Ethical Over The Counter Painkillers
See our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table to compare brands
Are over the counter painkillers ethical?
Being in pain can have serious effects on our lives. One Australian study suggested that more than a third of menstruating children and adults have skipped work or school because of period pain. Employees suffering from migraines miss out on about a week of work every year. And one fifth of workers with back pain have to take six months off work. So over the counter painkillers have become a quick and easy way to keep things running smoothly! (For serious and long term pain, you should always see a doctor, as over the counter painkillers may not be appropriate or helpful.)
But big pharmaceutical companies who produce these drugs are involved in seriously unethical activities. In the UK, between 2009 and 2021, £693 million was spent on over the counter painkillers. And with sales increasing year on year, these big pharmaceutical companies look set to make more money than ever.
If you want to see the stats on how pain relief companies compare in our Environment, Animals and People criteria, check out our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table. (You might be interested to see our Ethical Cold Remedies Ratings Table or article too!)
Is there palm oil in Ibuprofen?
One of the most common forms of over the counter painkillers is Ibuprofen. Nurofen can be used to treat lots of aches and pains, from fevers, to migraines, to period pain to muscle ache and headaches. But this popular pain remedy often contains palm oil, in the form of stearic acid. Stearic acid is used in some of Nurofen’s Ibuprofen products.
One of the largest Ibuprofen brands is Nurofen, a subsidiary of Reckitt Benckiser. An Amnesty International report found that Reckitt Benckiser buys palm oil from Wilmar International. The report found evidence that Wilmar International uses forced labour, child labour, pays below minimum wage and has denied pensions. Amnesty International also report on Wilmar International’s multiple instances of health abuse, overtime abuse, gender discrimination, pesticide and herbicide use, and air pollution, all during the production of palm oil.
Other controversies by pain remedy pharmaceuticals
It will not come as a shock to anyone that whilst pharmaceutical companies keep us healthy, they also cause widespread damage to the Environment, Animals and People. From government lobbying, to tax avoidance, to stealing indigenous knowledge and resources (biopiracy), to pesticide development, there is no end to the controversies that big pharmaceutical companies are involved in. See our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table, and use the criteria to check how brands score on the issues that matter most to you.
Vegan painkillers
For vegans, it can be tricky to find over the counter painkillers that don’t contain animal-derived ingredients. Shellac and gelatin are often inactive ingredients that coat the tablets. A good guide is to avoid gel capsules, as these are often made with gelatin.
Whilst The Good Shopping Guide doesn’t advise you to skip pain relief altogether because of these ingredients, it’s good news for vegans that there are vegan-certified over the counter painkillers out there! ParavegianoⓇ is certified by The Vegan Society as the world’s first truly vegan painkiller, and contains 500mg of active paracetamol. ParavegianoⓇ can be used to treat mild to moderate pain and fever. (Users of ParavegianoⓇ should always contact a doctor if pain or fever is severe or long-lasting.) As this is such a new drug, it is only available in Germany, but the Make More Medicines Vegan campaign is pushing the UK government to make vegan painkillers widely available to the public.
Are over the counter painkillers tested on animals?
Many new over the counter painkiller products are required by UK law to be trialled on animals and humans before they are sold. However, as the case for animal trials becomes more and and more queried, we expect that the amount of new animal-tested pain remedies will decrease. In the meantime, many generic, current forms of over the counter painkillers are not animal-tested, because the formulas have been commercially available for decades.
Many supermarkets stock own-brand, generic forms of Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and Aspirin. Not only are these pain remedies cheaper, but also are not likely to have been tested on animals.
Medication overuse headache
For some people who suffer with frequent, severe migraines, taking over the counter painkillers might be a daily requirement. However, migraine specialists have identified that some patients experience medication overuse headaches after long-term, daily use of over the counter painkillers and prescribed painkillers. Medication overuse headaches are sometimes known as rebound headaches. A medication overuse headache feels like a dull pain in the head, rather than the searing pain of a migraine. Be wary of over the counter painkillers that are marketed as ‘quick fixes’ that can be used anytime you have a headache or migraine. The NHS recommends that you do not take painkillers more than two times a week on a regular basis.
Ethical alternatives to over the counter painkillers
The Good Shopping Guide does not offer medical advice. If you are experiencing serious or long-lasting pain, please seek help from a doctor or call NHS 111 (UK). If there is an emergency, please call 999 (UK).
Whilst there are some illnesses and conditions that do require the use of over the counter painkillers, there are ethical alternatives which can help to alleviate some common pains.
Heat packs are great for relieving very mild period cramps. Even better news, heat packs can be made at home for free! Place a damp towel in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Wrap the towel in a clean towel or jumper, and then place on your lower back or abdomen for cramp relief. Heat packs can also ease back pain, neck pain and arthritis, as warmth encourages blood flow. (Please note: pregnant people should not use heat packs on their lower abdomen.)
Gentle exercise can be good for some kinds of pain. Exercise releases endorphins which can act as natural pain relief! Exercise is also good for preventing pain, and is part of a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle. Seeking advice from a physiotherapist can mitigate long-term muscle or joint pain.
Alcohol can dehydrate us, which can lead to headaches, dizziness and nausea. Caffeine withdrawal can also cause headaches as blood vessels around the brain enlarge. Avoiding these substances may help to alleviate pain.
Check out the range of natural pain remedies from Neal’s Yard, which has received our Ethical Accreditation.
If you are taking any medication, are pregnant or have a serious long term health condition, please talk to your doctor before taking any pain relief. Even natural pain remedies can interact with some kinds of prescribed medicines or over the counter drugs.
See our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table to compare brands
The Good Shopping Guide’s research team has created articles detailing the ethical and sustainability policies (or lack of) of individual pain remedy brands. Click on the pain remedy brands you buy to read more in-depth analysis.
Neal’s Yard Remedies, Flarin, Ibuleve, Superdrug, Deep Freeze, Deep Heat, Galpharm, Solpadeine, LloydsPharmacy, Nurofen, Nuromol, Anadin, Boots, Panadol, Voltarol, Calpol, Alka-Seltzer and Feminax.