Is tylenol better than advil for fever

You wake up with a terrible headache, a sore muscle or yesterday’s sunburn is bothering you, and shuffle your way to your medicine cabinet. You open the cabinet, hoping to find something to help with the pain and discomfort, but find yourself faced with three choices: Advil, Aleve and Tylenol. Which one should you take? What are the differences to consider before taking?

“All of these pharmaceuticals are useful to treat pain and reduce fever, which is why they’re such common occurrences in households,” said David E. Potter, Ph.D., professor and chair of pharmaceutical sciences with the Texas A&M Health Science Center Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy. “However, there are some instances where one of these medicines may work better than its counterparts.”

To help navigate when to choose which of these common over-the-counter medications, Potter offers the following information about each pain and fever-reducer:

Tylenol (acetaminophen)

Acetaminophen (Tylenol’s generic name) is a popular option for treating cold and flu-like symptoms, but Potter cautions that users need to be aware of how much they take in a day. Since acetaminophen is often combined with other over-the-counter cold medications that contain fever-reducing ingredients, people may end up taking multiple doses and exceeding the daily limitations.

“More than Advil and Aleve, Tylenol has a definite dosage ceiling of 325 milligrams per pill or capsule. Additionally, people should avoid taking more than 3000 milligrams per day, or they might begin to experience liver toxicity,” Potter warned.

People with liver disease, or who have consumed alcohol regularly, should be especially wary of the dosage they consume as unintentional overdosing can result in severe liver damage or even failure. Fortunately, these serious complications can be avoided if treated within 24 hours. Potter explains that the most common symptoms of acetaminophen overdose are lethargy (a sluggish state) and nausea or vomiting. If an individual exhibits these symptoms, they should seek medical attention within 24 hours, if possible.

Unlike its counterparts, acetaminophen does not possess any anti-inflammatory effects. For injuries like a sprain or discomfort from arthritis, Tylenol will not treat the pain as effectively as Advil or Aleve.

However, in the case of viral infections in young children and infants, acetaminophen’s can lower temperature effectively. In these situations, Tylenol is a better option to reduce fever than aspirin, Advil or Aleve. In all cases, be sure to adjust the dosage accordingly for the child’s age.

Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen sodium)

As far as anti-inflammatories go, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium have almost identical attributes. The main discriminating factors between the two are the active duration of each dose – Aleve is advertised as lasting almost four hours longer than Advil – and that naproxen causes a higher instance of photosensitivity (sensitivity to light).

For injuries or inflammatory symptoms, either ibuprofen or naproxen can both reduce inflammation or swelling and manage the pain. However, in the case of prolonged exposure to the sun or tanning, ibuprofen is probably a better alternative to naproxen.

Although most people have these medications or are aware of them, Potter suggests that not everybody should use these as their primary form of pain management.

“With ibuprofen and naproxen, there are higher incidences of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or ulcers that can occur in people predisposed to peptic ulcer disease. When taking either medication, it’s recommended that individuals take them with food to help with any GI discomfort. People who are predisposed to GI disorders should generally try to avoid ibuprofen or naproxen so as not to exacerbate symptoms and damage to the intestinal lining,” Potter said.

So if you wake up with a headache, any one of the three will help manage pain. If you’re combating sore muscles or arthritis, either ibuprofen or naproxen are your best bet to treat inflammation; and if that sunburn is bothering you, or you like to use suntan beds, stick with ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) are two of the most commonly used pain relievers. They share some similar features, but have several key differences.

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You’re standing in your local pharmacy or in the medicine aisle of your neighborhood grocery store, and you’re hurting. Maybe you have a headache or twisted your ankle during your morning workout. Whatever the case may be, you need some relief.

You scan the rows of medications. There are boxes and bottles; tablets and capsules. Which one do you choose? Which one is safest? Aren’t they all the same?

With so many different options and types of medication, a seemingly simple choice can get complicated quickly. Two common options for pain relief are Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen). But how do you pick between these over-the-counter (OTC) medications?

Let’s take a look at Advil and Tylenol and learn how they compare.

Are Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) the same thing? 

No. Advil and Tylenol are often used to treat similar conditions, such as fever and mild to moderate pain. But they are two different medications.

The active ingredient in Advil is ibuprofen. It belongs to a group of medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen is also sold under the brand name Motrin.

The active ingredient in Tylenol is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (often abbreviated APAP) is a non-opioid pain reliever and fever reducer.

While these two medications can treat many of the same conditions, the way they work in the body is what makes them different.

What is the difference between Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen)?

The main difference between Advil and Tylenol is how they work in the body to relieve pain or lower a fever. Both medications affect an inflammation (swelling) pathway in the body, known as the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. The COX pathway helps create substances that play a role in fevers, pain, and swelling. There are two main COX enzymes (proteins) we’ll mention in this article: COX-1 and COX-2.

NSAIDs, such as Advil, work to relieve fever, pain, and swelling by blocking the actions of COX-1 and COX-2 all over the body. Advil’s effects on the COX pathway are direct.

The way Tylenol works isn’t fully understood. It’s thought to affect the COX pathway as well. But Tylenol doesn’t directly block the COX-1 or COX-2 enzymes like Advil. This is a key difference when we start talking about side effects below. 

Another important difference is Tylenol works more in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It doesn’t work as much in the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside the brain and spinal cord). Tylenol also doesn’t help much with inflammation.

Maximum doses of Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen)

How much medication you can take in a day is another difference between Tylenol and Advil.

The maximum recommended daily amount of Tylenol is 4,000 mg for most adults. But older adults, children, and people with certain health conditions may be advised to take less than this. It’s best to double check with your healthcare provider on the safest dose for you to take.

The maximum recommended daily amount of OTC Advil for most adults is 1,200 mg. A healthcare provider can prescribe larger doses of Advil for certain health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. But you should never take higher doses of this medication without your provider’s OK.

Side effects of Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen)

Just because Advil and Tylenol are available without a prescription doesn’t mean they are without risks. But most people tolerate both pain relievers well with occasional use at recommended doses.

Common Advil side effects include stomach upset, dizziness, and heartburn. Side effects aren’t common for most people taking Tylenol. If you experience side effects from Tylenol, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Which is harder on your stomach, Advil or Tylenol?

Advil is harder on the stomach than Tylenol. As mentioned above, the COX pathway is the major target for both Advil and Tylenol. But Advil directly affects the COX enzymes.

COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes are present all over your body, including the lining of your stomach. Although both enzymes are present in your stomach, COX-1 is more plentiful. COX-1 is also associated with maintaining the stomach’s protective lining.

When NSAIDs, like Advil, block COX-1 in the stomach, it can weaken this protective lining. This can raise the risk for stomach ulcers and bleeding.

To help lower the impact of Advil on the stomach, you should eat before taking the medication. It doesn’t have to be a full meal — just a small snack or some crackers.

Which is worse for your liver, Advil or Tylenol?

Tylenol is harder on the liver. Because Tylenol is broken down by the liver, there’s a risk of it causing liver damage. In fact, Tylenol accounts for almost half of all acute (sudden) liver failures in the U.S. 

Most of these liver injuries are caused in one of two ways: 

1. People take more acetaminophen than is recommended. This could be because a person thinks the recommended dose isn’t working well enough.

2. People take too much acetaminophen without realizing it.

It’s easy to take too much Tylenol by accident. Many OTC and prescription medications combine acetaminophen (Tylenol’s main ingredient) with other medications. Be sure to check the label on combination cough and cold medications for this ingredient. Acetaminophen can also be combined with many prescription pain medications, such as opioids and some migraine medications.

It’s important to include acetaminophen from all sources when figuring out how much you’re taking per day. Remember: 4,000 mg is the most anyone should take per day. 

Is Advil or Tylenol worse for your kidneys?

Advil is worse for the kidneys. We mentioned earlier that COX-1 is found in the stomach’s protective lining. COX-1 is also involved in how the kidneys work to make urine. This helps get rid of waste from the body.

When Advil blocks COX-1 enzymes, it can lower blood flow to the kidneys. This makes it harder for the kidneys to do their job.

People who already have kidney problems should be careful using NSAIDs like Advil. This is especially important if you also take other medications that are hard on the kidneys, like lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) or furosemide (Lasix).

Tylenol is safer for your kidneys. It’s broken down by the liver so the risk to the kidneys is low.

When should I stop taking Advil or Tylenol?

The first scenario for when you should stop taking Advil or Tylenol is probably the most common. If your fever, pain, or swelling has gone away, you can stop taking the medication.

The second situation would be if you start experiencing any excessive or bothersome side effects. If this happens, stop taking the medication and contact your healthcare provider. They’ll let you know what steps you should take next.

But what if the fever, pain, or swelling doesn’t go away? While every situation is unique, it’s a good idea to have a plan in mind if things don’t get better or start getting worse. 

For OTC Advil, it’s recommended to only take it for pain relief for up to 10 days or for fever up to 3 days. If you’re not feeling better after then, it’s time to see your healthcare provider. Likewise, if your symptoms get worse while taking Advil, contact your provider.

For Tylenol, the length of time is the same for adults (10 days for pain, 3 days for fever). But for children under 12 years old, Tylenol should only be used for pain for 5 days. After that time or if symptoms get worse, contact a healthcare provider.

Is it bad to mix Advil and Tylenol?

No, this combination isn’t bad. Because Advil and Tylenol work and are broken down differently in the body, they can be used together. To help limit side effects and stay within recommended dose limits, healthcare providers often recommend rotating which pain reliever you take next.

For example, your first dose of medication might be Tylenol. When you’re due for your next dose, you’d take Advil instead of Tylenol. Your third dose would be with Tylenol again. You would continue this pattern until your symptoms resolve or until you felt it necessary to get additional medical care.

The bottom line

Both Advil and Tylenol are pain relievers available without a prescription. Both these medications work to relieve pain and fever. They provide similar effects but are two different medications with two different ingredients. Advil can be harder on the stomach and kidneys, while Tylenol is harder on the liver.

Overall, Advil and Tylenol are safe for most people when used correctly. Be sure to read the labels of all your medications to make sure you’re not taking too much of either. If you have to take them for longer than a few days, it’s a good idea to follow up with your healthcare provider.

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