Do Vegan Pain Relievers Exist?
- Bhavin Patel
- May 30, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 29
The simple answer is yes! Finding vegan and animal-free products is easy if you go through the Pill Clarity shop. We have done the research to verify which products do not contain any animal ingredients.
The prevalence of animal-derived ingredients in pain relief medication makes it difficult for vegans to find effective pain management. From gelatin to shellac, ingredient labels are confusing and convoluted (read HERE for more information about animal-derived ingredients).
Complicating matters, due to current regulations, animal testing is often used in the development of medications, supplements, and cosmetics. Veganism adheres to avoiding all forms of animal exploitation, so many medications on the market are not vegan. Our goal at Pill Clarity is to find and support animal-free options, medications that do not contain any animal-derived ingredients, since "vegan" labeling may not always be appropriate.
There are different types of treatments depending on the type of pain. Please speak to your healthcare professional regarding all medical decisions.
Oral Pain Relief
Taking a tablet, capsule, or liquid by mouth is the most common form of pain relief. Many consumers choose over-the-counter options such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen or naproxen. Both acetaminophen and NSAIDs reduce fever and address pain caused by muscle aches and stiffness, but NSAIDs specifically target inflammation (Felson). "NSAIDs relieve pain by reducing the production of prostaglandins, which are hormone-like substances that cause pain (Felson)."
The Pill Clarity team has verified that Advil Dual Action with Acetaminophen is animal-free. According to Haleon, these tablets "work fast for headache relief, menstrual cramps, minor arthritis pain relief, muscle aches, back pain, and the aches and pains associated with the common cold."
For children, Children's Advil Pain Reliever and Fever Reducer is a liquid ibuprofen formula, available in white grape flavor to make it easier for your child to take. According to the manufacturer, this medication provides "unsurpassed fever relief among OTC pain relievers/fever reducers for up to 8 hours." Pediatric dosing is weight-based, so please confirm the medication choice and dosing with your pediatrician.
The exact mechanism of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a current area of study, but scientists hypothesize that acetaminophen likely interacts with physiological pathways within the central nervous system (Toussaint et al. 2010, Mallet et al 2010). If you are looking for an acetaminophen product, Pill Clarity has verified Tylenol Children's Dissolve Powder Packets and Tylenol Extra Strength Dissolve Packs with Acetaminophen for Pain to be animal-free.
For further reading on animal-free oral pain relief, check out "Is Tylenol Vegan?" and "Is Ibuprofen Vegan?"
Topical Pain Relief
Topical pain relief, also called topical analgesics, includes lotions, gels, creams, patches, and sprays that are applied directly to the skin. Topical pain relievers work best for acute musculoskeletal pain, like sore muscles, arthritis, or sprains and strains (Cleveland Clinic 2019). Active ingredients used in topical analgesics vary greatly depending on the intended purpose of the product.
One of Pill Clarity's most popular topical analgesic is Mentholatum Original Ointment. Mentholatum's active ingredients are natural camphor and menthol, which is also known as mint camphor. Mint camphor creates a cooling sensation to the applied area, tricking the brain into thinking that the skin or body temperature is dropping. This desensitizes nerve endings and decreases arterial blood flow (Cleveland Clinic 2019).
Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on Pill Clarity is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.
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Looking for certified and verified animal-free products?
Thank you for your awareness and concern for animal-derived ingredients!
As a reminder, please comment on our FDA Citizen Petition, requesting clear labeling of animal-derived ingredients in medications. Together, we can make a difference.
If you have any further questions about ingredients in your medicines and supplements, feel free to reach out to the Pill Clarity team!
Reference
Griffin, R. Morgan. “NSAIDs for Pain Relief.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/arthritis/features/pain-relief-how-nsaids-work.
Toussaint, K., et al. “What Do We (Not) Know about How Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) Works?” Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, vol. 35, no. 6, 2010, pp. 617–638., doi:10.1111/j.1365-2710.2009.01143.x.
Mallet, Christophe, et al. “TRPV1 In Brain Is Involved in Acetaminophen-Induced Antinociception.” PLoS ONE, vol. 5, no. 9, 2010, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012748.
Cleveland Clinic. “Topical Pain Relief: What Is It + How Does It Work?” Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic, 12 Sept. 2019, health.clevelandclinic.org/topical-pain-relief-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work/.
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