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When we experience a headache, we immediately go to the medicine cabinet and check the available pain killers. The choice is between paracetamol and ibuprofen to ease off the pain. But which among the two really is an effective pain reliever? What is the difference between the two? Which is more effective than the other? When it comes to medicines, as much as possible, we want an immediate reaction to a mild or severe feeling of pain.
These two are over-the-counter pain medications that are easily accessible in pharmacies. They work well in relief with an immediate reaction to any type of pain. This article will give you enlightenment about the pain killers you’re taking and answer your queries about the effectivity of both.
What is Paracetamol?
Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen designated for mild pain. They can also work on normalizing temperature in case of fever or flu. Paracetamol is best used to relieve mild pain such as headaches, toothache, dysmenorrhea, and even joint pain. They are best taken even on an empty stomach or together with other medications. It is proven safe to take paracetamol together with ibuprofen considering that they target to relieve pain in different parts of the body.
Paracetamol is taken orally and may be in the form of liquid or solid. They vary in brands and dosages depending on the age and weight of the person. When medicating a kid with paracetamol, check if it is suitable for children. The weight of the child will give you the idea if it is the right dosage of paracetamol to medicate the child with. If the weight is undefined, age can be used too.
Pain relievers like paracetamol are used as front line medications when the body experiences light to moderate pain. If the feeling of pain progresses, it would be best to have a doctor check to evaluate you. Paracetamol is not suggested to be taken for fever for over three days unless instructed by your doctor. If used as a pain reliever, it is not recommended to be taken for over ten days since paracetamol reacts immediately to pain and fever.
What is Ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter pain reliever best used to alleviate dental pain, dysmenorrhea, muscle and joint pain, and headache. Like paracetamol, it can also be taken to normalize temperature which is best for people with fever or flu. It is used to treat a minor feeling of pain as caused by fever or flu. When we have flu, every inch of our body aches wherein we feel heavier than usual. Since it is also considered as an anti-inflammatory drug, it decreases pain, swelling, and temperature.
If they are for self-medication, ibuprofen is best taken after meals every five to six hours hydrated with plenty of water. Unless instructed by your doctor, these instructions should be followed. Common experiences when taking ibuprofen is an upset stomach. We highly recommend to sit up straight for at least ten minutes right after the medication intake. If you are experiencing abnormal stomach reactions, drink the medication together with milk or antacid.
If you are taking ibuprofen as a front line medication to alleviate pain and temperature, take the lowest dosage. This helps in preventing cases of upset stomach and other related side effects. If the medication is not working out well, seek a doctor for further instructions. Do not rely on the effectivity of increased dosage. Wait for further instructors from your doctor if the medications are not working out for you.
What is the Difference Between the Two?
Paracetamol and ibuprofen have their similarities especially when it comes to being a front line medication in treating pain and fever. With all these similarities, they also have their differences. In spite of acting as a pain killer, their limitations are not that fully identified even being used as a medication for over 50 years. Both ibuprofen and paracetamol are known for reducing the pain intensity being signaled to the brain.
Comparing the two, ibuprofen relieves pain better than paracetamol because of its anti-inflammatory features. When people experience or suffer from the flu, it is accompanied by body pain and inflammation. It acts more than just a pain reliever but alleviates inflammatory factors. In choosing the right medication whenever you feel discomfort as caused by pain, most prefer ibuprofen. It’s fast-acting properties and the way it targets different types of pain makes it the preferred front line medication.
How to Choose Your Pain Killers?
Pain killers are not all the same. They are classified into two types which are opioids and non-opioids. They are prescribed based on the affected part and the level of pain felt. Non-opioids is the pain killer classification used to identify ibuprofen and paracetamol. They manage to relieve mild to moderate levels of pain. On the other hand, opioids are often prescribed for patients who experience severe pain.
Apart from knowing the type of pain killer, you should also be aware of the processes it has undergone. As far as the pharmaceutical industry is concerned, they undergo processes with the assurance that they have passed the quality team.
Since this is as important as the processes in the food and beverage industry, they are ought to prevent cases of contamination. They are equipped with quality-based machines and control equipment like SIO check valves to keep track of the required parameters of the process.
Conclusion
Paracetamol and ibuprofen may both serve their purpose of relieving pain in short reaction time. Regardless, people who are self-medicating should be well aware of the disadvantages of relying too much on pain killers. Know the type of pain killers you are consuming and ensure that you get the right dosage and taken at the right time.
