‘Crazy’ JD Vance makes surprising announcement about over-the-counter painkillers
Vice President JD Vance made the claim this week that ibuprofen, the most popular pain medication in the world, is ‘useless,’ despite years of research showing its efficacy and safety in treating mild to moderate pain and fevers.
Vance made his assertion while speaking at a Make America Healthy Again summit with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vaccine skeptic and proponent of the unfounded theory that acetaminophen, a safe over-the-counter pain reliever, causes autism.
The MAHA initiative is a cornerstone of the Kennedy-led department, characterized by research into the causes of autism, the removal of big pharma pay-for-play schemes and tackling the country’s chronic disease epidemic.
RFK Jr and proponents of the MAHA movement have also made controversial claims over the safety of raw milk, vaccines and science-backed medical treatments.
During the event, Vance said his opinion was ‘the one way’ that he is ‘more instinctively MAHA.’
He said: ‘If I have like, you know, a back sprain, or I slept weird and I woke up with back pain, I don’t want to take Ibuprofen.
‘I don’t like taking medications. I don’t like taking anything unless I absolutely have to. And I think that is another MAHA style attitude. It’s not anti-medication, it’s anti-useless-medication.’
The efficacy of ibuprofen, sold under the brand name Advil, is well-documented across numerous clinical studies. It has frequently been found to provide better pain relief than acetaminophen (Tylenol), while multiple studies have found that it provides comparable or superior pain relief to some opioids without the addiction risk.
Vance stated that his reluctance to use Ibuprofen for common aches, like a back sprain, is the primary way he identifies with the MAHA perspective
Vance appeared to recognize the controversial nature of his comment, given the drug’s popularity, prefacing his comment by noting that he is just ‘one of these crazy people.’
The vice president stopped short of suggesting that the medication was unsafe and did not offer any pain relief alternatives. Vance also did not disclose whether he is currently taking any medication.
Ibuprofen works by temporarily muting the body’s internal alarm system. During injury or inflammation, enzymes known as COX-1 and COX-2 produce prostaglandins, chemicals that sensitize nerve endings and cause swelling, thereby triggering pain signals.
The medication blocks these enzymes, reducing prostaglandin production at the source. This not only dials down the pain signaling but also directly tackles the underlying inflammation, offering a two-pronged approach to relief.
Ibuprofen is a versatile drug indicated to treat a wide spectrum of conditions, from common ailments like fever, headaches and muscle aches to chronic inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
It is also specifically approved for managing primary menstrual cramps and, in its intravenous form, for closing a blood vessel defect in premature infants.
Its broad range of applications makes it a foundational medication for both over-the-counter and prescription pain and inflammation relief.
A comprehensive 2010 review of 85 studies found that ibuprofen generally outperforms acetaminophen, proving more effective at reducing pain and fever in both children and adults.
Ibuprofen works by blocking enzymes that produce prostaglandins, the chemicals that trigger pain signals and inflammation. By stopping these at the source, it not only relieves pain but also reduces swelling, providing dual-action relief (stock)
The extra boost in efficacy did not come with any extra risk, as both medications were shown to be equally safe.
By blocking protective prostaglandins, ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining, raising the risk of ulcers and bleeding, especially with long-term use. It can also reduce blood flow to the kidneys, posing a risk to their function.
For this reason, it is cautioned for people with kidney disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart failure.
Because of its effect on platelets and circulation, it should be avoided before or after major heart surgery and used with extreme care by those on blood thinners.
Vance’s comment follows a flurry of Trump Administration-led claims about the similarly popular Tylenol.
President Donald Trump, standing beside RFK Jr, said last month: ‘Taking Tylenol is not good. I’ll say it: It’s not good.
‘There’s no downside. Don’t take it. You’ll be uncomfortable. It won’t be as easy, maybe, but don’t take it. If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol,’ claiming it can cause autism in their child.
RFK Jr came out soon after and admitted, ‘it is not sufficient to say’ Tylenol ‘definitely’ causes autism.
But he stood by his position: ‘I’m not going to change until the science changes. And the science does not look like it’s changing. It’s getting stronger and stronger every day.’
