Tylenol Or Advil? Health Digest Survey Reveals The Preferred Over-The-Counter Pain Reliever

When it comes to over-the-counter pain relievers, there is no shortage of options, Americans seem to take their fair share of them. A OnePoll survey conducted in March 2022 polled 2,000 adults in the United States, and the findings showed that one out of every three takes some kind of pain medication daily (via Study Finds). Of those polled, 42% said they took over-the-counter pain medication to prevent pain, while 34% took them for pain relief. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) said pain restricted them in some way at least three days per week, and 40% said pain limited their social activities. Poor sleeping habits and being sedentary were noted as common reasons for pain.

Health Digest conducted its own poll to find out what readers reach for most often when it comes to relieving pain. Out of the top five, the most popular ones might be in your cabinet right now.

The Health Digest poll results include responses from 583 participants. Of those, 36.19% said their preferred choice of pain medication was Tylenol, while 29.33% choose Advil. Around an eighth of those polled (19.21%) said Aleve is their go-to for pain, followed by 12.35% who choose Motrin. The remainder of those polled, accounting for 2.92%, reach for Alka-Seltzer to relieve pain.

While over-the-counter pain relievers are relatively safe to use when you follow the manufacturer's directions, the Cleveland Clinic reports that some can have negative side effects, including peptic ulcers and problems with your kidneys and liver. Because many types of medications — including those that treat allergies and colds — can contain pain relievers, it's important to read labels to avoid taking too much. You should visit your healthcare provider if you experience vision problems, shortness of breath, slurred speech, blood in your urine, or a severe stomach ache while taking pain medication.