What's the difference between ibuprofen and paracetamol?
- Paracetamol is a p-aminophenol derivative that exhibits analgesic and antipyretic activity. It does not possess anti-inflammatory activity. Paracetamol is thought to produce analgesia through a central inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.
Ibuprofen possesses analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties, like other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Its mechanism of action is unknown, but is thought to be through peripheral inhibition of cyclooxygenases and subsequent prostaglandin synthetase inhibition.
- Paracetamol is safe in pregnancy, and does not affect the closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus while NSAIDs like ibuprofen do.
- Paracetamol and NSAIDs have the benefit of bearing a low risk of addiction, dependence, tolerance and withdrawal, but
unlike opioid medications, may damage the liver.
- Paracetamol produces earlier pain relief than ibuprofen; however, ibuprofen is more likely to abort a migraine than acetaminophen. There is not a statistical difference in the number of adverse effects reported for the treatments. ibuprofen and paracetamol appear effective and safe for treating migraine headache in children.
- Ibuprofen is significantly better than paracetamol for relieving pain associated with tension-type headache. Patients receiving ibuprofen also reported complete pain relief more rapidly than patients taking paracetamol. Nonprescription ibuprofen is faster-acting and more effective than paracetamol for treating tension headache.
- When 400 mg of Ibuprofen orally every 4 hours was compared with oral paracetamol 900 mg every 4 hours in the treatment of migraine headache. Ibuprofen was judged significantly superior to paracetamol in reducing headache severity and duration. There was some evidence that nausea and vomiting were also reduced by ibuprofen.
- There is no important differences between paracetamol and ibuprofen in terms of efficacy or tolerability.
- Paracetamol and ibuprofen are equally effective in treating high altitude headaches.
_____________________________