Paracetamol or ibuprofen: Pharmacist settles which is better for colds and flu

Many people are coming with the common or flu or other viral and bacterial infections common around this time of year. Symptoms of these two infections are very similar, but treatment may vary depending on which of the symptoms are more dominant. For most people, getting over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol is all they need to bounce back. A pharmacist has weighed in on whether paracetamol or ibuprofen offers more effective solution.

Paracetamol or ibuprofen?

Out of fear of overdosing or having the wrong cocktail of medication, most people stick to one of the two painkillers to deal with pain. But, in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Abbas Kanani, the superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click explained which is more helpful and for what.

Paracetamol is probably more effective at bringing down temperature, so it's almost like a double-whammy, you get rid of your headache and bring your temperature down. But if you feel that you have more body aches, that's your main symptom, then ibuprofen is probably slightly better as it's an anti-inflammatory.

He added that caution needs to be applied when you’re taking ibuprofen as many people are allergic to the class of drugs that it belongs to known as NSAIDs. They work by stopping the body's production of a substance that causes pain, fever, and inflammation.

A cocktail that works

The pharmacist went on to explain that for people who are not allergic to NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, it is actually safe to take it together with paracetamol if you’re feeling really sick.

If you feel that one isn't enough you can take ibuprofen as well as paracetamol, you can take them together. A lot of people don't know that it's not one or the other, you can put them together as they work in different ways.

However, if you are suffering from coughs and nasal congestion, you might want to take expectorants and decongestants respectively, Kanani added.

Sources used:

Mirror: Pharmacist debunks biggest misconception about taking ibuprofen or paracetamol when sick

Liverpool Echo: Pharmacist confirms whether ibuprofen or paracetamol is better for colds and flu