2023-06-23 09:19:15
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The well-known blister strips with paracetamol (top) and ibuprofen (bottom)
© Box
Some people don’t want to know about it because they suffer from side effects and therefore consciously avoid them. Others already resort to it with relatively minor physical discomfort. We are talking about painkillers such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin, which in many households are somewhere in a drawer or medicine cabinet. But what are the differences between these painkillers?
Headaches, colds, flu or a hangover: many people who sometimes take painkillers do so if, for example, they suffer from typical complaints associated with these symptoms. Just two tablets of paracetamol or an ibuprofen and you’re good to go, people may think. In many cases, these drugs do indeed provide temporary relief from the complaints, which is why many people now and then resort to a painkiller.
But what do aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol actually do? For which symptoms and complaints do they provide relief? We discuss a number of painkillers that are available in many households and that you can buy – in some cases depending on the strength – without a doctor’s prescription, for example in supermarkets and/or drugstores.
Good to know: the resources are discussed in fairly general terms by way of background information. It can of course always be the case that people have just a certain allergy or just use a certain medicine, which causes symptoms or complaints that are not mentioned when used (mixed). This is of course beyond the scope of this article, which is not a comprehensive medical reference.
Disclaimer: Always read carefully before use prescription in do not use more than the recommended amount. Some people are hypersensitive to ingredients in (one or more of) these medicines and may experience – sometimes serious – side effects one/of allergic reactions. In that case, consult you arts and discuss possible alternatives. Do you use other medication? In that case, also consult your doctor to rule out that the simultaneous use of different types of medication leads to side effects.
What is paracetamol and what do you use it for?
Many doctors will not immediately recommend taking painkillers at first. Instead, it is usually checked whether there are no alternative methods to remove the pain or at least to alleviate complaints.
Headaches can, for example, be caused by dehydration or a lack of sleep, in which case it is obvious to first advise patients to keep their fluid balance up to standard by drinking enough fluids, or to see whether a good night’s sleep offers a solution.
But for those who still opt for a painkiller, it is paracetamol an obvious first choice. Paracetamol – named after the active substance para-acetylaminofenol – works analgesic in fever reducer. Compared to other painkillers, paracetamol has the smallest risk of side effects.
Paracetamol can be used for various types of complaints, including headache, migraine, sore throat, earache, muscle pain, joint pain, menstrual pain and osteoarthritis. In addition, paracetamol also provides relief in case of fever, flu and colds.
The effect of paracetamol comes on quickly. The effect is noticeable after half an hour and the painkiller remains effective for about four to six hours.
In rare cases, there may be side effects. A well-known side effect is, among other things, medication-dependent headache, in which headaches are caused by withdrawal symptoms if you have stopped taking paracetamol for a long time because of a headache.
Skin rashes, hives and shortness of breath can also occur. In these cases you should stop taking paracetamol and consult your doctor. These side effects are all described as ‘very rare’, which means that less than 1 in 100 people suffer from them. Look here for an overview of possible, known side effects.
Prolonged and/or excessive use can also cause liver damage – especially in combination with excessive alcohol consumption – and kidney damage. Blood disorders are also mentioned as a symptom of prolonged and excessive exposure to paracetamol.
What is aspirin and what do you use it for?
For many, the terms ‘aspirin’ and ‘paracetamol’ are interchangeable: “Just take an aspirin” may just as well mean that you take one or two tablets of paracetamol. Yet it is aspirin definitely another painkiller.
The name aspirin is derived from the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid. An important difference with paracetamol is that aspirin is not alone analgesic in fever reducer works, but also anti-inflammatory. Due to its anti-inflammatory effect, aspirin falls under the so-called NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs).
You can use aspirin to treat the same types of symptoms as paracetamol. Aspirin also starts to work after about half an hour and the effect lasts for about three to six hours.
However, you can suffer from more and different types when using aspirin side effects than paracetamol. This is what stomach and intestinal complaints are called, just like stomach bleeding. A complete overview of possible side effects and their frequency can be found on Apotheek.nl.
It is also important to know that aspirin is not necessarily suitable for people who have blood thinners use and people who ever use one stomach or duodenal ulcer have had. Also people with hart– one/of kidney disease It is not recommended to use NSAIDs such as aspirin because these medications can cause problems. The doctor or general practitioner can provide a definite answer based on your specific medical history.
However, is there no alternative? Then these people should take aspirin in combination with a stomach-protectedr. It goes without saying that the doctor is the best judge of whether this is necessary. Slightly older people – from ages ranging from 60 to 70 years – are prescribed a stomach protectant when using aspirin.
Aspirin also knows quite a lot interactions with other medications. For aspirin, it is therefore advisable to have the doctor or pharmacist check whether it can be safely combined with other medication that you may be taking. Combining aspirin with alcohol is unwise, as this increases the risk of stomach upset.
Also people who pregnant are or want to become, it is not recommended to use aspirin without a doctor’s assessment of whether it is safe to do so. The medicine can be bad for the baby. In addition, it is expressly advised not to use aspirin in the last three months of pregnancy.
What is ibuprofen and what do you use it for?
Also ibuprofen is present in many households, in the form of the – usually – pink colored tablets. Also ibuprofen is a pain reliever that is both analgesic if fever reducer if anti-inflammatory works.
Ibuprofen can also be used for complaints such as headache, flu, migraine, muscle pain, cold and menstrual complaints. In addition, it is also used if there is osteoarthritis or inflammation of joints. Think of symptoms such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis or Bechterew’s disease.
It takes a little longer for ibuprofen to start working after taking it: the first effects are usually noticeable after 30 minutes to an hour. However, ibuprofen works longer than aspirin and paracetamol, namely about eight hours.
In case of fever, it is not recommended to take ibuprofen for more than three days in a row. In the case of (general) pain relief, a period of five days applies. If the symptoms persist after that, you should consult your doctor. Long-term use of ibuprofen against headaches can also make the headache symptoms worse.
For ibuprofen – just like for aspirin – there is often interactions with other medications. Ask the pharmacist whether ibuprofen can be used safely in combination with other medicines.
As for possible complaints in side effects is ibuprofen similar to aspirin. Stomach and intestinal complaints are mentioned, and here too people who blood thinners use or have previously had a stomach or duodenal ulcer ibuprofen alone in combination with a stomach protector have to use. Ibuprofen is also an NSAID, so use by people with a hart– of kidney disease is strongly discouraged due to possible side effects. Your (family) doctor can indicate whether the use of this medication is still possible in certain circumstances.
Combining with alcohol is not recommended due to an increased risk of stomach complaints. Also in the case of pregnancy or a pregnancy wish, one should first consult the doctor. An overview of all known possible side effects can be found on Apotheek.nl.
Which is better: paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen?
Perhaps a bit of a clincher, but the question ‘what is better?’ we cannot possibly answer. Which is ‘better’ depends on a multitude of factors, including the nature and severity of the complaints, your possible medical history, possible allergies, the possibility of interactions with other medication and in some cases even your age.
For that reason, this question simply cannot be answered, at least not by us and not within the context of this article. Your (family) doctor or pharmacist can best answer this question for you, as they have relevant information regarding your medical history and know whether the use of specific medication in combination with other substances can cause problems and/or complaints.
All three painkillers work slightly differently, have different advantages and disadvantages and have different side effects. For that reason, it is therefore wise to always consult a medical professional. Although after reading this article you will know a little better what the main differences are between these painkillers.
Bron: Apotheek.nl, Scientias.nl, Thuisarts.nl, Ziekenhuis.nl
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