ASPIRIN, (in tablet and powdered form, including Bayer’s® new “QUICK RELEASE CRYSTALS” (NSAID) Aspirin, in tablet, powder, and Bayer’s® new quick release crystal form, is acidic, non-soluble in water, and only about 40 to 45% of the drug ever gets into the blood stream. Because of these forms, it is slow to be effective, taking as much as 30 to 40 minutes to reach therapeutic levels and causes side effects such as stomach bleeding and gastric upset. In millions of patients this causes severe gastric distress and sometimes even hemorrhage due to direct contact between un-dissolved aspirin particles and the stomach lining. Indeed, it is precisely these gastro-toxic, ulcerogenic adverse-reactions that prevent many patients from taking full advantage of aspirin’s many benefits.
ACETAMINOPHEN (TYLENOL®) (Non-NSAID) (No anti-inflammatory characteristics) Acetaminophen, the most popular pain reliever has several problems of it’s own. It is not an anti-inflammatory drug. It is weak on reducing pain and takes up to 1 hour to reach peak blood levels thereby a slow onset of pain relief. Side effects are liver damage. Recently, acetaminophen products have been found to cause liver damage at lower doses & have been required to “black label” the product packaging.
IBUPROFEN (ADVIL®), (MOTRIN®), (NSAID) Ibuprofen, like aspirin tablets, has become a very popular pain reliever and basically has the same properties as aspirin. Ibuprofen is not soluble in water and causes gastric bleeding and gastric distress in some patients. The onset of pain relief usually takes at least 25 to 35 minutes. Ibuprofen also carries having a greater risk of heart attack and reduces the effect of an aspirin regimen for reduction of heart attack and stroke.
NAPROXEN SODIUM (ALEVE®) (NSAID) Naproxen sodium, also known as ALEVE®, NUPRIN®, and NAPROSYN®, has been on the market for many years. It has been sold in the past generally as an anti-inflammatory for long term use. The onset of action is very slow, (at least 30 minutes before relief begins and a few days for inflammation reduction), and the side effects are generally the same as for aspirin and ibuprofen. This product is mainly for long term use of inflammation reduction and arthritis pain release although, can have significant gastric side effects.