Painkilling drugs. Packets and blister packs of tablets of the painkilling drugs Ibuprofen (white blister pack at left) and Voltarol (yellow tablets at bottom and right). As well as being painkilling (analgesic) drugs, these drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are used to treat aches and pains, as well as inflammation in conditions like arthritis (joint inflammation). Ibuprofen, which was first developed in the 1960s, was initially a prescription drug. It became an over-the-counter drug in the 1980s. It is widely marketed under many brand names. Voltarol, which was developed in the 1970s, contains the active component diclofenac. These brands are from Almus (Ibuprofen) and Geigy (Voltarol).