


8 There are also several other NSAIDs only available with a prescription, such as celecoxib, ketoprofen, and diclofenac.
OTC PDF EXTRACTOR PLUS
Food and Drug Administration approved an OTC fixed-dose combination product containing ibuprofen plus acetaminophen each 2-caplet dose contains 250 mg ibuprofen and 500 mg acetaminophen. 7Īcetaminophen and some NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium) are available to patients over-the-counter (OTC) in standard doses (e.g., 200 mg ibuprofen 325 or 500 mg acetaminophen), but higher doses of these medications can be prescribed to patients. Due to these differing mechanisms of action, taking NSAIDs and acetaminophen in combination has been shown to be highly effective in reducing mild to moderate pain, as the pain is being blocked at both ends of the nociceptive pathway. Alternatively, acetaminophen acts centrally by blocking the transmission of pain signaling within the central nervous system. NSAIDs act peripherally, meaning they help with pain by reducing inflammation at the site where it is occurring. 4, 5 The mechanism by which acetaminophen provides pain relief is less clear, but there is some evidence suggesting it involves the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in the central nervous system. They each work via slightly different mechanisms, but in general inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, which are mediators of inflammation, fever, and pain. Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, and aspirin. Nonopioid analgesics include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as well as acetaminophen.
