A pharmacist has clarified the age-old debate over whether to take paracetamol or ibuprofen, explaining that the choice depends on symptoms and that the two can even be taken together.
Fever vs Body Aches: Which Painkiller to Choose
Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, told The Mirror that paracetamol is more effective at reducing fever, offering a “double-whammy” effect by also relieving headaches. In contrast, ibuprofen is better for body aches because it acts as an anti-inflammatory.
“Paracetamol is probably more effective at bringing down temperature, so it's almost like a double-whammy, you get rid of your headache and bring your temperature down. But if you feel that you have more body aches, that's your main symptom, then ibuprofen is probably slightly better as it's an anti-inflammatory,” Kanani said.
Can You Take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen Together?
Kanani revealed a common misconception: the two medications can be taken together. “If you feel that one isn't enough you can take ibuprofen as well as paracetamol, you can take them together. A lot of people don't know that it's not one or the other, you can put them together as they work in different ways,” he explained.
However, he cautioned that ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs to which many people are allergic, and advised checking the NHS website for who should avoid it.
Limitations for Cold and Flu Symptoms
While both painkillers help with aches, pains, and fever, they offer little relief for coughs and nasal congestion. For a blocked nose, cold and flu remedies with decongestants are more appropriate; for mucus-producing coughs, an expectorant is needed; and for a dry, tickly cough, a cough suppressant is recommended.
Kanani stressed the importance of reading labels when combining cold and flu medications with other painkillers, as not all medicines are safe to mix despite paracetamol and ibuprofen being compatible.
