Acetaminophen vs Ibuprofen

From WikiVS, the open comparison website

Ibuprofen and Paracetamol (Acetaminophen), along with Aspirin are chemicals that are used in popular pain killing medicine. Although they have the same end goal of reducing pain, they achieve this using different methods.

[edit] Mechanism

Ibuprofen is a Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Aspirin that fights pain by inhibiting of cyclooxygenase (COX), thus inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.

The mechanism by which paracetamol reduces fever and pain is still a source of debate. The reason for this confusion has largely been due to the fact that paracetamol reduces the production of prostaglandins, pro-inflammatory chemicals the production of which is also inhibited by aspirin, but, unlike aspirin, paracetamol does not have much anti-inflammatory action. Likewise, whereas aspirin inhibits the production of the pro-clotting chemicals thromboxanes, paracetamol does not. Aspirin is known to inhibit the cyclooxygenase (COX) family of enzymes, and, because of paracetamol's partial similarity of aspirin's action, much research has focused on whether paracetamol also inhibits COX. It is now clear, however, that paracetamol acts via (at least) two pathways.

— Wikipedia ,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol

[edit] Potency

Ibuprofen is more potent than Paracetamol and thus requires that less doses or smaller dosages be taken.

[edit] Toxicity

Overdose of acetaminophen is serious and can be fatal from liver toxicity, killing about 1% of those who seek treatment due to the delayed effects. In heavy drinkers, regular use of acetaminophen increases liver damage from alcohol. [1]