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]

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.

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