the-BA : Brands

There are lots of different pain-relievers available over the counter (OTC). They come in many different forms – tablets, capsules and soluble tablets, for example – but all do the same thing. They relieve pain. But they don’t always have the same active ingredients. Aspirin, paracetamol and ibruprofen, for example, are all different. They also have non-active ingredients, which differ depending on the form of the pain-reliever.

Have you ever wondered why some OTC pain-relievers are more expensive than others?

You might like to …

Investigate the range of available products that contain OTC pain-relievers, and group them according to active ingredient. Think about why there are so many products containing OTC-pain relievers; suggest why people buy the different varieties. Decide which ones appear to offer the best value for money
Find out how aspirin and paracetamol can be made in the laboratory and try to make some. You could develop a standard procedure to test the purity of your products.

Further links:
Royal Society of Chemistry (pages 7-8)

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