Ibuprofen and paracetamol.

[fsabir]

Quick question:

Can you take ibuprofen and paracetamol together, i know there isn't an interaction with them, but wanted to know if they can be taken one after another. Or should paracetamol should be taken first and after an hour ibuprofen.

Thanks

[DavidS]

Quick question:

Can you take ibuprofen and paracetamol together, i know there isn't an interaction with them, but wanted to know if they can be taken one after another. Or should paracetamol should be taken first and after an hour ibuprofen.

Thanks

Quick answer, Yes.

Some people think that its best if you stagger the doses, obvious would be Ibuprofen with meals tds, and Paracetamol between meals qds, and others say there is no research which says it provides better pain relief taken staggered. I always recommend staggered, because I think it will improve the placebo effect if nothing else.

[starhammad]

Dear fsabir - Theoritically speaking, there is no benefit of administering two COX inhibitors together, as they share the mode of action.
But practically, some post-op patients might get some benefit with this combination due to the fact that Ibup is slightly more potent inhib of COX and together both can potentiate the effects.

Regards,
Hammad

[Shwampa]

We're still unsure how paracetamol works! It's better to keep using the word NSAID for Ibuprofen and Analgesic/Antalgic for paracetamol.

They don't share the same SE, hence combining the 2 can be useful. Giving Ibuprofen at night is a good option because of a longer cover.

I counsel my patients to try with paracetamol first usually, unless I wish an anti-inflammatory effect (sinus pain, earache, sore throat..) where experience shows a better pain relief with NSAIDS.

If you want to combine: give together in the morning, then another paracetamol dose if required q46h (pref 6h) and give again together at night. It's your call using your insight experience and knowledge of drugs.

[sharifhs]

Quick question:

Can you take ibuprofen and paracetamol together, i know there isn't an interaction with them, but wanted to know if they can be taken one after another. Or should paracetamol should be taken first and after an hour ibuprofen.

Thanks

May be Ibuprofen is safer one among other NSAIDs, so there is a little chance of gastric ulceration.To get anti-inflammatory effects where patient is suffering from gastric ulcer or likely to prone ulceration lower dose of Ibuprofen+paracetamol can be given. You can see in BNF to learn more.

[Raju]

, unless I wish an anti-inflammatory effect (sinus pain, earache, sore throat..) where experience shows a better pain relief with NSAIDS..

But doesn't any significant anti-inflammatory effect take longer to establish itself compared to the duration of use of NSAIDs for acute problems that you list here?

[bobbin]

But doesn't any significant anti-inflammatory effect take longer to establish itself compared to the duration of use of NSAIDs for acute problems that you list here?

NSAIDs are remarkably effective analgesics for many types of pain. The full anti-inflammatory effect may take a couple of weeks to develop in patients with arthritis but this isn't really relevent to the acute pain indications.

[Pharmanaut]

NSAIDs are remarkably effective analgesics for many types of pain. The full anti-inflammatory effect may take a couple of weeks to develop in patients with arthritis but this isn't really relevent to the acute pain indications.

You would assume that NSAID is part of a set of treatment measures for acute pain. Those measures would vary slightly, but usually its Rest, Ice, Elevation, Compression. But I could be wrong.