Know Your Illness

• A persistent or severe pain needs a diagnosis. If you are not sure of the reason for your discomfort, it is prudent to make certain that nothing serious is the cause.
  
  

Know Your Medications

• If you are taking prescription drugs, bring a list of them to the drugstore. You can ask the pharmacist if any over-the-counter treatments would cause a drug interaction with your current prescriptions.
  
  

Less Is More

• When you use a non-prescription remedy, don't assume it is safe to take more than is recommended on the label. Never exceed the suggested dose.
  
  

Acetaminophen

• Non-aspirin products such as paracetamol or acetaminophen, marketed in the United States as Tylenol, help with pain but do not help with inflammation. They are good for headache, muscle ache, and degenerative disease. To avoid liver damage, don't drink alcohol if you are using acetaminophen frequently.
  
  

Non-steroidals

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen and naproxen are effective for both pain and inflammation. They are good for arthritis pain, toothache, and sports injuries. They can, however, upset your stomach.
  
  

Topicals

• Creams and ointments are good for muscle strains and arthritis pain. Some active ingredients can be absorbed through the skin, so try to limit application of the cream to the area that is hurting. Heating pads, ice packs, and ace wraps can also help sprains and strains feel better more quickly.