painkillers - is this safe?

[Gertrudesgarden]

I've got sinus infection, and am on day 3 of antibiotics. Ive been taking paracetamol, but for doses over 24 hours just isn't enough. Im mostly okay during the day but the pain flares in the late afternoon and evening. Paracetamol does dampen it down but I'm not getting 4-6 hours relief, its more like 2 hours.

Can I take ibuprofen in between paracetamol? So paracetamol at 4pm, ibuprofen at 6/7ish, paracetamol at 9, and so on? Max dose is 8 tablets in 24 hours for both. I'm right in that they're different types so can be used together? Advice gratefully received.

Yes, you can do that.

Yes you can 🙂

Up to 8 of each in a 24 hour period?

I so want to stop the pain but don't want to poison myself in the process.

Yes you can 🙂

You are angels. Thank you so much!

Although it would be sensible to take the ibuprofen with or just after food or a glass of milk to stop it hurting your stomach.

Yep

Yep. Max dosage of each stands alone.

Staggering and alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen is what HCPs often recommend for significant pain, so it's not an unusual thing to do.

Is your final dose before bedtime?

Check the dosage on the ibuprofen - I thought it was a maximum of 6 in 24 hours, not 8.

Yes but to be honest won't help much. Sinus pain is the WORST! The best thing to do is clear it all out!

Steam inhalants, olbas oil or individual essential oils like eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint... or menthol crystals.

Blow frequently holding one nostril in at a time to get a good force.

I agree with NannyR in that it's 6 ibuprofen tablets in 24 hours, not 8.

And yes to alternating doses of ibuprofen and paracetamol, that's fine.

I try to time it so its an hour before. Last night I lay awake for three hours counting the minutes till I could throw another 2 down my throat. I want to rip my face off and spoon out the contents on my head, its so painful when it flares. I just don't understand why its not constant pain, it comes in really intense waves. Never had this with sinusitis before.

I'd take the ibuprofen at bed time too as effects last longer than paracetamol

Contents OF my head, that should say.

Noted that its 6 ibuprofen. My mistake.

I steam but I'm not remotely congested. Not had a cold, not even a sniffle. I can breathe easily through both nostrils.

Thank you everyone.

NannyR it depends on the strength. The normal 200mg ones you can take 9 with no risk. I have 3 at a time, 3 times a day and sometimes even an extra dose during the night. As long as you take steps to protect your stomach, they're safe enough. Each of those doses is also taken with 2 paracetamol. I've been under 2 consultants who have both oked this regime and in both cases said, it's the paracetamol you have to watch.

Ibuprofen will work better in any case as its an anti inflammatory. Take 3 at a time and leave 6 hours between instead of 4 hours. They kick in harder and work longer that way.

Thank you, that's very helpful too. Ill do that just before bed and hopefully get a full nights sleep!

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut NSAIDs are not quite as benign as you seem to believe! That regime would be frankly dangerous for someone with kidney disease or someone taking other drugs that are nephrotoxic.

Believe me, I know NSAIDs. 20 years of chronic pain that only ever gets worse and you get to know your painkillers fairly well. They're not benign by any means but the dosage on the box has a hell of a lot of leeway built in for your average healthy adult.

I would have thought it would be common sense however to consult a doctor before taking any medication if you have kidney disease or if you are taking any other drugs that may interact. Personally I know exactly what I can and can't take with the rest of my cocktail and would think anyone with underlying conditions would too.

Eat with them though, Gertrude, seriously. It's a safe dose as long as you're otherwise healthy and a healthy weight but you do NOT want to be doing that dose on an empty stomach. A biscuit will not cut it. Think small meal.

I know you said sinusitis, but that amount of pain sounds like may be dental abscess. Is that a possibility?

If its sinus pain you need sinutab. They eye like a magic pill last time I was in pain.
Check first that you can take them with any other meds though!

Hi everyone. Sadly I can't take sinutab as the ingredients affect my other meds. I've had dental x rays and teeth are clear too. I tried two paracetamol and two ibuprofen at 11pm last night, with some toast and slept the whole night. Even now, I'm painkiller free. It might be the antibiotics kicking in, as I'm finally a bit gunky (this has been a gunk free infection), combined with my cocktail, but it worked. I'll alternate them as planned, last night was an actvof desperation. Thanks for all the help, I really appreciate you all.

Your nose won't be gunky/blocked necessarily as your sinuses are a separate part they're the bony spaces behind the nose/under the eyes and the gunk gets in there but can be blown out through the nose - weird I know.

Hope you're feeling better soon