Ibuprofen and paracetamol can be safely taken together, though this combination is not recommended for long-term use in chronic pain. This particular combination is sometimes used as an alternative to opioid-based painkillers, such as codeine, for the management of short-term moderate pain.
You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time or spaced apart. Ibuprofen is best taken with food or on a full stomach. Follow the instructions on the label or leaflet about how to take the medicines, and to make sure you do not take too much of either.
It's great that people are wary and questioning when it comes to drugs because certain drug interactions can be harmful. The short answer to this question is 'Yes' for adults. It is generally safe for adults to take both paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time.
The recommended dose (12 years and over)a is 1–2 tablets every 6 hours as required, to a maximum of eight tablets in 24 hours. This translates to a maximum total dose of 4000 mg of paracetamol and 1200 mg of ibuprofen per day.
So that your child's pain is well controlled, it is OK to alternate giving paracetamol and ibuprofen, or even to give both at the same time. If you do this, it can be easy to accidentally give too much of either medicine.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be given together, but you can stagger them so that every few hours, if needed, the child can have some medication. For example, you can give paracetamol at 8am, ibuprofen at 11am and paracetamol again at 2pm (i.e. six hours after the first dose of paracetamol).
Ibuprofen • Use when fever is persistently above 38.5 °C, 1-2 hours after paracetamol. Give 6 hourly. Do not use in infants less than 6 months old. In infants 6 months to less than 1 year old, it can be given 8 hourly.
The usual dose for adults is one or two 200mg tablets or capsules 3 times a day. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of up to 600mg to take 4 times a day if needed.
For severe or acute pain paracetamol and ibuprofen may be combined, doses of each may be taken together or alternately. To minimise confusion, it is recommended that doses of ibuprofen and paracetamol are taken together.
It is fine to take Panadol extra in combination with ibuprofen or aspirin. However, don't take it with co-codamol, co-dydramol or Tramacet because these contain paracetamol.
If you take too much
Taking 1 or 2 extra tablets is unlikely to harm you. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Taking too much paracetamol can be dangerous and you may need treatment. Too much paracetamol can cause liver damage.
Both drugs appeared well tolerated and no evidence of difference in short-term adverse effects was observed. Both drugs are effective antipyretics but the longer action of ibuprofen may make it preferable in some circumstances.
Is it safe to give paracetamol and ibuprofen together at the same time? The quick answer is yes, you can.
Ibuprofen is generally considered to have stronger anti-inflammatory properties compared to paracetamol. This means that ibuprofen may be more effective in reducing pain associated with inflammation, such as joint and muscle pain.
If you have mild-to-moderate pain, paracetamol is often the best painkiller to try first. But NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can be better for pain associated with inflammation. You can switch to a different painkiller if the first one you try doesn't ease your pain.
Do not alternate between paracetamol and ibuprofen to treat a high temperature without advice from a doctor or nurse. See your doctor if you've tried both paracetamol and ibuprofen and they have not helped.
adults – can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (200mg) every 4 to 6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 1,200mg (6 x 200mg) tablets in the space of 24 hours.
Nurofen products contain ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory pain reliever that provides pain relief and reduces inflammation and fever.
These medications do not interact with each other. So you can alternate between the two, or give both at the same time. However, the biggest risk with combining these medications is becoming confused with dosages and times resulting in an overdose.
Indeed, most packets of Nurofen and ibuprofen tablets contain the exact same dose of the same active chemical, so are virtually the same product but at a hefty price difference. Both products are effective anti-inflammatory agents, offer relief for mild to moderate pain and are antipyretic (fever reducing).
You should start to feel better 20 to 30 minutes after taking ibuprofen tablets, capsules, granules or liquid. For some types of long-term pain, you'll need to take ibuprofen regularly for up to 3 weeks for it to work properly. If you're applying ibuprofen to your skin, it should start to work within 1 to 2 days.