Eddie On Everything

What’s the difference between Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen? What About Aspirin?

June 13, 2006 on 12:28 am | In health |

Notice: The author of this article is NOT a medical professional. This article has NOT been reviewed by a medical professional. This article is intended for general academic purposes and is not intended as a health diagnostic tool. Nothing in this article should be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician or pharmacist before making any medical decisions.

I’ve been having some abdominal pain lately, so I travelled to the local drug store to pick up an over-the-counter pain medication. As I stood there trying to decide between two bottles, I realized that I had no idea which to get. On the one hand, as an athlete I know that ibuprofen, or “Vitamin I,” as it’s known amongst the hardcore runners, is the drug-of-choice when it comes to joint pain. But the pain I was having wasn’t joint pain, so maybe acetaminophen would be better?

I had no idea which to pick, so I did the only thing I know how to do - I bought one of each and headed home to do some research on the differences between the two.

What follows is what I was able to put together after a doing a few Google searches. For good measure, I did a little research on aspirin as well. Each sentence is followed by a number that identifies the source of the statement.

Indications

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen both provide the same basic relief from fever and pain, though each has different side effects. [1]

Ibuprofen is used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, inflammation and fever.[2] Ibuprofen is used for minor aches, mild to moderate pain, menstrual cramps and fever.[2]

Acetaminophen is used for the relief of fever as well as aches and pains associated with many conditions.[3] Acetaminophen relieves pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying inflammation, redness and swelling of the joint.[3] If the pain is not due to inflammation, acetaminophen is as effective as aspirin.[3]

Ibuprofen is slightly more powerful than acetominophen, and is longer lasting. [1]

Aspirin is used to treat mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever.[4] It is also used for management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, rheumatic fever, and gout.[4]

Dosage

The danger of overdose is greater with acetaminophen that it is with ibuprofen. [1] An overdose of 15 times the recommended dose can cause liver damage. [1]

For Ibuprofen, the usual adult dose is 200 or 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours. [2] Arthritis is treated with 300 to 800 mg 3 or 4 times daily. [2] Children 6 months to 12 years of age usually are given 5-10 mg/kg of ibuprofen every 6-8 hours for the treatment of fever and pain. [2]

The oral dose for acetaminophen for adults is 325 to 650 mg every 4-6 hours. [3] For children, the dose is 80-325 mg every 4-6 hours depending on age.[3]

Side Effects

The most common side effects from ibuprofen are rash, ringing in the ears, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and heartburn. [2]

When used appropriately, side effects from Acetaminophen are rare.[3] The most serious side effect is liver damage due to large doses, chronic use or concomitant use with alcohol or other drugs that also damage the liver.[3]

Ibuprofen can cause stomach problems and should be taken with food.[1] Acetominophen generally does not cause stomach problems. [1]

Side effects of Aspirin include nausea, vomiting, belly pain, and heartburn.[4]

Trade Names

Acetaminphen	Ibuprofen	Aspirin
Tylenol	Advil Motrin Nuprin Medipren	Anacin Ecotrin Bayer St. Joseph’s

1. http://www.babycenter.com/expert/toddler/toddlerills/todmeds/12377.html
2. http://www.medicinenet.com/ibuprofen/article.htm
3. http://www.medicinenet.com/acetaminophen/article.htm
4. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsDrugs/Aspirincd.html#Uses

So there you have it, that’s what I learned. Based on this information, I was able to pick which of the three I wanted to take, based on my own personal medical history. As always, you should check with your physician before making any medical decisions.