Can you take ibuprofen and paracetamol together? Use this method for fast pain relief

Ibuprofen and paracetamol are both medication for treating pain and fever. The main difference between the two is that ibuprofen reduces inflammation.

Both are typically used to relieve mild or moderate pan such as headaches, toothaches or sprains, and reduce fevers caused by illnesses such as colds and flu.

According to the NHS, paracetamol is often recommended as one of the first treatments for pain, as it is safe for most people to take and side effects are rare.

But can you take the two together?

If you are over the age of 16, medical advice indicates there is no known harmful link between taking both ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time, says Dr Andrew Thornber, chief medical officer at Now Patient.

He added: “These are both painkillers, so can be used for aches and pains and flu.”

But Dr Thornber advises it is best to space to taking them and ideally take ibuprofen after eating a meal and do not continue taking both for longer than three days.

“Paracetamol is often recommended as one of the first treatments for pain, as it is safe for most people to take and side effects from the painkillers are rare.

“Adults should not take more than 4g - eight 500mg paracetamol tablets - in the space of 24 hours.

“Children under the ages of 16, can take both tablets, but not at the same time.”

If you need to take painkillers for longer than three days, you should see your GP or pharmacist for advice. Try to avoid unnecessary medicines.

If your symptoms continue, contact your GP or call NHS 111.

Many people take painkillers to treat back pain, but experts recently warned ineffective painkillers, costly surgery and MRI scans are dished out too readily when prevention and exercise-led solutions could help people keep functioning and aid recovery.

A series of papers published in The Lancet lays bare the nation’s growing back pain epidemic and called for a new approach.

Professor Nadine Foster of Keele University, lead author of one of the papers, said: “Painkillers that have limited positive effect are routinely prescribed for low back pain, with very little emphasis on evidence-based interventions such as exercises.

“We need to redirect funding away from ineffective or harmful tests and treatments and towards approaches that promote physical activity and function.

“We also need to intensify further research of promising new approaches such as redesigning patient pathways of care and interventions that support people to function and stay at work.”