The pain can appear at any time and at home we always have ibuprofen and paracetamol to alleviate its effects. They are two of the most widely used drugs in Spain and in the rest of the world, although many times, depending on the ailment, we do not know which to choose.
Do youIbuprofen or paracetamol? From here we will try to clear your doubts so that you are aware of their differences. A track! Ibuprofen is anti-inflammatory, unlike paracetamol.
Ibuprofen
As we have mentioned, ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. This means that it should be taken when the pain has originated from a bodily injury or inflammation.
This medicine is very effective in alleviating the muscle pains caused by inflammation, although it can also be taken in high fever situations. Now, it can have some side effect such as an upset stomach, hence it is essential to take it with other foods.
The effects begin to be noticed 30 minutes after ingestion and last approximately 6 hours.
With ibuprofen you have to take into account something very important. It is a drug interrelated with the blood coagulation systemHence, it is not compatible with pain caused by open injuries. And it is that ibuprofen can prevent patients with significant wounds from healing properly.
In addition, not everyone can take ibuprofen, something that does not happen with respect to paracetamol. Thus, those allergic or hypersensitive to anti-inflammatories, people with heart failure, liver disease or stomach ulcer, should avoid ingesting it. The same happens with pregnant women who are in the third trimester of pregnancy as it can damage the heart of the fetus.
Ibuprofen can act in an unpredictable way when taking other drugs, so it is very important to consult it before with your family doctor.
Paracetamol
If we talk about paracetamol, we will say that it is a antipyretic pain reliever, commonly used for fight fever and typical toothache or headache. Its side effects are hardly noticeable, being safe in the case of adults and children. In fact, to become a toxic drug, it would take up to ten times the normal dose.
Patients taking other antibiotics or medications can take it without any problem, being necessary to wait 45 to 60 minutes to check its effects after taking it. Its approximate duration is 4 hours.
Unlike ibuprofen, paracetamol does not harm the stomach in any way, although it can negatively affect the liver. Now, we should ingest high amounts and the people who should be more careful are those who suffer from a problem with this organ.
Headache: ibuprofen or acetaminophen?
At the time of fight the dreaded headachesBoth drugs work in a similar way in relieving pain. However, we must not forget that ibuprofen has an anti-inflammatory effect and is more harmful, so it is preferable use in this case paracetamol.
Its properties are similar, but as we said, ibuprofen can damage the stomach and even alter kidney function. Paracetamol, for its part, does not cause liver damage unless it is ingested in excess.
For a sore throat
For a sore throat associated with the flu, it is best to use paracetamol. Now, many times this pathology is associated with a irritation or inflammation, so in this case ibuprofen may be more effective, which can also be taken dispersed in the mouth, granulated or effervescent with water.
Flu and other viral-type infections work against the level of platelets in the blood, destabilizing it and causing it to decrease. Ibuprofen proceeds in a similar way when destroying them, so it is preferable take paracetamol in order to prevent bleeding.
For fever
This situation is closely related to the previous case. When it comes to alleviating general discomfort and reducing the temperature caused by a common catarrhal process with fever, enough with take paracetamol. However, if we have the sore throat, it is best to take ibuprofen.
If you finally use the latter, be sure to consume it with meals to avoid possible stomach problems by being aggressive with the gastric mucosa. In case of suffering some type of disorder, it is essential to go to the doctor so that he can recommend a gastric protector.
For coronavirus
A few months ago, the Spanish Ministry of Health alerted us about ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs, as their properties could aggravate coronavirus infection. That way, your recommendation is take paracetamol to patients with fever.
The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products pointed out that there is not enough data to support this statement, although many medical professionals continue to trust the use of paracetamol as the first option.
As long as you follow the recommended dosage, both drugs are effective and safe. The main advice we can get you from here is avoid self-medication and that you consult any questions to your family doctor or pharmacist.
This information does not replace in any case the diagnosis or prescription by a doctor. It is important to go to a specialist when symptoms occur in case of illness and never self-medicate.
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