I always have my medicine cabinet stocked up with paracetamol and ibuprofen as there is nothing worse than having a headache (or other form of pain) and nothing to take for it. In truth, ibuprofen works better for me personally and it is something that I certainly noticed during pregnancy when I had to make do with paracetamol. My ibuprofen brand of choice at the moment is Tesco's own.

Tesco ibuprofen comes in two forms - capsules and tablets. Both packets contain 16 capsules/tablets and come in a dull silver/grey box with red writing. A box of tablets cost 41p and capsules 54p. The tablets contain 200mg ibuprofen. I usually opt for the tablets as I find the round shape easier to swallow than the longer capsules. Inside the box, the tablets come in two plastic trays of 8 tablets, with a silver paper backing that can be pierced by popping the tablets through.

The tablets are said to be 'for the relief of rheumatic and muscular pain, backache, neuralgia (nerve pain), headache, migraine, dental pain, period pain, fever (high temperature) and for relief of the symptoms of colds and flu'.

I usually take two tablets at a time and you can take these every few hours if necessary. When I take these, it is usually for a headache but I have also used for pain and soreness after birth, tooth cutting pain and period pain. I find that these work very quickly - easily within half an hour after taking. They also relieve the pain very well, I find them particularly effective on the dull ache of period pain. I also do not suffer any side effects with these tablets - no tiredness or sickness - so they really do enable me to carry on with my day as normal.

I first chose these tablets as there was a huge price saving on the branded tablets - with a similar sized box of branded ibuprofen costing around £1.70 - easily triple the price. I find them just as effective though and would definitely recommend them for fast, effective pain relief. It's a bonus that they are less painful on your wallet too!