Taking painkillers could ease heartache as well as headaches, new research suggests.

The review of studies by the University of California found that women taking over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen and paracetamol reported less hurt feelings from emotionally painful experiences, compared with those taking a placebo.

But the opposite was found in men, where emotions appeared to be heightened by taking the pills.

The study showed that popular pain medications may influence how people process information and experience hurt feelings.

Researchers who reviewed previous studies found over-the-counter pain medicine may influence sensitivity to emotionally painful experiences.

They discovered that, compared to those who took placebos, women who took a dose of ibuprofen reported less hurt feelings from emotionally painful experiences, such as being excluded from a game or writing about a time when they were betrayed.

Men showed the opposite pattern.

The researchers also found the pills infuence the ability to empathise with the pain of others.

Compared to those taking placebos, people who took a dose of paracetamol were less emotionally distressed while reading about a person experiencing physical or emotional pain and felt less regard for the person.

Researchers also discovered painkillers can alter our ability to process information.