Here are the most common and what they're used for in Oz:
Ibuprofen.
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Because it decreases swelling associated with an injury or after surgery, it decreases the pain associated with inflammation. It also reduces fever. NSAIDs are irritating to the stomach, so must be taken with food. Not recommended for people with asthma, as it can worsen symptoms.
Common brands: Nurofen, Herron Blue
Description: Nurofen works where it's needed - at the sight of pain. It quickly relieves pain, reduces inflammation and lowers temperature. It provides relief from headaches, period pain, dental pain, migraine, backache, muscular pain, rheumatic pain, neuralgia, cold and flu symptoms, and feverishness.
Aspirin.
Is similar to ibuprofen in nature. It is also an NSAID, but it does not reduce fever. Aspirin also thins the blood, so must not be taken by anyone with a clotting disorder, or on blood thinners such as warfarin. Aspirin can also cause stomach upset.
Paracetamol.
Is a painkiller. It does not have any anti-inflammatory properties. It is very effective in reducing fever, and does not cause stomach upsets.
Description: Panadol is a paracetamol based analgesic and provides fast, effective temporary relief of pain and discomfort associated with: headache, tension headache, period pain, cold and flu symptoms, migraine headache, muscular aches, arthritis/osteoarthritis, backache, and toothache.
Panadol also helps to reduce fever.
Panadol is a good choice of pain reliever for people with sensitive stomachs, stomach ulcers and other stomach disorders. Panadol can also be used by breast feeding women.
For pain, a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen, or paracetamol and aspirin is safe. It is not recommended to combine aspirin with ibuprofen. For period pain, paracetamol and ibuprofen is safest, because neither of them have blood thinning properties.
What is the difference between panadol and panadeine?
Panadol is the brand name for paracetamol/acetaminophen.
Panadeine is the brand name for a combination product of paracetamol/acetaminophen and codeine. Because it has two active ingredients, panadeine should be stronger (and thus better for pain) but this is not the case for everyone. For codeine to be able to provide analgesic relief it has to be converted to morphine in the body. Some people (approximately 6 to 10% of caucasians and 1-2% of Asians) lack the enzymes required to convert codeine to morphine and therefore are unlikely get any pain relief from it.
Ref: Australian Medicines Handbook 2010
What is the difference between aspirin and panadol?
Aspirin and panadol are both pain killers. Aspirin is the actual drug name, but panadol is the brand name for paracetamol or acetaminophen.
Aspirin is a good anti-inflammatory pain killer, whereas acetaminophen or paracetamol is a good general pain reliever. While both have interactions and cannot be used in certain conditions, paracetamol or acetaminophen is generally considered the safer of the two. (NB: Aspirin should not be used in young children as it can increase their risk of Reyes syndrome. Instead, use ibuprofen as a good pain reliever).
(FDA) recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be given to children under 19 years of age during episodes of fever-causing illnesses. Hence, in the United States, it is advised that the opinion of a doctor or pharmacist be obtained before anyone under 19 years of age is given any medication containing aspirin
Good info on aspirin:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/aspirin.htm
Great list of essential medicines from WHO:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO_Model_List_of_Essential_Medicines
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