When you pop a pill to stop that pain, what it does primarily is to deaden the nerves so that they cannot transmit pain signals to the brain. Therefore you do not feel the pain after you swallow a painkiller. The minimum time it takes to work is at least 30-40 minutes after you've taken it.

While almost every painkiller has some kind of proven side effect, Paracetamol is voted by experts as being the safest and the only one that can be taken without medical supervision. This painkiller can be given even to a new born baby without the danger of any side effects. And that is the only one that you should pop when you are in pain.

While a Disprin (containing aspirin) can lead to blood thinning, peptic ulcers and even Reyes Syndrome (multi organ seizure) in children alone with precipitating asthma in patients, a Voveran (containing diclosenac) can cause liver and kidney damage and even bleeding in the stomach.

Some like Nimesulide are the most dangerous because they can cause toxic liver failure among others. Most developed countries have banned them but in some countries it's a different story.

Another common painkiller like Ibuprofen is to be avoided during pregnancy because it can cause gastro intestinal bleeding, skin reactions and also peptic ulcers. Pain is a day to day problem and it's a good thing because it's a kind of warning mechanism that the body uses to tell you that all is not well inside you. That's when you should see a doctor to find out the reason for the pain.

And from what sales of OTC drugs show, you are clearly not alone in trying to play doctor. It's a fallacy that only the uneducated misuse painkillers.

So if you don't want to land up in a sick bed, think before popping that easy to reach painkiller.

Possible Side effects of painkillers

Aspirin: Intestinal hemorrhage, peptic ulcer, precipitates asthma.
Ibuprofen: Stomach ulcer, vomiting, skin reactions
Novalgin: Blood disorder
Voveran: Liver and kidney damage, water retention leading to high BP
Nimesulide: Toxic liver failure, kidney damage, blood in urine
Paracetamol: None

Note: Prescription painkillers can be highly dangerous if taken without medical supervision.