uses
Treats joint pain caused by osteoarthritis in:
- hands
- wrists
- elbows
- knees
- ankles
- feet
Common side effects:
- heartburn
- gas
- stomach pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- constipation
- headache
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- stuffy nose
- itching
- increased sweating
- increased blood pressure
- skin redness, itching, dryness, scaling, peeling on the applied area
Voltaren Pain Relief Gel used to be a prescription-strength topical but has recently converted to OTC. Consult your doctor before you start to use Voltaren because of the known interactions that occur with other medications.
Icy Hot Extra Strength (menthol topical)
Icy Hot Extra strength is a topical that uses menthol, which is either man-made or mint extract.
According to Drugs.com, the uses and common side effects of Icy Hot Extra Strength are:
Uses
Temporarily relieve pain from
- minor arthritis
- backache
- muscle pain
- joint pain
- bruises
Common Side Effects
- severe burning
- stinging
- redness/ irritation
Consult your doctor before you start an OTC treatment for arthritis because interactions can occur with other medications.
In Closing
You should now have a better understanding of the popular OTC pain relief options for arthritis pain. This brief overview shared the most common uses and common side effects for each option. It is always best to do more in-depth research before starting a new medicine — even OTC.