We used high quality evidence from 10 Cochrane reviews supplemented with information from one non-Cochrane analysis. We then looked for Cochrane reviews reporting about how well these painkillers worked, and any side effects. We also looked at websites in Australia, Canada, and the USA. In May 2015 we looked on pharmacy websites for the range of painkillers available in the UK that could be taken by mouth, and available without a doctor's prescription. For this overview we have not included information from reviews on migraine, tension headache, or period pain.
This overview is useful mainly for acute pain lasting only a few days or weeks, and not for chronic pain lasting for many months.
Study participants have to have at least moderate pain levels and the pain is usually treated with painkillers taken by mouth. Painkillers (analgesics) are tested in people with pain, often following the removal of wisdom teeth. Most people who have surgery have moderate or severe pain afterwards. Acute pain is often felt soon after injury, and is of short duration.
