However, you should always consult your doctor about whether ibuprofen is safe for you and for how long. For example, a healthy person with a fever should be able to take ibuprofen for 1-2 days without worrying about any risks. Always consult your doctor if you have health problems and are not sure if it would be safe to take ibuprofen.ĭoes this mean that everyone should avoid taking ibuprofen and NSAIDs for fear of developing a major health problem? No! When taken appropriately, ibuprofen can be very helpful and the risks can be minimized. They can also cause kidney diseases like interstitial nephritis, renal papillary necrosis or even just acute kidney injury.īecause of these potentially serious problems, people who are on blood thinners or living with health problems like heart disease, kidney disease, history of gastrointestinal disease or bleeding disorders should not take NSAIDs at all. NSAIDs can also prolong bleeding time, which can lead to significant hemorrhage, especially if someone is already taking a blood thinner. They can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, serious gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcers or (very rarely) perforation of the stomach and intestines. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can have serious side effects and must be taken with caution. It is classified in a category of medicines called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which includes other medicines that work similarly like naproxen, diclofenac, meloxicam and others. Ibuprofen works on enzymes in our body (COX-1 and 2) which are important pathways involved in inflammation, pain and fever. It may be a good option when you’re experiencing things like: Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medicine used for pain, fever and inflammation. When to take ibuprofen (aka Advil or Motrin) Similarly, prescription pain medicines like acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol #3) or hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Norco) need to be used with caution, especially when taken with OTC acetaminophen. If you’re already taking 3 g/day of acetaminophen and add NyQuil for a cold, you could unintentionally be taking higher than recommended doses of acetaminophen. For example, some cold remedies contain acetaminophen. Make sure you read your labels to ensure you’re not overdosing on acetaminophen accidentally. One of the other things to remember with acetaminophen is that it is commonly found in other medications, both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription. Higher than recommended doses actually have little to no benefit and come with risks to your health and safety. Taking more than the recommended doses does not mean it will provide more pain relief or reduce the fever more effectively. The biggest thing to remember is more does not mean better. Children’s doses are based on their age and size-please consult your pediatrician for more information. For those with heavy alcohol use, malnutrition or low body weight, advanced age or liver disease, you can usually take up to 2 g/day without risk of liver damage. In general, for adults with normal liver function, you can take up to 3 g/day (1000 mg every 8 hours) without any risk to the liver. How much to takeĪlways follow the dosing recommendations on the label or as prescribed by your doctor. However, acetaminophen is actually quite safe when taken appropriately. It’s true that if taken in excess, acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity that can be severe enough to warrant a liver transplant. The most common concern people have about acetaminophen is its effects on the liver. It’s not quite well understood how it works, but it’s thought to act on pathways in our central nervous system to block pain and on the heat regulating part of our brain (the hypothalamus) to reduce fevers. When to take acetaminophen (aka Tylenol)Īcetaminophen (Tylenol) is commonly used for: While it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor about any over-the-counter (OTC) medications you’re considering taking, many people commonly turn to acetaminophen or ibuprofen for minor aches, pains and fevers.īut how can you know what to take when? And how much? Here’s your guide to acetaminophen, ibuprofen and the differences between them. It’s not always easy knowing what to do when you or a loved one isn’t feeling well.
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