What Are The Differences Between Ibuprofen And Paracetamol?

Many people think that ibuprofen and acetaminophen are the same drugs, but with different names. Today we will discover that this is not so.

Many people are unaware of the differences between ibuprofen and paracetamol, so when, for example, there is a tummy ache as a result of menstruation, they choose one or the other indistinctly. This is a serious error. These two drugs are not the same.

Today we are going to point out differences between ibuprofen and paracetamol that are very important. With them, we will realize the number of occasions in which we have consumed one of these two drugs and that, in reality, they were not intended for what we wanted to treat. Normally, we make these mistakes because we tend to self-medicate. If we went to the doctor, he would know whether to prescribe ibuprofen or paracetamol. Let’s look at each of them separately.

What is ibuprofen?

To point out the differences between ibuprofen and paracetamol, let’s start talking about ibuprofen, one of the drugs, perhaps, most consumed. It’s like the wild card drug. The one that works for almost everything.

We usually choose this drug when a part of our body hurts, for example, back pain. Also, we turn to it when our head hurts, for menstrual cramps, when we suffer from inflammation… Are we doing the right thing?

Ibuprofen is known as an anti-inflammatory pain reliever. That is, it is a drug intended to treat those ailments that cause inflammation. For example, a toothache, lumbago … It is also used to treat menstrual pain or sprains.

However, its action is moderate. If we suffer from migraines, for example, ibuprofen will not be able to alleviate this pain. For this reason, we always recommend going to the doctor, since he will provide us with the most suitable drug for us.

What are the drawbacks of ibuprofen? What are its contraindications? Well, perhaps few people know this, but ibuprofen is very aggressive on the stomach. In fact, taking it relatively regularly or overdosing it can damage the stomach’s protective barrier. Therefore, it should not be taken on an empty stomach.

However, this is not the only downside to using ibuprofen in a misleading way. In addition to the stomach, it can also have negative effects on the cardiovascular system.

What is paracetamol for?

When we don’t have ibuprofen, we use acetaminophen and vice versa, which is a big mistake. We have already seen what ibuprofen is for and now we are going to discover what specific uses paracetamol has. They sure surprise us.

Paracetamol, contrary to what we have seen with ibuprofen, does not have an anti-inflammatory action. Therefore, using it for toothaches, back pain or menstruation is not positive. We will be taking a drug that our body does not need.

So … what is paracetamol? Paracetamol is an analgesic and a great help to lower fever, if we have it. It can be used in all cases where there is no inflammation and to alleviate some of the symptoms related to the flu.

Unlike ibuprofen, paracetamol does not harm the stomach, so it can be consumed without food without any problem. Of course, we must be very careful if we have liver problems, since paracetamol can damage the liver.

Do not exceed your dose and take it properly, it will be essential to avoid major problems that harm our liver. Have you ever taken paracetamol the wrong way? These differences between ibuprofen and paracetamol have surely surprised you . However, you have probably also taken two takes of one of them because they did not alleviate the discomfort you were trying to resolve.

Differences Between Ibuprofen And Acetaminophen: Final Comments

Perhaps by now you have realized that you were not using the correct medication. We encourage you, from now on, to go to the doctor whenever possible. This can give you the most suitable medicine for you. Although these two drugs have seemed harmless until now, now discovering the differences between ibuprofen and paracetamol you will have realized that they can harm your health.

Maybe not now. However, over time, you may start to have certain ailments resulting from the inappropriate use of these two medications. Don’t let this take you by surprise. Take ibuprofen and acetaminophen when appropriate.