Best non-aspirin pain relievers according to redditors

Hey everyone, I cringe when I see the cost vs contents of most first aid kits on the market. Too much unnecessary stuff and only the highest priced kits have clotting powder, which I’ve used on the trail for controlling bleeding with large abrasions and deep or tangential lacerations. I put together my suggestions, with an eye toward maximizing usefulness and minimizing per unit cost. IMO this is superior to most kits costing 2-3x more. Light enough for the discernible backpacker, but makes a great gift for family and friends to throw in the car pocket, the boat, ATV, or carry along to kids sporting events. Feel free to add, subtract or substitute to customize your own.

Ever-Ready First Aid Adhesives, assorted sizes, 280ct $6.95 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0179S0IAW
Self explanatory, enough for 2-3 of each size per DIY kit.

Vakly Stretch Gauze: 12 pk 4” x 4yds $7.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTQFPA6
1 pk per kit and 4 left over for the home medicine cabinet.

McKesson individually wrapped sterile gauze pads: 50ct $5.17 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002C5P9J8
6 per kit, throw them in a ziploc baggie to protect against moisture.

Woundseal clotting powder: 20 pkts $28.06 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008RUJXR6
Remember that compression alone, when done properly, effectively controls most bleeding. But when a member of your group is on aspirin or other blood thinners, or sustains a nasty cut that won’t stop bleeding, this stuff is awesome.

3M Duct tape: 1.88in x 30yds $3.89 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013B1XHE
Countless uses for the backpacker / camper, from tourniquet, fracture splinting, reinforcement of wound dressings, fashioning a moleskin barrier for blisters, not to mention tent, pack or sleeping bag repair. Grab a few extra straws from your local fast food joint, trim them to 2 inches, then roll up 4 to 6ft lengths of duct tape around the straw. The straw in the middle doubles as a pocket billows for fire starting.

Rensow white petroleum jelly 5gms, 144 pkts: $24.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KAGT85M
Lip balm, burn treatment, also apply to rashes, blisters and abrasions to keep gauze from adhering. Doubles as an excellent fire accelerant for bushcrafting. I squeeze some on a cotton ball to use with my tender for catching a spark.

Kirkland anti-diarrheal (loperamide) tablets: 400ct $9.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPY004
Put 12 per kit and keep the rest for that week-old lasagna that you should have thrown out.

Ibuprofen 200mg tabs: 2x500ct $3.93 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P1NJAJS
Put at least 40 per kit as this is likely to be the first supply used.

Diphenhydramine capsules 25mg, 100ct : $4.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00080CKDW
Useful for allergies, insect stings, contact dermatitis, and doubles as a sleep aid for those restless nights in the hammock. 12 per kit should do.

Triple antibiotic ointment 0.5oz 144 pkts: $12.18 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H2T9K3K
6 to 8 per kit should do, and keep the rest for replen.

Ziplock snack bags, 40ct (for storing meds): $2.73 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U9ZFFCY
Please clearly label each baggie using an indelible marker with name of med, adult dose and expiration date. Pediatric dose optional. Individual “gas station” packets are much more expensive but if routinely carried in vehicle this may be a consideration (law enforcement doesn’t like unlabeled pills floating around in baggies).

First Aid Bags (empty), Alazco, 8 bags $32.82 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0182MQ4MU
Highly optional but nice for making your kit look pretty if you’re giving these away as gifts. I double wrap mine in gallon ziploc bags for moisture control.

A printable first aid primer: https://s3.amazonaws.com/yohsresourcelibrary/First+Aid+Quick+Guide.pdf
Certainly not a comprehensive guide, but has some key information like helpful reminders on how to properly perform CPR on kiddos and babies 👶.

Amazon sells drugs now, and if thats 4 shots of espresso its not like OP needs the fancy gel coating to be gentle on his stomach.

Their Solimo vitamins are about half the price of other brands for some stuff too.

Alright, this ended up being way longer than I thought. If anyone thinks this is hailcorporate material go fuck yourself. I didn't spend half an hour collecting drug prices to be accused of advertising (on that note if the links are breaking any rules mods pls let me know and I'll remove them).

NyQuil:
650mg paracetamol
30mg dextromethorphan hbr
12.5mg doxylamine succinate

X48 Amazon - $16.62/$0.35 per dose

Dayquil
325mg paracetamol
10mg dextromethorphan hbr
5mg phenylephrine hcl

X48 Amazon - $14.91/$0.31 per dose


Paracetamol: 500mg X600 (Amazon) - $11.91
Dextromethorphan hbr: 15mg X60 (Amazon) - $9.99
Doxylamine succinate: 25mg X192 (Amazon)* - $9.49

Phenylephrine hcl: 10mg X36 ("Blowout Medical") - $2.10
10mg X72 (Rite Aid) - $10.99/$7.69 if you're a "member"

So!

• 650mg paracetamol is $0.02576 (and 325mg is $0.01288)
  
• 30mg dextromethorphan hbr is $0.255**
  
• 12.5mg doxylamine succinate is $0.02471
  
• 5mg phenylephrine is $0.02917 with the questionable site, or $0.07632 with rite aid.
  
  You can also find other mixes of the ingredients (eg paracetamol/phenylephrine was one I saw) which may be cheaper than buying the ingredients individually.
  
  * I wrote this post out of order and got tired of transcribing links on my phone. Sorry. I didn't have to search very hard to find any of these, so you probably can too.
  ** Dextromethorphan is mildly problematic as an ingredient because for some reason you can only get it by itself in Robitussin or similarly expensive medications - so no cheap generics. But if you're willing to take it with something else like guafinisen (an expectorant that causes serious nausea at high doses to prevent abuse of dextromethorphan, but typically no ill, effects when taking therapeutic doses) then you will end up paying much less for that as well. Example:
  400mg guaifenesin, 20mg dextromethorphan hbr X30 Dollar General - $4.50
  And if you're willing to order it in bulk from a foreign chemical supplier, then therapeutic doses become laughably cheap. Alibaba, e.g., has 1kg available for $480 (Xi'an Salus Nutra Bio-Tech Inc.), which puts 30mg at $0.01440. For a less insane example, I also see 1g for $1 (Changzhou Confucius Biotechnology Co., LTD.), which puts 30mg at $0.03000.
  
  So we can "homebrew" a dayquil dose for
  $0.01288 (325mg paracetamol) +
  $0.01 (10mg dextromethorphan hbr) +
  $0.02917 (5mg phenylephrine hcl)
  :::
  $0.05205.
  
  And a nyquil dose for
  $0.02576 (650mg paracetamol) +
  $0.03 (30mg dextromethorphan hbr) +
  $0.02471 (12.5mg doxylamine succinate)
  :::
  $0.08047
  
  and excepting dextromethorphan we have only used generics/different brands of the medicines that are in NyQuil and DayQuil.
  
  That's a big part of why I think those products are scams. Another slightly more subjective reason is that I think paracetamol and phenylephrine are both useless in most circumstances. I have found that pseudoephedrine is the most effective nasal decongestant by far (though definitely more expensive), and that phenylephrine has little or no effect on symptoms of relevant illnesses.
  
  I would recommend Chloraseptic and menthol for coughs instead of dextromethorphan as well.
  
  It still boggles my mind that people buy shit like NyQuil, Excedrin (literally just caffeine and paracetamol, and we already know how cheap paracetamol is), etc. when the active ingredients can often be bought off the very same shelves

it's 5 bucks for a bottle of 500 ibuprofen tablets on amazon, and 5 bucks for 200 at cvs. op is just being a little attention whore.

Acetaminophen, aka Tylenol, is a recognized fever reducer, although we don't understand exactly how it works.

Pediatricians often reccomend rotating acetaminophen with an NSAID (ibuprofen or aspirin) for children with high fevers, to avoid going over the reccomended daily dose of either, to keep fevers down without causing lasting damage to the filtering organs (liver, kidney, etc).

Most bottles of Tylenol even say "pain reliever/fever reducer." Here's an Amazon listing clearly showing a photo of the "fever reducer" claim on the product's box. https://www.amazon.com/Tylenol-Rapid-Release-Reducer-Reliever/dp/B01HI7WP0U

Of course, the advice to just take a Tylenol to work through a fever is still total bullshit.

We just order it off of amazon but you can get it at a drug store too.

https://www.amazon.com/Infants-Motrin-Concentrated-Ibuprofen-Flavored/dp/B01J24FQHQ/

Europe in general is inconvenient as hell. I just shopped around for naproxen sodium, the largest package I found contains 24 pills, and for 28 zl. That's 7 usd. For $11 I can get 300 pills in the USA:

https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Care-Naproxen-Sodium-Tablets/dp/B074F2FSX4

Instead I have to constantly go to the store or order online overpriced pills.

You can order online but it's expensive:


https://www.amazon.de/Naproxen-verträglich-magenfreundlich-Knorpel-Rücken-Regelschmerzen-Wirkungsdauer/dp/B0785GTMVD/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=naproxen&qid=1566413484&s=gateway&sprefix=naproxe&sr=8-6

20x5= 200 for 40 euro lol


Just another example of what seems like daily struggles.


Having said all that, American convenience comes at a price (environment). Typically you just drive 5 minutes to the store for your shopping.


Let me know when you've lived in both countries.

Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets (E-Z Open Cap), 650 mg, 100 Count Bottles (Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003D7KPFW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7DJ-Ab04VCF41

Here you go. They make non child proof caps for this exact reason. Smoke em if you got em.

Problem Solved.

This all sounds, potentially, like it could be tied together. A stutter can totally be triggered by stress. People are also pointing towards neurogenic, and I would too, because of those headaches. Did you suffer a head injury before these headaches and stutter? I don't want to do the "hey, join me!" club, especially because your stuttering--overwhelming, primarily at the beginning of the word--from my amateur research, and what I briefly read, sounds like it's not neurogenic. That being said, I suffered a head injury literally in 2003, and then in 2011, after a jaw surgery, I started to get daily headaches, that ranged in pain from 4-8. (Pain scale: 4 is "okay, that's really uncomfortable, and I'm super grumpy now, but I guess I'm going to go on with my daily life because I have to" and 8 is "okay, I'm in bed crying, nobody bother me, but I'm not dying right now.") In 2014, I started to pick up on a neurogenic stutter. It has only gotten worse.

Here's what I've learned regarding the headaches, because there are tons of people who can help you regarding the stutter here, but headaches are a lot harder to find things on:

can you describe the headache to me? I mean, in explicit detail. (I'll be describing mine, and how I deal with each one, in hopes it helps.)

I get a few types of headaches, and have a different "treatment plan" for each one. Each headache type has to be treated differently. (When Mom found out I got headaches--as headaches are a family problem--she was trying to force me to treat my headaches her way, but I don't get her types of headaches, and it literally worsened things. I won't be offended if you don't take this advice. It might not help.)

So, what you're most likely experiencing at least some of the time are tension headaches. I want to start there. Tension headaches tend to feel like a band across the forehead, but some people also can feel them in their neck. My tension headaches literally will flare up and fade away throughout the day, and can last for days. (I have gone to sleep and woken up with the same one.) The most effective actual medications for these have been muscle relaxants and psych meds, but you're not in the best place to get to actual doctors. There is OTC headache specialty meds you can use. This one isn't cheap, but it shows the ingredients you're looking for. The caffeine apparently makes the ibuprofen work faster, and isn't found in most of the "migraine" labeled medications. (My prescription painkiller for headaches has caffeine in it.)

Non-med ways: you mention meditating, which is good. That's another way I try and clear out tension headaches. Trying to knock out sources of tension is the hardest way, and takes a lot of time.

Sinus headaches are a big deal right now. You'll feel a lot of pressure well, along your sinuses (my girlfriend and I feel pressure right above our eye, but I understand that's not always where everyone feels it.) Sinus headaches trigger migraines in my mother, so it's something to keep an eye on if you also get migraines. A decongestant will clear this headache type, and if you catch that you're getting them, get an OTC allergy medication until the pollen level is down in your area.

Hopefully that catches your headache types; if it's a regular migraine, there's plenty of "tips and tricks" around for that one. (The other one I get is some weird kind of headache that rests right in my temples and makes me a bit dizzy and out-of-it. It's so rare I don't have a "plan" for that one yet.)

When I was seventeen, I was able to go to therapy behind my parents' back, using interns to do it since I couldn't pay for it on my own. My GP set me up with a local practitioner, but you might be able to just ask around if you were interested in doing that, too. (Or have your boyfriend ask around?) I admit I was incredibly lucky, but it was a good program that helped me out a lot that first year. (When I turned 18, I got on my own insurance and changed to the local community mental health instead.)

I was told, essentially, since I was 17 and this was mental health, my parents didn't have to be a part of it. You could ask if your parents could be barred from it. I managed to make sure my parents never knew (about the therapy. They eventually found out I also went on antidepressants. It was a time of grand adventure for me.)

tl;dr: I know this was a super long post, and stuttering wasn't really touched on directly, but in this case, stuttering doesn't seem to be hanging out there on its own. I've found out many, many times over that nothing just happens by itself, and it's quite likely some of these things, if not all, are related. Hopefully some of this helps.

Now it is.

If you don't want to follow the link, it's a bottle of 325 extra-strength Tylenol.

https://www.amazon.com/Acetaminophen-Generic-500-Extra-Strength/dp/B00282KVLG?th=1

what the hell are you on about?

Who buys that many drugs?

This looks like a better buy from Amazon.

Roaring Spring Oversize Lab Book, 11 3/4" x 9 1/4", 76 sheets, Numbered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HIGF1Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2aZYBbKDXBKGE

Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pens Bold Pt (1.) Dozen Box Black; Retractable, Refillable & Premium Comfort Grip; Smooth Lines to the End of the Page, America’s #1 Selling Pen Brand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E6D3W6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_acZYBbXP1FYGK

Basic Care Naproxen Sodium Tablets, 300 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074F2FSX4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TcZYBbS0NV0S0

> Can't kill yourself by taking a whole bottle of Lexapro or Zoloft. This is not the case with older drugs.
>
>

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074QNWZVV/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_qn2kDb4EYK84H

I can buy a huge bottle of Paracetamol for just a few dollars... ten tablets would be enough to kill me. I don't need antidepressants to kill myself.

See how much it costs in the US

https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Care-Strength-Acetaminophen-Caplets/dp/B074QPBLCX/ref=sxin_1_pb?crid=356T7IJESD66V&keywords=acetaminophen+500mg&pd_rd_i=B074QPBLCX&pd_rd_r=f4c018c6-92d7-46e0-9c59-ff8ad0179576&pd_rd_w=VWur9&pd_rd_wg=fLFf3&pf_rd_p=9ef0c97a-254b-445c-822b-c948e2d94ddd&pf_rd_r=593XKPHM3E7XAJSRST7B&qid=1562244381&s=pantry&sprefix=acetam%2Caps%2C295

Acetaminophen = Paracetamol

And in the US, you don't even need to go to the drugstore:

https://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-Strength-Acetaminophen-500-Count/dp/B01DWSZ3VM

Acetaminophen scares the crap out of me.

It'll be a while before I can put together a comprehensive post but think of the basics as items that would get you to the nearest ambulance.

OK, this became a comprehensive post. :P

Here are pics of the stocked kit. (a few items OTC meds are missing and need to be restocked)

https://imgur.com/a/fCVcp

Disclosure: I have enough basic first-aid training to know my limitations; an RN friend of mine helped me build this kit.

Meds

• Benadryl and an epipen(you'll need an Rx for this) for allergic reactions
  
  
• OTC Imodium/Pepto pills (since dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea will kill you)
  
  
• OTC Advil, Tylenol, Naproxen (not absolutely necessary but the first two can help bring a fever down and Naproxen can bring inflammation down...more comfort items, they don't take up a lot of space)
  
• triple antibiotic ointment in single use disposable packs (it's basically Polysporin but you avoid contaminating a whole tube by using individual packs; I try to find similar packaging with other stuff)
  
  
• BZK wipes (for disinfecting scrapes and such)
  
  
• sterile saline (small bottle or disposable sterile bullets for flushing out wounds or as an eye wash)
  
  
• non-enteric, standard 325mg Aspirin in individual foil packs (I've read that chewing these at the time of a heart attack and in the month after will improve survivability by as much as 23%)
  
  
• if hypoglycemia or diabetes are factors, pack plenty of Dex4 sugar tablets and whatever other supplies you might need
  
  

  Misc.
  

  
  

• 3M Steri-Strip closures to keep a deep cut from opening up further (forget surgical glue or stitches; you'll only seal dirt and bacteria into a wound)
  
  
• couple of Tegaderm films would be good to cover wounds.
  
  
• stretch gauze
  
  
• sterile gauze
  
  
• med tape
  
  
• Advanced, flexible bandaids, large (forget fabric or regular crappy bandages; if you carry any at all, get these)
  
  
• Advanced blister bandaids (similar to above material but different form-factor)
  
  
• QuikClot sponge
  
  
• triangle bandage with safety pins
  
  
• pair of EMT shears (don't use a knife as you risk injury while cutting clothes or bandages)
  
  
• Sliver Gripper tweezer with clip
  
  
• pair of disposable nitrile gloves in a small sealed bag
  
  
• water purification tabs (safe drinking water is critical; better this than having to use the Imodium!)
  
  
• emergency blanket (statistics are dramatic on reduced survivability with even the slightest hypothermia)
  
  The point of this kit is to get someone to the nearest medical help. You can get a replacement pair of nitrile gloves, more gauze or whatever when you get to the ambulance or hospital. Some of the stuff is for keeping conditions from getting worse (sliver removal, band-aids, blister cushions, ointment) which might be viewed as "comfort" items not "first aid" but in more rough environments, an infected cut could kill you so I put it in.
  

You can buy boxes of several hundred ibuprofen for like a tenner in the US, lol.

https://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-Ibuprofen-200mg-2X500/dp/B0009RT5P0

here ya go

Make a potty prep kit to keep in a fanny pack or your camelbak.

• Wet Wipes
  
• Toilet paper
  
• Midol
  
• Hand sanitizer

I hate migraines.
[Excedrin] (https://www.amazon.com/Excedrin-Migraine-300-Coated-Caplets/dp/B009VQT53M/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1482790221&sr=8-13&keywords=migraine) was a game changer for me.

Terrible migraines --> Replaced by a feeling that something is off and that I can't feel it.

Next time someone plays the headache card, pull this out and plunk it on the desk.

> News to me, I bought a bottle yesterday.

They probably mean the giant bottles the yanks sell, that hold hundreds of them, like this.

Wat? It's $9 for 2 lbs of it.

Over the counter minor painkillers aren't bad.

I believe paracetamol is the same drug that we call acetomenaphin in the US, which is pretty inexpensive. Amazon has a bottle of 500 for under $.02 per tablet.

However, that same pill administered in a hospital will cost more. Unfortunately, it's been a while since I've been given any drugs in a hospital (and it's usually ibuprofen), so I can't cite cost, but I remember it being surprisingly more.

Case of water(40) $3.98

Wint-O-Green mints(300) $6.68

Advil 2 packs(50) $10.99

After 220+ rides I've gone through about half of the advil, half of the mints(which I end up eating most of) and one 40 bottle case of water... which comes out to about $13 of the $2016.11 I have made in the last month, which is 0.65% of my profits. I honestly think just having the ability to offer those small things increases my chance of a higher rating by much more than 0.65%... So I can make the argument that it's extremely cost effective. Many riders comment that this is uncommon for Uber drivers and are generally pleased that I offer this(most don't take anything).

Most people that take anything are more often from the night/bar crowd, where I make the bulk of my earnings.