So THIS IS the difference between Tylenol and Advil

Grace Cary via Getty Images

If you have pain and are looking for relief in the form of an over-the-counter medication, you have a number of options.

There’s acetaminophen, or Tylenol. There’s ibuprofen, which is used in products including Advil and Motrin. There is aspirin, which, like ibuprofen, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and there is naproxen, used in Aleve, which is also an NSAID.

So what is the difference between these products? And why can you try for each other when you have a headache or any other pain?

That’s why we – Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of Am I Wrong? of HuffPost? podcast — asked Dr. Darryl Brown, a pain management and anesthesiology specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, when he stopped by our studio to chat about the best ways to manage pain.

Listen to the full episode by pressing play on the player:

“Over-the-counter medication works and should be our first line for the pain you experience at home,” Brown told us. “I like to break it down into two separate categories: There are medications that affect your perception of pain, and there are medications that actually treat the inflammation that’s causing your pain.”

Acetaminophen, or Tylenol, changes our perception of pain.

“It’s a very safe medication to take — you can even take it during pregnancy — but it doesn’t necessarily treat the inflammation that leads to a lot of acute pain,” Brown said.

Doctors and scientists aren’t entirely sure how acetaminophen works to treat pain.

A “promising but still speculative explanation” is that the drug may block the production of a specific enzyme in the brain, “thereby blocking further transmission of pain nerve impulses.” This means that the sensation of pain is alleviated or eliminated, but the inflammation that may be causing the pain is not treated.

“Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, and naproxen and Motrin, treat the actual inflammation,” Brown explained. “So they’re blocking an enzyme to prevent any ongoing inflammation you have and then treating your pain that way.”

So if we have a headache, do we want to take acetaminophen or an NSAID?

“Great question. It depends on the source of your headache,” he said. “I would say starting with Tylenol is an excellent first-line therapy. [because] it is centrally acting. Headaches are generally a central process because it involves your perception of pain and is a very low-risk drug to take. [generally] without any side effects.”

If you are experiencing a headache combined with muscle or skeletal pain or inflammation, an NSAID may be a better choice. There are also products that combine both types of medication, and for some people and conditions that may be a good option.

Of course, we also need to consider possible side effects, how often we use these medications, and how much we are taking. For example, Tylenol taken in high doses can cause liver damage. Advil can cause an upset stomach and be dangerous for individuals with kidney disease or kidney failure, among other things. That’s why consulting a medical professional before making any health-related decisions is always a smart idea.

We also spoke with Dr. Brown on how cannabis can fight pain; when to go to the doctor if you have pain; the clinical differences between “shooting pain”, “throbbing pain” and other types of pain and what causes them; even more.

Listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Be sure to subscribe to the Am I Doing It Wrong? so you don’t miss a single episode, including our investigations of tip data and results; how to ask for forgiveness or beat your credit card debt; how to find love online or overcome anxiety; tips on online shopping, dental care and shedding like a pro; the secrets of booking and staying at the hotel; how to deal with an angry person; cooking tips from celebrity chef Jet Tila; shocking clothing secrets; tips and tricks for cleaner dishes; doing your best workout; and more.

Need help with something you did wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.comand we may investigate the topic in a future episode.

Connected…