Paracetamol or ibuprofen? Which one to take (uses and differences)

Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are two medications that are very commonly used to treat fever. and all kinds of pain, such as headaches or sore throats caused by colds and flu.

Although neither of these medications usually have serious health risks and both are helpful in relieving certain symptoms, it should be borne in mind that in some cases it is better to take paracetamol and in others ibuprofen.

What are ibuprofen and paracetamol?

Paracetamol or acetaminophen is marketed as Gelocatil, Frenadol, and Panadol, among other names. It is the most widely used medicine in Europe and the United States to relieve pain and fever, especially if they are mild.

Although its mechanism of action is not known in detail, It is considered one of the most effective and least risky medications that exist, except in cases of overdose.

Ibuprofen, such as diclofenac (Voltarén) or dexketoprofen (Enantyum), is part of the group of medicines known as “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs” (NSAIDs), which have analgesic and antipyretics.

Ibuprofen stands out among NSAIDs for its fewer side effects, although it is still relatively aggressive to the stomach, heart and kidneys. We can find this drug under many brand names, including Espidifen, Advil or Dalsy.

What are they for?

Many people use acetaminophen and ibuprofen interchangeably to treat symptoms of the same type, especially pain and fever, since both drugs produce similar effects.

Paracetamol is recommended as a treatment for mild headaches, of teeth, muscles and bones. It is also useful for relieving cold and flu discomfort.

This medicine is also frequently used to enhance the pain-relieving effects of opiates such as codeine, much more powerful, in the treatment of intense pain such as those caused by surgical operations or by some types of cancer.

For its part, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are used to treat all kinds of pain, especially those caused by inflammation, such as arthritis. Although it is a powerful anti-inflammatory, the effects of ibuprofen in this regard are inferior to those of other NSAIDs, which also explains its greater tolerability.

• Related article: "The 7 types of migraine (characteristics and causes)"

Is it better to take paracetamol or ibuprofen?

Although the uses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen overlap to some degree, the effectiveness of each of these medications varies depending on the type of symptom we are referring to.

1. To lower the fever

Ibuprofen is better than paracetamol to reduce severe fever. While ibuprofen has proven antipyretic effects, it is less clear that acetaminophen is effective beyond reducing pain and mild fever.

According to studies, it is especially doubtful that paracetamol reduces fever in children, so in these cases ibuprofen is the drug of first choice.

2. For the headache

Taking acetaminophen alone or with caffeine is very effective for treating tension or migraine headaches.. Although ibuprofen can also help reduce this type of pain, paracetamol is considered more effective because it has effects on a neurological level. However, the higher potency of ibuprofen can compensate for this disadvantage in case of Intense pain.

3. For a sore throat, cold and flu

Acetaminophen is usually more recommended for treating cold and flu symptoms, such as a sore throat, because it generally carries fewer risks than ibuprofen, so It is advisable to opt for this medicine when we want to treat practically any mild discomfort or moderate.

5. For toothache

Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs such as Voltarén are very effective in treating dental pain and are considered the drug of choice for toothache and the one that occurs after dental operations. This is due to its anti-inflammatory effects.

Combining ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be helpful in treating severe pain of this type that does not get better with ibuprofen alone. It is also recommended to take only paracetamol in case the person has stomach problems such as ulcers.

6. For hangover

Although paracetamol is generally recommended for headaches, a hangover is a special case: produced due to alcohol consumption and paracetamol potentiates its negative effects, taking it in these cases can be counterproductive. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for ibuprofen to combat a hangover.

7. As an anti-inflammatory

Although both medications are pain relievers, only ibuprofen has significant anti-inflammatory effects. Paracetamol has not been shown to be effective in fighting inflammation, although the pain produced by it has.

This means that in case of inflammatory pain, ibuprofen attacks the cause of the problem, while paracetamol has more superficial effects.

8. For postoperative pain

Both drugs are effective in treating pain caused by surgical operations. In these cases, paracetamol is usually used in conjunction with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or with codeine. or other opiates, as we have said previously.

9. For menstrual pain

Again, the anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen make it superior to paracetamol in cases such as menstrual pain. Paracetamol has a superficial effect for inflammatory pain, although being less aggressive than ibuprofen it may make sense to take it for menstrual pain if it is mild.

10. For joint pain

Acetaminophen is effective in relieving pain caused by joint problems but As we have said, it does not reduce the inflammation that causes this pain, while ibuprofen does. makes.

Therefore, ibuprofen is recommended for joint pain caused by inflammationsuch as arthritis, sprains, and strains.

Contraindications and side effects

Ibuprofen should not be taken during pregnancy as it has been shown to be harmful to the baby during the third trimester, at a minimum. It is also not recommended to consume it while breastfeeding. Instead, Taking paracetamol during pregnancy and breastfeeding does not appear to be risky.

Paracetamol has the problem that the effective dose is close to the dose from which it can cause an overdose. It is dangerous to mix paracetamol with alcohol because it increases its toxicity and the risk of suffering adverse effects.

The side effects of these drugs also differ. Ibuprofen is aggressive for the stomach, so it must be taken with food and even combined with medications that protect this organ. Paracetamol does not affect the stomach but in the long term it can damage the liver to a greater extent than ibuprofen.

Final Recommendations

Neither paracetamol nor ibuprofen should be consumed on a regular basis due to their potential long-term side effects.

Although in general when in doubt we should use paracetamol because it is less aggressive than ibuprofen, it also has fewer uses. Remember that the effects of ibuprofen are superior because in addition to being useful for relieving pain and fever, it also reduces inflammation, unlike paracetamol.

In addition, When we want to take one of these two drugs, it is advisable to take into account its side effectsIf we have liver problems we should avoid taking paracetamol and if we are more concerned about damaging the stomach, it is advisable not to take ibuprofen or take it together with a stomach protector.