Tylenol is really not to be abused. Much better to go heavy with Ibuprofen and remember the old-time drugs like aspirin as well as new ones like naproxen.
But really a doctor/nurse is critical if the pain is going on for more than a day or two.
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And there was me thinking 'Tylenol' was ibuprofen.
I think it's so weird (different English speaking) countries having different names for drugs, you'd think it would be something worth standardising. Well, acetaminophen is the standard/medico name I believe (paracetamol to Britons), but why don't we just all use that? Weird.
While I'm at it, Advil = ibuprofen. The latter being both the common UK and 'standard' name I think.
It's branding, it's a marketing thing.. Which has been quiet effective seeing how many people say Advil and Tylenol on here.
Do other brands of 'Tylenol' and 'Advil' even exist inside the US? It amazes me because branded medicines are so much more expensive as well. Like 5 to 10 times more
Yeah, it's just weird. In the UK paracetamol isn't a brand name, it's the generic term for a commodity product, 'nobody' cares who's name is on their paracetamol, I usually buy it with groceries if I'm low, so it's whichever supermarket brand.
The only (non-supermarket/chemist) brands I could name even would be e.g. Lemsip, where the paracetamol isn't the main constituent (it's a lemon flavoured sore throat/cold soothing drink, if you don't have it there) but an additive in some SKUs (also caffeine).
So you can get generic brands of 'tylenol'? People just trust/think better of Tylenol?
A full name for the compound is: para-acetylaminophenol
Now you can trace where all the names come from :)
Brand name vs generic basically.
Alternating drugs can be pretty effective. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Tylenol.
The two don't interact with each other which helps to keep the pain (or fever) relief going strong without ODing on either.
But yeah, be careful either way.
Many medical professionals recommend against alternating, not because it is unsafe but because the mental overhead and differing schedules depending on dose can lead to mistakes and lead to accidental overdose if you aren’t paying attention or writing it down.
Also, make sure you are only taking one NSAID (acetylsalicylic acid/asprin, ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin, naproxen sodium/Aleve) if you are alternating painkillers - if you take excedrin/generic “migraine” formula you are already getting a dose of asprin and should not take anything else with it.
All very good points.
You should absolutely read the labels of your pain medications and know what's in them. If you aren't sure about interactions, Don't screw around. Just take one and follow the directions.
Be particularly aware of cold medicines as they very commonly like to do the mixing for you.
> Much better to go heavy with Ibuprofen
Do you know that Ibuprofen can cause morphological changes in the testes? I wouldn't call that much better...
It's a lot easier to live without testicles than without a liver.
Yet many people take paracetamol without issue - you just need to read what the max dose you can take is (2x500g tables at least 4 hours apart and no more than 4 times per day) and not for more than a few days at a time.
The bigger danger is people mixing it with other cold and flu medication that ALSO contains paracetamol.
Paracetamol/acetaminophen has an extremely small therapeutic range for an over-the-counter drug. Yes, if you follow the dosing instructions (and are aware of all sources of the drug you're taking and also aren't drinking alcohol or something simultaneously) you'll be fine, but if you discovered this drug today the odds that it would be approved for over-the-counter use are basically zero.
NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) are rough on the kidneys. I didn't know about GP's point, but of course that fits, anatomically.