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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Reported an increased incidence of bleeding and gastrointestinal events, higher than the risks of the individual drugs. Special caution should therefore be used if considering this combination for long-term use. Are paracetamol and ibuprofen more effective when taken together?Scientific consensus has yet to be reached on whether the combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen produces an enhanced painkilling effect. Most of the research on this combination to date has been carried out specifically on dental pain. Some study-based evidence appears to suggest that for particular types of pain such as tooth extraction, combining paracetamol with an NSAID such as ibuprofen can result in better pain relief than either drug taken alone. However, other studies have only identified a simple additive effect when combining the two drugs. This means the resulting pain relief is roughly similar to the sum of the painkilling effects produced by each individual medication, rather than an enhanced effect. Can I give my child paracetamol and ibuprofen together?Paracetamol and ibuprofen taken at the same time are not recommended by the NHS for children under the age 16. However, they can be taken one hour apart if required. Cautions and good practiceParacetamol is a safe and generally well-tolerated medicine when used as intended. However, when taken in higher doses than recommended, paracetamol can cause serious and potentially fatal liver damage. As paracetamol is such a common medication, it’s easy to take more than recommended, especially when taking multiple medications at the same time, so please double-check the paracetamol content of all the medicines you’re taking. Ibuprofen should be approached with greater caution. Please refer to the official NHS guidelines to understand more about taking ibuprofen safely. To learn more about safety managing your pain, check out the official NHS resources on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Please also refer to the following sub-section in the ibuprofen guidance: Taking or using ibuprofen with other medicines and herbal supplements. We recommend always consulting your GP or pharmacist before taking any medication, including non-prescription pain relief. Do you have any additional questions about using paracetamol and ibuprofen together? Get in touch with our friendly, professional pharmacy team who can offer you guidance and advice.Content last reviewed on:January 11, 2023Next review date:January 11, 2025
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