If you’re in pain and you’re looking for relief in the form of an over-the-counter drug, you’ve got a slew of options.

Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin (Bayer or Ecotrin) are common pain relievers that belong to a class of medication called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

There’s aspirin, which, like ibuprofen, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and there’s naproxen, used in Aleve, which is also an NSAID. So what’s the difference between these ...