Should you take paracetamol or ibuprofen? It is a common doubt and everything is related to what you want to treat. However, can you take them at the same time? A pharmacist clarifies. Look, the answer might surprise you.
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08/07/2026
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Moften the doubt is in taking paracetamol or ibuprofen. The truth is that they have different ways of acting and the choice must be linked to the symptoms and the problem they want to treat. However, have you ever wondered if you could take both at the same time? Is it safe? Is it worth it?
Paracetamol and ibuprofen together?
Abbas Kanani is a pharmacist and The Mirror has shown whether or not you can take these two medicines at the same time, if it can bring benefits. The truth is, yes. By having different effects, it may turn out to be advantageous, depending on the cases and what you are feeling.
“What most people don’t realize is that you can take both medicines together when you’re feeling particularly unwell” says the expert.
“ If you feel that one is not enough, you can take ibuprofen together with paracetamol, you can take them together. Many people do not know that it is not one or the other, but that it is possible to combine them because they work in different ways” continues.
Read Also: Pharmaceutical alert: Taking these medicines in the summer can be dangerous
The difference between paracetamol and ibuprofen
The pharmacist also revealed the main differences and situations that should be taken or at the expense of the other. “Paracetamol is probably more effective at lowering fever, so it has almost as a double effect: it gets rid of headache and lowers temperature.”
On the other hand, ibuprofen has advantages “If you feel that you have more pain in your body, and this is your main symptom, then ibuprofen is probably a little better, since it is an anti-inflammatory.” He also warned that some people are allergic to the type of medicine ibuprofen belongs to.
Pharmaceuticals alert: Error taking medicines can be dangerous
The pharmaceutical company Anum, cited here by Mirror, revealed that many people end up using medicines, reducing them to powder or even removing the contents of capsules when there is no indication to do so.
In this way, it may be compromising the effectiveness of drugs and may even risk bringing some health problems later. Thus, medicines should be taken according to the indications given by both doctors and those appearing in the information leaflets.
“Did you know that grinding tablets or opening capsules and ingesting only the powder can be dangerous? Not all tablets can be crushed and not all capsules can be opened” Anum on a video shared on your social networks.
“ Some medicines are of modified release, so if you crush or open the capsules, it may affect the drug release profile, which means that it may not last that long and may increase the risk of side effects”, continues.
Some capsule medicines end up protecting the stomach and also protecting the medicine itself from the acid in the stomach. “Do not touch the coating. More worrying is that some pills and capsules can be irritating and harmful if they have been touched after they have been crushed.”
Therefore, any modification you make to the tablets should first be made to your doctor to see if this is possible and is not compromising the effect or bringing any unnecessary risks.