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Can You Take Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen Together?Tom Merton – Getty Images<\/p>\n
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Over-the-counter pain relievers come in handy for headaches, fever, chronic pain<\/a>, and more\u2014and when you\u2019re down for the count, you may find yourself wondering if it\u2019s possible to self-treat with a combination of them. The two most popular pills are Tylenol and Advil, a.k.a. acetaminophen and ibuprofen.<\/p>\n Meet the Experts: Richard Watkins, M.D.<\/a>, an infectious disease physician and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University; John Sellick, D.O.<\/a>, an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo\/SUNY in New York; Jamie Alan, Pharm. D., Ph.D.<\/a>, associate professor of pharmacology at Michigan State University; and David Cennimo, M.D.<\/a>, associate program director of the internal medicine and pediatrics residency program at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.<\/p>\n Can you take the two together? It\u2019s a great question, and one worth asking any time you find yourself reaching into the medicine cabinet, just to be safe. Below, doctors weigh in on the topic and share their insights on taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen together. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n About ibuprofen and acetaminophen<\/p>\n Ibuprofen (i.e. Advil, Motrin IB) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that\u2019s often used in its nonprescription form to reduce fever, swelling, and minor pain from headaches, muscle aches, arthritis<\/a>, menstrual cramps, and the common cold or flu, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine<\/a>. Ibuprofen works by inhibiting your body\u2019s production of substances that can cause pain, fever, and inflammation.<\/p>\n Acetaminophen<\/a> (i.e. Tylenol) is essentially used for the same reasons as ibuprofen\u2014it\u2019s just in a different class of medications called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). The exact mechanism for how acetaminophen works isn\u2019t entirely understood, but it helps cool down the body while altering the way your body senses pain.<\/p>\n Can you take ibuprofen and acetaminophen together?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re having minor pain or discomfort from a respiratory virus, injury, or chronic condition, it\u2019s best to start by taking just one medication to see if it helps, says Richard Watkins, M.D.<\/a>, an infectious disease physician and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University.<\/p>\n You should always read the label to find out how much you should take. If the recommended dosage of ibuprofen or acetaminophen doesn\u2019t help, you could try alternating the two. This is \u201can old trick of family doctors and pediatricians to decrease fever, since it allows more drug to be taken within the dosing limits,\u201d says John Sellick, D.O.<\/a>, an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo\/SUNY in New York.<\/p>\n It\u2019s safe to do this, as long as you carefully follow the dosing instructions on the bottle (or talk to your pharmacist beforehand to ensure you\u2019re cycling properly). Here\u2019s how it works: \u201cOnce you take a dose, you have a rise in the levels [of the particular drug] in your body and then a gradual fall in the levels,\u201d explains Jamie Alan, Pharm. D., Ph.D.<\/a>, associate professor of pharmacology at Michigan State University. \u201cOnce the levels start to fall, symptoms of fever may re-emerge. However, the levels of the drug [in your body] have not fallen enough to safely take another dose.\u201d<\/p>\n However, taking a different medication\u2014acetaminophen if you took ibuprofen first or vice versa\u2014will help \u201cward off the symptom using a different mechanism,\u201d Alan says. \u201cBy the time you are set to take the first medication again, the levels have fallen to a safe dose, and the cycle continues.\u201d<\/p>\n How much ibuprofen and acetaminophen can you take together?<\/p>\n \u201cYou should not exceed the maximum daily dose of either product because of risks of toxicity,\u201d explains David Cennimo, M.D.<\/a>, associate program director of the internal medicine and pediatrics residency program at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. \u201cPeople sometimes forget that acetaminophen can be in other things\u2014like cough\/cold medications\u2014so they inadvertently take too much.\u201d<\/p>\n The standard dosage for OTC ibuprofen is 200 milligrams (mg) per pill. That for acetaminophen varies\u2014it can come in 325 mg, 500 mg, and 650 mg extended-release pills. It\u2019s important that you note which one you\u2019re taking before establishing a dosage schedule. If you\u2019re unsure, ask your doctor.<\/p>\n For an adult, an alternating schedule between the two medications could look like this, according to the University of Connecticut\u2019s Student Health Center<\/a>:<\/p>\n *6:00 a.m.: Ibuprofen 200 mg, 2 tablets with food<\/p>\n *9:00 a.m.: Acetaminophen 500 mg, 2 tablets<\/p>\n *12:00 p.m.: Ibuprofen 200 mg, 2 tablets with food<\/p>\n *3:00 p.m.: Acetaminophen 500 mg, 2 tablets<\/p>\n *6:00 p.m.: Ibuprofen 200 mg, 2 tablets with food<\/p>\n *9:00 p.m.: Acetaminophen 500 mg, 2 tablets<\/p>\n Dr. Cennimo also notes that if your symptoms aren\u2019t too bad, you don\u2019t have to take medication at all, even if you have a fever. \u201cIn my personal practice, I only advocate treating fever<\/a> if it is causing a deleterious effect or making the person uncomfortable,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n What about drugs that combine acetaminophen and ibuprofen? Are they safe?<\/p>\n