Can you take acetaminophen with Ibuprofen?

Answer 1

Yes, you can take both of these medications at the same time, and in fact your doctor may recommend that you do so. These drugs do not exhibit any inherent, dangerous interaction with each other, and have been in the field for a long time, so no new findings are likely or anticipated.

However, as toxicity is always a function of dosage, any time you take any active medication, you need to be aware of how much you take, and what other medications you're taking that act in the same manner. ibuprofen and Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) belong to the group of drugs called NSAIDs - Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. They work in a very similar but not identical way. Acetaminophen is not considered an NSAID and is thought to work in the brain rather than peripherally. They are gastrointestinal irritants (APAP, the least irritating, also doesn't perform as well as an anti-inflammatory). They work as pain relievers by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. And, even though these drugs do not specifically interact with each other, unsupervised or self-medication has the risk of overdosing, if the patient takes very high doses or two or three of these meds concurrently.

The makers of Tylenol (APAP) specifically do not recommend the patient mixing these drugs without medical supervision. The reason for this is, while the drugs can themselves be safely used concurrently, dosage and over-dosage is always a concern. Understandably, they are worried about accidental overdose resulting from ignorance of the contents of all the medications their customers can take, and they've opted for the most conservative if not the most medically effective course in issuing this warning.

It is further observed that many over the counter and prescription products contain these medications. For instance, Tylenol is the brand name for APAP, so of course it'll contain it. Vicodin, a prescription painkiller, also contains APAP. And so on. The wise patient will keep a sharp eye on this when they use over the counter remedies, and will tell their doctor what they've taken, be it prescription, OTC or homeopathic/natural/herbal medication, so that the caregiver can make a clear, informed decision about further medication. It's generally accepted that the more a patient knows about their condition and medication, the better it is for everyone.

Keep in mind it is important to take the appropriate dosage. Overdosing can lead to drug toxicity.
The US National Institutes of Health reports that both acetaminophen and ibuprofen have been shown to be safe for adults or children when given individually or together in recommended doses for short term use. Children should be given only versions that are clearly identified for use by children. The combination has been shown to be superior to either product individually for the reduction of medium levels of pain. A landmark study is underway at Penn State School of Medicine to determine whether the combination is superior to either product individually for the reduction of fever. It is essential to follow directions for these products carefully, especially for acetaminophen. The margin for error in acetaminophen overdose is slim, and the consequences are serious. (For adults, the combination of acetaminophen and aspirin has been found to be superior to either product individually for the reduction of fever. Children should not be given aspirin.)

Answer 2

Yes you can. The two drugs have different modes of action and provided you stick to the correct dose for each drug they can be taken at the same time. This is a more effective way to treat acute pain, like toothache for example, for a short period of time.