OTC painkillers relieve muscle pain

Use of the painkiller, acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or the combination of the two are equally effective for treating pain after musculoskeletal injuries. No single strategy distinguishes itself as providing better analgesic than any other strategy. Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong examined the safety and efficacy of oral paracetamol compared with oral NSAIDs such as indomethacin and diclofenac, or combination therapy in treating pain after blunt limb injury in 300 adults seen in an emergency department. It was found that the pain scores fell significantly and similarly in all groups. There were no significant differences among any of the treatment groups at any time, although combination therapy was the first to generate a clinically significant reduction in pain. Both treatment strategies were safe and well tolerated. Less than 7 percent of patients experienced side effects. None of the adverse effects were severe, and the most common were nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, and allergy.