Combining Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen for Increased Pain Relief


The usual dosage of ibuprofen (Motrin) for adults is 200 to 400 mg orally (one or two 200mg tablets) every 6 to 8 hours as needed. The maximum dosage for ibuprofen brought over the counter is 1200mg (6 tablets) per 24 hours (which is 6 x 200mg tablets).

The usual dosage of acetaminophen (Tylenol) for adults is two 500mg tablets every 6 hours with a maximum daily dose of 4000mg in 24 hours (which works out to be 8 tablets a day). But many experts believe most people should not exceed more than 3000mg (6 tablets) a day. It can be confusing because different OTC medications can contain different dosages of acetaminophen, such as 325 mg, 500 mg, or 650 mg.

To add to the confusion, acetaminophen may be listed as APAP on the label. Examples of medicines that also contain acetaminophen include DayQuil, Dimetapp, Excedrin, Midol, NyQuil, and Sudafed. Always read the product label for hidden acetaminophen because you should not take more acetaminophen than recommended.

There are several studies that show that taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen together is more effective than taking either one alone.

A combination that contained 200mg of ibuprofen (Motrin) and 500mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a combination that contained 400mg of ibuprofen and 1000mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) were much more effective in providing sustained pain relief in adults with moderate to severe acute dental pain than separate doses of ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Combining ibuprofen and acetaminophen was found to be just as effective as some opioids (oxycodone, hydrocodone, or codeine) at relieving moderate to severe pain.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first over-the-counter ibuprofen and acetaminophen combination drug for the U.S. The product — called Advil Dual Action — became available nationwide in 2020 and contains 250 mg of ibuprofen and 500 mg of acetaminophen. Of course, you can also take separate 250mg ibuprofen and 500 mg of acetaminophen tablets at the same time.  


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Facts About Radio Communication Distance

What Gets Destroyed in an EMP (And How to Protect)

Survivalist and Preparedness Blogs, YouTube Channels, and Downloads