Paracetamol or ibuprofen: which is better for pain and fever?

Updated: 04/23/2021 15:13:42

Expert: Abramova Tsilya

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have long been part of the life of modern people. Tablets, capsules and suspensions are prescribed for headaches and muscle pain, diseases of the joints, spine and internal organs. There is hardly any area of ​​medicine where NSAIDs are not used. Anti-inflammatory drugs effectively eliminate the symptoms of the disease and alleviate the human condition.

Today we focus on two representatives of the NSAID group - Nurofen and Iburofen. The first thing that catches your eye is the difference in the cost of drugs. One package of Nurofen costs 150-200 rubles, while Ibuprofen will cost ten times less. The composition, release form and indications for prescribing the drugs are the same, so is it worth paying more? We'll talk about this in the article.

What does an NSAID tablet hide?

The drugs in question contain the same active ingredient – ​​ibuprofen. This is a drug from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Its main task is to relieve pain and remove other accompanying symptoms of the inflammatory process.

It is important to remember: NSAIDs do not cure, but only eliminate the manifestations of the disease and alleviate the human condition!

Ibuprofen is available under various brand names. For example, Nurofen comes from the UK to the Russian pharmaceutical market. A similar domestically produced drug is called Ibuprofen - its trade name coincides with the designation of the active substance. These products are identical in composition and contain one component - ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen was first synthesized in 1962. The drug was registered by the British Package Office as Brufen. This is the original product that has passed clinical trials. For a long time, Brufen was sold exclusively by prescription and was used in the treatment of rheumatoid diseases.

In 1983 the situation changed dramatically. Nurofen, an analogue with the same composition, appeared on the British pharmaceutical market. It became available without a prescription. The success was incredible - after two years, more than 100 million people were using this drug. Today Nurofen is one of the leaders in sales in Russia.

The release form of the drugs is the same. Both products are produced in film-coated tablets. But the price is different: Russian Ibuprofen costs 20-30 rubles, foreign Nurofen costs 150-200 rubles. Is it worth overpaying, we’ll figure it out further.

Comparison of medicines

First of all, Ibuprofen differs from Nurofen in price; the domestically produced drug is more affordable than imported drugs.

It is worth noting that Nurofen has undergone numerous laboratory studies, which cannot be said about Ibuprofen, although the drugs include the same active ingredient. Not everyone knows what the difference is. An imported drug is a patented drug, and a domestic drug is just an analogue; during its production, the manufacturing technology may be changed; there is no thorough quality control.

Both drugs can be prescribed for children from 3 months. (in the form of a suspension, rectal suppositories). The treatment regimen is determined individually; you will need to observe the time interval between applications. The main advantage of the Nurofen suspension is the presence of a special dispenser syringe, with which it is convenient to draw up the drug, fixing it directly in the bottle itself.

Children over 6 years of age are allowed to take the tablets. The effect of application appears quite quickly (from 20 minutes to 2 hours).

It is worth considering that when using rectal suppositories, absorption of the active substance occurs a little slower than tablets and suspensions, so the therapeutic effect is observed a little later, but persists for a long time.

The list of indications, contraindications and side symptoms is identical.

If there is a need to purchase a drug based on ibuprofen, then you should give preference to the domestic drug. It is cheap, but at the same time, just as effective as imported Nurofen.

During treatment, you should avoid taking alcoholic beverages, as the effectiveness of the drugs can be significantly reduced and the risk of developing side symptoms increases.

The drugs can be purchased without a prescription.

If necessary, combined use is possible along with other painkillers, for example, Paracetamol (suspension, suppositories, tablets).

How do they work

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work according to the same scheme. The most popular representative of this group is no exception. Ibuprofen blocks the production of cyclooxygenase (COX). This enzyme is synthesized in the human body in three variants:

1. COX-1 is constantly synthesized in tissues. It is involved in key metabolic processes.
2. COX-2 is formed only during the development of the inflammatory process. It is not detected in a healthy person.
3. COX-3 has not been fully studied. It is assumed that it is synthesized during fever, but does not affect the development of inflammation.

Ibuprofen affects COX-1 and COX-2, and this explains the frequent occurrence of adverse reactions. By blocking COX-2, it suppresses the development of the inflammatory process - relieves pain and swelling, lowers body temperature. By affecting COX-1, it affects the functioning of internal organs - and causes associated undesirable reactions.

Ibuprofen and Nurofen do not differ in their mechanism of action. But there is a difference in pharmacodynamics - the rate of absorption and excretion of the drug. The instructions for foreign Nurofen state that the drug reaches its maximum in the blood 45 minutes after administration. For Ibuprofen, different figures are given - 1-2 hours. Eating food slows down the absorption of drugs by half.

Characteristics of Ibuprofen

The therapeutic effect is achieved by inhibiting the process of Pg biosynthesis by inhibiting the COX isoenzyme. The active ingredient of this drug suppresses the process of platelet cell aggregation. In this case, there is no effect on proteins, but the bleeding time may be prolonged.

When used externally, the medicine can eliminate joint pain, reduce the severity of swelling, and significantly increase their flexibility. When taken orally, the anti-inflammatory effect appears within two weeks of regular use.

The use of the drug is not recommended for erosive changes in the gastrointestinal mucosa, pathologies of the kidneys and liver, impaired hemostasis, or manifestations of hyperkalemia. Adverse reactions are observed quite rarely, but in some cases bronchospasm, hepatitis, anemia, central nervous system disorders occur, and anemia may develop.

It should be noted that myelotoxic drugs can significantly increase the hematotoxicity of ibuprofen. In case of simultaneous use of Cyclosporine, hepatotoxicity may occur. If you need to take any additional medications, you should notify your doctor.

The drug is produced in the form of a gel for external use, oral suspension, pills, and rectal suppositories. You can purchase the medicine at any pharmacy; the cost of the package varies from 16 to 169 rubles.

Evidence base: are anti-inflammatory drugs effective?

There is no doubt about the effectiveness of the drugs in question. Ibuprofen has been prescribed under various trade names since the middle of the last century. The medical database PubMed and the Cochrane Library contain many articles that mention ibuprofen in one way or another. The principle of action and effectiveness of NSAIDs is also assessed in other sources, including in Russian. Not all of them are of interest to us, so we will focus only on the most important studies.

Compared to paracetamol, ibuprofen has proven to be a more effective remedy in the fight against inflammatory processes. The study involved patients who had undergone surgery to remove wisdom teeth.

In another trial, researchers assessed the effectiveness of ibuprofen in treating tension-type headaches in adults. It turned out that the drug at a dosage of 400 mg suppresses pain within two hours after use. For migraines, ibuprofen also helps relieve the main symptoms: headache and aura.

Ibuprofen is actively used to reduce any chronic pain not associated with cancer. Clinical trials have shown that the drug copes with the task.

For respiratory diseases, ibuprofen works as an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent. It lowers body temperature, reduces sore throat and eases the general condition.

Clinical trials show that ibuprofen relieves muscle and joint pain due to inflammatory processes.

Comparative studies of the effectiveness of Ibuprofen and Nurofen have not been conducted. We can only assume that the difference between the drugs is due to their rate of absorption and bioavailability. There are no differences on the last point - the instructions for use indicate that both products are well absorbed. But foreign Nurofen acts faster - it reaches its maximum within 45 minutes after use. The domestic analog requires more time - at least an hour.

The difference in the effects of the drugs is explained by their composition. The active ingredient is the same, but the auxiliary elements are different. The technology for preparing drugs is also different. All these nuances determine the therapeutic effectiveness of a particular drug.

Price is another important aspect of comparing drugs. Russian Ibuprofen costs only 20-30 rubles. The cost of the drug should include the costs of purchasing high-quality raw materials and equipment, delivery, clinical trials and advertising. If a drug costs less than a loaf of bread, you need to think about what its manufacturers saved on.

Application diagram

The indications for Ibuprofen and Nurofen are the same. Both remedies are used where it is necessary to relieve pain and/or reduce body temperature:

1. infectious diseases, including ARVI, influenza, intestinal infections;
2. headache, including migraine;
3. pain in muscles and joints;
4. pain syndrome after surgery;
5. menstrual pain;
6. high body temperature as a reaction to vaccination, etc.

The drug must be taken orally, and preferably regardless of food. But if the patient has stomach diseases, the tablets can only be taken with meals. Then the drug will act later - after 1.5-2 hours, but the digestive tract will not be damaged.

The dosage of ibuprofen is calculated individually, taking into account age. The maximum daily dose for adults is 1200 mg.

Adverse reactions and contraindications

Taking ibuprofen can lead to the following conditions:

1. allergic reactions;
2. decrease in the level of blood cells with the development of anemia, infectious diseases, bleeding;
3. damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and the appearance of ulcers;
4. intestinal dysfunction;
5. dysfunction of the liver and kidneys;
6. bronchospasm;
7. peripheral edema.

Adverse reactions while taking NSAIDs are dose-dependent. The longer the patient takes the drug and the higher its dosage, the more likely complications are to develop.

Ibuprofen and Nurofen are contraindicated in the following conditions:

1. individual sensitivity to the drug;
2. bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases with intolerance to NSAIDs;
3. erosive diseases of the digestive tract in the acute stage;
4. severe cardiac, renal, liver failure;
5. bleeding disorders, including hemophilia.

During pregnancy, drugs are not prescribed in the third trimester, the rest of the time - with caution. During lactation, short-term use of the medication is allowed.

Who should use which drug?

The products have long proven their effectiveness and safety (if the dosage is not exceeded and contraindications are taken into account), having undergone clinical trials and earning the trust of consumers.

However, they are contraindicated:

1. for diseases of the cardiovascular system;
2. for kidney pathologies;
3. in case of allergic reactions;
4. during pregnancy and lactation;
5. children under 6 years of age (and this is at least when it comes to pills).

As for the choice of drug, one cannot say that one is better than the other for pain or fever. Here you need to rely on financial capabilities (a budget option, but no less effective - Ibuprofen, expensive, available in higher dosages - Nurofen) and personal taste preferences. But it is recommended to give Nurofen to children, since the product can be purchased in the form of a suspension.

conclusions

Let's summarize:

1. Ibuprofen and Nurofen are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are prescribed to relieve symptoms of the disease: eliminate pain, reduce body temperature.
2. The composition, release form, indications and contraindications for the drugs do not differ.
3. Nurofen acts faster - the effect occurs after 30-45 minutes. Ibuprofen starts working within 1-2 hours.

When choosing a drug, remember: any NSAIDs are intended for short-term use only. If after three days the symptoms of the disease do not subside, consult a doctor.