Ibruprofen and Paracetemol - what's teh difference?

[FeelingEvil]

I've been taking paracetemol for pain relief as that was what was advised when I started breastfeeding 13 months ago.
I give DD calpol because that was what I was advised.

However, am going on my hols and looking at some of the threads here re: what to pack in terms of medicines, people mention paracetemol and ibruprofen.

Just wondering what's the difference and whether I should be expanding DD's pain relief options (not bothered about mine as I'm very tolerant of pain and discomfort. )

ibuprofen is also an anti-inflammatory and not just an analgesic.

it can therefore be more effective for pain caused by swelling/inflammation - like joint pain. i find it more effective for inflammed sinuses, too, and when the girls are teething as they get puffy gums.

the two can be taken together or alternated to bring down a fever.

Different modes of action.

Ibuprofen is a non steriodal anti-inflamatory drug that is a pain killer and lowers fevers.

Paracetamol is not an anti inflamatory drug, but is a pain killer and also lowers fevers.

But they act in different ways.

Because of this you can use both at the same time (staggering the doses) if you need to.

This is safe wheras upping the dose of either wouldn't be

ibuprofen is better I think as it deals with inflammation and pain is also better for fever reduces the temperature more and lasts longer

ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce temperature. I have used childrens nurofen for my lo's (when required) since they were 3 months old as I find it also gives longer pain relief than paracetamol - although I do use calpol type stuff too.

Ibuprofen vs paracetamol?

actually ladies the new nice guidance about management of fever in children says to use one or the other and not both
there have been some studies that have shown this leads to side effects so now in hospital unless the fever was very high we would stick to one or the other

and as an aside there is now a body of work that suggests fever should be left untreated as it is the body's defence mechanism and by reducing it the illness can be prolonged
there was a study at bristol children's recently that showed duration of symptoms was longer in children whose fever was treated

sorry I digress but the whole treating fever thing is quite interesting

Thanks.
Can I use ibuprofen even though I'm still breastfeeding?
And presumably my 13 month old DD can use ibuprofen too?

Also, Piriton - would this be safe for my DD?
I've never had any need to give her piriton, but wondered if I should take any for her when we go on our hols, just in case she reacts to anything.

childrens ibuprofen is ok from 3 months. Piriton is ok from 1 year.

piriton is an old anti-histamine.

you can use ibu whilst bfing - it was given to me in combination with paracetamol for those terrible afterbirth pains.

Paracetamol is an Analgesic,and is quite safe to use for everyday use as long as you don't have more than 8 in 24 hrs etc.

Calpol is great for kids (although I was advised by a pharmacist friend not to get calpol itself as its full of colours and additives which send some child hyper,Paracetamol syrup is also cheaper)

Ibuprofen is from a different "family" of drugs,called Anti-inflammatories, which is why it can be taken together (ie at the same time or 1 hour after Calpol)Anti-inflammatories are good for pain which is caused by inflammation ie Toothache,Period Pain,Headaches,Sprains etc.

If you want to give something else,sometimes if your DC has a raging temp or is still in alot of pain after giving Calpol,this can be really useful.

When my DD1 has a really high Temp,I "blast her with both Barrels" as I call it,as if I give "Calpol" alone,it doesn't do much,but Ibuprofen ,even given alone,works better to bring a Temp down.HTH

I wouldn't worry about the piriton

yes you can take ibuprofen if you are bf it is only when pregnant you can't take it I had terrible back ache following ds2 birth and the midwife advised me to take ibuprofen

Just adding to comments above.....Ibuprofen shouldn't be given on an empty stomach as it can irritate the lining of the stomach. I find it more effective for teething than paracetamol but that's just my personal opinion. You can give a maximum of 4 doses of paracetamol in 24 hours 4-6hourly whereas, Ibuprofen can only be given a maximum of 3 times in 24 hours 6-8 hourly. This is why it's so easy to give both and stagger the doses. Hope this helps but you can always ask a Pharmacist who are the most knowledgable on this.

andi, in the US, too, the recommendation is that fever is left to run its course unless it goes very high or other symptoms demonstrate it may be better to try to reduce it.

oh, and don't drink a bunch of alcohol whilst taking paracetamol. it can fuck up your organs.

thanks everyone.
apologies for my spelling mistakes of both pain killers

expat me and a nerdy colleague are very interested in fever at the moment he has done lots of work on it and I am his sounding board we love it
parental aspects of fever management are very interesting too as everyone wants to treat treat treat whereas I am now a bit leave it unless they look really uncomfortable
and i was a real hardcore drug whore mother before

Cross post with several above but agree with andiem about not giving anything unless fever very high but that's another thread!

'and i was a real hardcore drug whore mother before '

admittedly, i wasn't and haven't been when it's come to fevers . but i was brought up in the US where kids are treated by paeds and even then there wasn't a recommendation to lower hte fever - it was to monitor it and go to the ER if it went about 104 in older kids and 102 in babies or toddlers.

fevers do suck. they make you feel like shit, but they serve a purpose - unless they start heading for the stratosphere.

i do know a man who developed meningitis as a complication of measles as a child - he's in his 50s - and went blind and deaf in one ear after his fever soared to 106 degrees. he was not expected to survive, but he did, although he did lose his sight permanently.

i do prefer ibu myself, BUT i've had a lot of soft tissue injuries and joint surgeries and i do love it when i have sinusitis.

but am pregnant now so can't have it.

i have had piriton during one bad bout of hayfever, though.

when I was preg last year with ds2 piriton was all I could take all that sneezing when 39 weeks is not good for bladder control

those burning eyes! ooowww and the throat.

right now i'm bummed because my patellar tendonitis is back with a vengence. no ibu for me. i was tempted by the 5% gel i saw, but i resisted. hot gel pack, my 'kneed it' strap, and exercises with my bands.

poor you expat sounds painful

It's my old age creeping up on me .

Ibuprofen best for hangovers too (poss not so much use for your DD )

too much 'Vitamin I' is bad for the kidneys, anyhow.

ibuprofen brings down swellings