Can You Take Tylenol and Ibuprofen Together? Here’s the Answer
You can take Tylenol and Ibuprofen together if you need extra pain relief. Both these over-the-counter (OTC) medications work in different ways with minimum side effects.
But it is important to be cautious while taking these OTC pain relievers together. For instance, there might be adverse drug reactions due to other medications you are taking.
Don’t worry. We’ll take you through the recommended dosage for taking Ibuprofen with Tylenol. Plus, you will also learn the side effects of these OTC medications to stay safe.
What is Tylenol?
Tylenol is the brand name for Acetaminophen. It reduces fever and provides pain relief. Tylenol works wonders for severe pain, including acute postoperative pain.
It is an oral medicine that you take with water. Make sure you follow the dosage recommendations of your doctor.
You can take up to two 325 mg pills every 6 hours. But you can take two pills every 8 hours if each tablet is 500 mg.
Check out this article to know if you should take brand-name drugs or their generic versions.
The highest Acetaminophen dosage you can take is 4 grams per day ( i.e., eight 500 mg tablets). But don’t try unless your doctor suggests it.
Does Tylenol Have Side Effects?
Tylenol can cause allergic reactions in your body. You may develop swelling in your face, tongue, lips, and throat. You might also experience breathing difficulties in some rare cases.
Sometimes, Acetaminophen can lead to severe skin reactions. Talk to your doctor immediately if you have rashes or blisters on your skin. They might ask you to stop your medication.
You may also experience some other symptoms like:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Appetite loss
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
Can You Take Tylenol While Pregnant?
Tylenol can help relieve pain in pregnant women. Aches and pains are normal during pregnancy. Additionally, doctors often prescribe Tylenol to treat mild to moderate pain or fever.
It provides better pain relief and is safer than other medications. Over 65% of women have taken Acetaminophen during their pregnancy.
However, don’t combine Tylenol with other OTC medications without professional medical advice.
Can You Take Tylenol After The Covid Booster?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says you can take Tylenol and other OTC pain relievers after taking your covid booster dose.
Taking these medicines may provide relief from the side effects of vaccination, like pain and swelling. However, the CDC doesn’t recommend taking Tylenol before your vaccine.
What is Ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain and inflammation in your body.
Ibuprofen is super helpful for toothaches, headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and minor injuries.
How Much Ibuprofen Can You Take and How Often?
Your Ibuprofen dosage depends on several factors, such as your age and body weight. The recommended dosage for adults is 200 to 400 mg per dose.
Make sure there is a gap of 4 to 6 hours between each dose.
Children below 12 years can take 5 to 10 mg per dose at an interval of 6 to 8 hours.
What are Ibuprofen’s Side Effects?
Like Tylenol, you can also have an allergic reaction to Ibuprofen. You may experience swelling in your throat or face.
Taking Ibuprofen can also cause other side effects like:
- Shortness of breath
- Rashes
- Weight gain
- Vision changes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Kidney problems
- Liver problems
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Bleeding
You can’t take Ibuprofen if you have a stomach ulcer. That’s because it’s an anti-inflammatory drug. It works by blocking the actions of two chemicals in your stomach that cause inflammation. But, blocking these chemicals can cause stomach irritation, worsening your ulcer. If you have chronic gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), consult your doctor before taking NSAIDS.
Can You Take Ibuprofen While Pregnant?
You might want to take pain relievers to ease your aches and pains during pregnancy. But, don’t take Ibuprofen without consulting your health provider if you are pregnant. It can lead to harmful side effects for your baby.
Taking Ibuprofen after 30 weeks of pregnancy can even be fatal for your child. A 2013 study shows that Ibuprofen during pregnancy can cause asthma and other health disorders in your child.
Can You Take Ibuprofen for Pain Relief After The Covid Booster?
The CDC recommends you can take OTC Ibuprofen and other over-the-counter medicines after your COVID booster vaccine. It will provide relief from the side effects like pain, fever, and swelling.
However, the CDC doesn’t recommend taking over-the-counter NSAIDS before your vaccine.
Can You Take Tylenol with Ibuprofen?
You can take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen together. They work differently on your body and are safe. Research shows that these two drugs relieve certain types of pain with minimum side effects. For instance, Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen work like magic in extreme dental pains.
The combination of these two drugs is safer than many OTC medications. But it is crucial to remember the recommended doses. Make sure you aren’t taking other medications containing Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen, leading to an overdose.
Let’s see why the combination of these two medications is safe.
Why is The Combination of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Safe?
Peer-reviewed studies by medical associations show that these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are combined to relieve acute oral pain.
Studies have shown that a combination tablet of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen is more effective than both these tablets taken separately. Plus, it’s also a better pain reliever than any oral opioid.
Both these popular over-the-counter medications work differently. Moreover, they are removed from the body by different organs. While the liver breaks down Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen gets broken down by your kidneys. That’s why taking Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen together won’t have any negative side effects.
Since your liver breaks down Acetaminophen, its chronic use can lead to liver damage. Ibuprofen gets broken down in your kidneys. So, taking more than the recommended dosages can cause acute kidney disease.
Thus, it is safe to take Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen together. But, an overdose of any one medication can cause severe side effects.
Conclusion
Taking Tylenol and Ibuprofen together might help ease chronic pain. However, don’t try to experiment with the dosage without talking to your doctor.
Reach out to the emergency department if you experience severe symptoms due to an overdose of these medicines. Also, make sure you know the recommended dose of all common medicines from your pharmacist to avoid risks in the future.
Hero Health Pharmacy has experienced pharmacists who can guide you with any medication.
Get in touch with an expert pharmacist today!
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/difference-acetaminophen-ibuprofen
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/safe-ibuprofen-with-acetaminophen-2991821/
