This post was written by Abby Miller, PharmD Candidate, Parkview Health.
How do you choose between ibuprofen and acetaminophen? Does it matter which you take? What are the differences? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, this post is a great place to find answers. The next time you have a headache, aches and pains, or a fever you can make a more informed decision about which medication may be right for you.
What is ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID for short. It’s also the generic name for Motrin ™, Advil ™ and Caldolor ™. Ibuprofen is effective for decreasing swelling, pain, and treating fevers, and should only be used for short periods of time. Chronic use of NSAIDS can lead to unwanted side effects, like stomach ulcers. Patients with decreased kidney function should be careful and possibly avoid this family of medication.
Ibuprofen is generally safe to be given to children over 6 months of age and to adults. Contact your doctor before giving a baby ibuprofen as unwanted side effects can occur in those less than 6 months of age. Be aware of different formulations of ibuprofen for different patient ages.
What is acetaminophen?
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever. Acetaminophen is the generic name for Tylenol™, Mapap™, ElixSure™, Apra™ and Fever All™. Acetaminophen is effective for decreasing pain and treating fevers. It does not have anti-inflammatory effects like NSAIDS do. Acetaminophen is generally safe to be given to babies, children and adults. Be aware that there are different forms of the medication for different patient ages.
Please consult your doctor for dosing that may be specific for your health conditions and other medications that you are currently taking. You should not exceed more than 4 grams or 4000 mg of acetaminophen-containing products each day.
It’s important to keep in mind that both of these products are often found in combination pain relievers and cough and cold products. Be careful to read the ingredients on your over-the-counter medications carefully. Taking more than one product containing ibuprofen or acetaminophen can increase the risk of potentially serious side effects. When in doubt, stop at the pharmacy counter to make sure that your medications may be safely taken together.
Quick reference chart
If you have any questions regarding a prescription or over-the-counter medication, don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist. We are here to help! You can find a list of Parkview outpatient pharmacies here.
