Many nonprescription pain relievers have different names, but if you check the labels, nearly all contain one of these three medicines. They are effective for relief of mild and moderate pain. Chemical names are long and difficult to pronounce. The US Food and Drug Administration approves the generic, shortened names by which drugs are usually known.
Drug companies give their products brand names.
Many nonprescription and prescription pain relievers are available under both generic and brand names. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you the generic name. The brand names that appear in this book are listed for information only. No endorsement by NCI or ACS is implied. Generic products tend to be less expensive than brand-name drugs and usually are just as effective.