Harvard Health Publications: 12 things you should know about common pain relievers

Ibuprofen molecule found here. 

Ouch.

More often than not, when I've overstepped my energy limits, I pay the price in fatigue and pain. So I crawl into bed and pop a few NSAIDS. My drug of choice these days is ibuprofen. A dose or two seems to take the edge off the muscle soreness and generalized aches so that I can sleep and renew myself.

Sound familiar? Do you take NSAID? If you do, take a look at this January 26, 2015 piece in Harvard Health Publications entitled "12 things you should know about common pain relievers" found here.

Once upon a time, easing pain was relatively simple: take two aspirin and call the doctor in the morning. Now there are many pain relievers to choose from (see “Pain relievers at a glance”). 

Willow bark was one of the earliest painkillers. Extracts or teas of willow bark have been used to treat fever and pain for more than 2,000 years. Unfortunately, the active ingredient, salicyclic acid, is very hard on the stomach. In 1897, a German chemist working for the Bayer company found a way to modify salicyclic acid so it was less irritating to the stomach. The compound he created, acetylsalicyclic acid, was called Aspirin. It remained the premier over-the-counter painkiller until the development of acetaminophen in 1956 and ibuprofen in 1962. Since then, more than a dozen others have come onto the market. Continue reading here. 

Remember: these drugs are meant to be used on an occasional basis. If you find the need to take them with any regularity, discuss this with your doctor.