Uploaded January 2011 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
In 1997, the (NSaid/analgesic) Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Aleve) was entering the over the counter pain relief market and so the old guard (aspirin, acetaminophen/paracetamol) were re-staking their claims too.
This Bayer (inventors of aspirin) ad takes on Excedrin, the frequent leader in OTC headache relief directly by saying that aspirin works on headaches too and obliquely referencing that low-dose aspirin is recommended as a blood thinner as a treatment to maintain blood flow in some at risk of heart attack. Of course popping an aspirin (or Excedrin) for your headache doesn't actually do much on the heart attack prevention front.
A few years later Naproxen Sodium came on the market and the cycle started all over again.
As of 2011, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are the big players in OTC pain relief, although naproxen sodium and Excedrin have significant stakes too. Bayer (makers of aspirin/ASA/acetylsalicylic acid) has recently pushed back against ibuprofen reminding people that aspirin actually does work pretty well against pain and inflammation too.
This spot aired on KRON (was NBC affiliate at the time) during Hard Copy after the 5th game of the Baseball World Series on NBC on October 23rd, 1997.
In 1997, the (NSaid/analgesic) Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Aleve) was entering the over the counter pain relief market and so the old guard (aspirin, acetaminophen/paracetamol) were re-staking their claims too.
This Bayer (inventors of aspirin) ad takes on Excedrin, the frequent leader in OTC headache relief directly by saying that aspirin works on headaches too and obliquely referencing that low-dose aspirin is recommended as a blood thinner as a treatment to maintain blood flow in some at risk of heart attack. Of course popping an aspirin (or Excedrin) for your headache doesn't actually do much on the heart attack prevention front.
A few years later Naproxen Sodium came on the market and the cycle started all over again.
As of 2011, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are the big players in OTC pain relief, although naproxen sodium and Excedrin have significant stakes too. Bayer (makers of aspirin/ASA/acetylsalicylic acid) has recently pushed back against ibuprofen reminding people that aspirin actually does work pretty well against pain and inflammation too.
This spot aired on KRON (was NBC affiliate at the time) during Hard Copy after the 5th game of the Baseball World Series on NBC on October 23rd, 1997.
