Pain Killer Comparison Chart

Pain Relievers

Pain Killer Comparison Chart

This table lists the pain relief efficacy of common pain medications, both prescription and non-prescription.

What are the best pain pills?
Which pain killers have the worst side-effects?
Here is a comparison table of common pain medications.
The pain relievers below were ranked by effectiveness for chronic back pain, by a Harvard Study Summary. Each pain medication was rated for effectiveness on a scale of from 1 (aspirin) to 10 (morphine).

Brand Name	generic name	Dose (per pill)	Back Pain Score	Uses According to Label	Best Uses (according to Consumer's Guide)	Problems Caused
Over-the-counter (OTC) Pain Medicine (NSAID= Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflamatory Drug)
Anacin Bayer Bufferin Ecotrin	aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) NSAID	81mg 325mg	1	Minor aches, pains cold, headache, muscular ache	minor aches and pains	aspirin allergy, asthma, upset stomach, Reye's Syndrome
Anacin non Excedrin Tylenol	acetaminophen (N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetamide)	500mg	2	Headache	fever, if allergic to aspirin, arthritis, rheumatism, musculo-skeletal	7-04-06- Tylenol Liver Damage "Tylenol is the No. 1 cause of acute liver failure in the U.S." "[Acetaminophen] is a leading cause of death from pharmaceuticals,"
Vanquish	Combination of aspirin and acetaminophen NSAID	325mg 500mg	2.25	Headache Muscle ache	headache	not for children and teens
Advil Motrin Nuprin	ibuprofen (2-(4-Isobutyl-phenyl)- propionic acid) (analgesic, antipyretic) NSAID	200mg	2.5	Aches, pains, colds, toothache, muscle aches, backache, menstrual, fever	fever, muscle ache	aspirin allergy, asthma, upset stomach, not for last trimester
Aleve Naproxen	naproxen sodium (anti-inflammatory) NSAID	220mg	3	Joint and muscle pain	arthritis, rheumatism, musculo-skeletal	Naproxen heart risk upset stomach, not for nursing mothers
Motrin 800	ibuprofen (analgesic, antipyretic) NSAID	800mg	3.5	(listed above)	(as above)	(as above)
Actron Orudis	ketoprofen (anti-inflammatory) NSAID	12.5mg	3.6?	Anti-inflammatory, analgesic	arthritis	see - Consumer's Guide - Feb.1987
	More Warnings on OTC Drugs: NSAIDS Increase Blood Pressure Aspirin and NSAIDS Cause Stomach Bleeding Resulting In Death
Prescription Pain Medicine
Brand Name	generic name	Dose (per pill)	Back Pain Score	Uses According to Label	na	Problems Caused
Celebrex	celecoxib 4-[5-(4-methylphenyl) -3-(trifluoromethyl) -1H-pyrazol-1-yl] benzenesulfonamide (COX-2 inhibitor) NSAID	100mg 200mg	3.7*	Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, short term pain, painful menstruation	na	Celebrex heart risk stomach bleeding, heart attack, stroke
Ultram	tramadol (±)cis-2-[(dimethylamino) methyl] -1-(3-methoxyphenyl) cyclohexanol hydrochloride	50mg	3.8*	Moderate pain	na	nausea, constipation, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, vomiting
Demerol	meperidine HCl	50mg 100mg	4	* Note: The scores for Celebrex and Ultram are estimates (3.7* and 3.8*). These two drugs did not exist at the time of the study. The opiates are the most effective pain killers, but are subject to the most abuse, and prescription pain killer addiction. All opiates are addictive.
Vicodin	hydrocodone and acetaminophen	5-500mg 7.5-750mg	5
Lorcet Plus	hydrocodone and acetaminophen	7.5-650mg	5.5
Vicodin ES	hydrocodone and acetaminophen	7.5-750mg 10-500mg 20-500mg 50-500mg	6
Percocet	oxycodone HCl with acetaminophen	2.5-325mg 5- 325mg 7.5-500mg 10-650mg	6
Percodan	oxycodone HCl, oxycodone terephthalate, and aspirin	.4.5mg 0.78mg 325mg	7
Lorcet Lortab	hydrocodone and acetaminophen	5-500mg 7.5-500mg 10-500mg	7
Vicodin HP	hydrocodone and acetaminophen	10-660mg	7
Oxycontin 40	oxycodone HCl	40mg	8.5
Dilaudid	hydromorphone hydrochloride	1mg 2mg 3mg 4mg	9
RMS MS Contin	morphine sulfate	15mg 30mg 60mg 100mg	10

DISCLAIMER
The author has no medical training. No advice is intended.
Although the author has tried to be as accurate as possible, errors and mis-statements are possible. Some pain medicine was not available at the time of the study, such as tramadol (Ultram), celebrex, etc. Consult your doctor for personal pain reliever advice.
This data was summarized and ordered by me into this Pain Killer Chart, primarily from
http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum_2/ChronicPainF/3.19.991.15AM PAINKILLERS SU.html and from other Pain Medication websites. The Harvard study was based upon the best painkiller for chronic back pain relief. This is a Pain Meds Comparison Chart. It compares each perscription pain drug, and each OTC pain drug.
I made this Painkiller Summary/ Pain Medication Table to identify the best pain relief alternatives, and to point out the side effects of each one.

This Vaughns One-Page Summaries Best Pain Killer Summary Chart web page was updated on 2008-04-23.