You have a lot of over-the-counter options when it comes to pain relief, which can be overwhelming. Your best option may depend on your specific pain needs and the advice of your doctor. However, it’s important to know the difference between Advil and other pain relievers. The pain ingredient in Advil is ibuprofen, which is part of a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also known as NSAIDs). When you take Advil you get relief right at the site of pain. Wherever it is, Advil stops pain right where it starts. The makers of Advil do not produce store brand ibuprofen pain medicine.