Could tylenol and ibuprofen replace steroids for sudden injuries?
NCT ID NCT07393503
First seen Feb 06, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 23 times
Summary
This study compares two short-term pain relief methods for acute musculoskeletal injuries: a steroid dose pack (methylprednisolone) versus a combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin). Sixty adults with new injuries (less than 2 weeks old) will take one of the treatments for 6 days and report their pain and function. The goal is to see if the over-the-counter option works as well as the prescription steroid.
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (716 Health)
Buffalo, New York, 14221, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Methylprednisolone, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen
What this could lead to
If this trial succeeds, it could show that a simple over-the-counter pain reliever combination works as well as prescription steroids for acute injuries.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The study is still enrolling and outcomes are based on self-reported pain, which can vary.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.