What is the best medicine for back pain?

About one in four Americans has experienced low back pain within the past three months, making it one of the most common types of pain and the most frequent cause of disability in adults under 45. read more

The first medication of choice for most people with back pain is an over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen , says Jae Jung, MD, assistant professor in the department of orthopaedics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles. read more

While there are many over-the-counter pain medications used to address back pain, the two most common types are acetaminophen (for example, brand name Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (for example, brand name Advil). read more