Which is better - "Nurofen" or "Paracetamol": comparison, composition, indications for use, instructions

In the article we will try to figure out which is better: “Nurofen” or “Paracetamol”.

With a fever in the child, each parent is faced. This unpleasant symptom accompanies many diseases, especially in the autumn-winter period of a tense epidemiological situation. And if, with thermometer readings below 38 degrees, experts do not recommend lowering the temperature, then a higher temperature will require taking measures to alleviate the patient's condition.

Difficult choice

Parents have a choice: use a drug based on paracetamol or ibuprofen. Of course, the best option is to select the drug along with the local pediatrician. This will help to avoid adverse reactions and get an effective means of combating high fever. Before using "Nurofen" or "Paracetamol", you should carefully study the attached instructions and strictly observe the frequency and duration of use of an antipyretic.

Nurofen: Basic Information

The drug has an antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and is available in various forms, which allows it to be used for patients of different ages. The drug is made in the form of tablets, suspensions, suppositories, syrup and even gel for local use.

The Nurofen tablets do not contain hormonal substances, they are made on the basis of ibuprofen.

Product Description

The medication is a fast-acting drug. It begins to act 15 minutes after administration. The main purpose of the drug is to relieve pain of various origins, including headache, dental, articular and muscle. No less effective is the drug at high temperature against the background of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and other diseases of an infectious and inflammatory nature.

Contraindications

Contraindications for taking "Nurofen" are:

1. Individual intolerance to ibuprofen or other components that make up the drug.
2. Heart failure.
3. Dysfunctional kidney or liver disorder.
4. Acute kidney disease, as well as during an exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
5. Hepatitis.
6. Gastrointestinal pathologies, accompanied by the formation of erosion and ulcers.
7. Hemorrhagic syndrome.

During pregnancy and lactation, the drug can be used with extreme caution and after consulting a doctor.

Side effects

In case of violation of the recommendations in terms of the frequency of administration of the drug and the duration of its use, digestive disorders may begin, accompanied by the following symptoms:

1. Nausea and vomiting.
2. Bloating.
3. Diarrhea.
4. Soreness in the stomach.
5. Exacerbation of existing pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

More rare manifestations

"Nurofen" can cause an allergic reaction, signs of which are peeling and itching, rash and redness of the skin. In more rare cases, the following undesirable consequences of taking the drug are possible:

1. Visual impairment.
2. Sharp pressure drops in the arteries.
3. Tachycardia.
4. Functional disturbance in the liver.
5. Nephrotic syndrome.
6. Pain in the head.
7. Insomnia.
8. Fatigue.
9. Emotional excitability.
   

Numerous positive reviews confirm the effectiveness of Nurofen in pain relief and temperature reduction. Parents choose it as a safe and effective way to alleviate the condition of the child with colds.

But it can be difficult to decide what to buy at the pharmacy - Nurofen or Paracetamol.

Paracetamol: Basic Information

"Paracetamol" is included in the category of drugs that have a pronounced antipyretic effect. What is part of Paracetamol? The active ingredient in the drug is paracetamol.

This component has a mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. The composition of the Nurofen tablets we examined above.

The drug begins to act 40 minutes after administration.

Indications

As in the case of Nurofen, in pharmacies you can find quite a few forms of the drug, including syrup, tablets, suppositories, etc. "Paracetamol" is prescribed in the following cases:

1. Elimination of pain of a low degree of intensity, including toothache, headache and resulting from sprains and burns.
2. Decrease in body temperature against the background of colds or other pathologies of an infectious and inflammatory nature.

Indications for the use of "Paracetamol" in the instructions are described in detail.

Contraindications

It is not recommended to prescribe a remedy for the following diseases and conditions:

1. Individual reaction to paracetamol.
2. Impaired liver or kidney function.
3. Pathology of the circulatory system.

For children with hyperbilirubinemia, the drug is prescribed with increased precautions. The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.

It is well tolerated by patients, but requires strict adherence to the treatment and dosing regimen prescribed by the instructions. The dose of “Paracetamol" for the child will be given below.

Negative reactions

The most common adverse reactions to taking the drug include:

1. Dyspeptic disorders, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as pain.
2. An allergic reaction, manifested in the form of itching, rash and swelling.
3. In rare cases, a malfunction of the urinary system may occur.
4. Pathological processes in the field of blood formation, including anemia, thrombocytopenia, etc.

Despite the contraindications, Paracetamol is still popular with parents who want to bring down the temperature of the child. A variety of forms of the drug allows you to give it at any age. The doctor will help you choose what to buy - Nurofen or Paracetamol.

Features of the use of drugs

When choosing an anesthetic and antipyretic drug for a child, attention should be paid to the following features of the use of the means described by us:

1. Drugs with an antipyretic effect in no way affect the cause of the pathology and are not able to shorten the duration of the fever.
2. Antipyretic drugs should be given to a child older than three months only if the thermometer has reached high levels (more than 38.5), or if the temperature affects the condition of the child, it becomes lethargic, loses appetite, complains of pain in the muscles and head.
3. If a child has a history of heart or lung damage, as well as febrile convulsive syndrome, it is necessary to start lowering the temperature without waiting for it to rise to 38.5 degrees. Which is better, "Nurofen" or "Paracetamol" to give in this case, you have to decide for yourself.
4. You can not independently prescribe an antipyretic drug to a child during the first three months of life. An exception is a single dose of the drug by the child to reduce the temperature that arose after vaccination.
5. The dosage of drugs should be calculated taking into account the weight of the child. Age in this case is an approximate indicator. The dose of paracetamol for a child is 10-15 mg / kg, while the dose of ibuprofen is 5-10 mg / kg. If in doubt, the doctor should be consulted when calculating the dose.
   
6. Do not violate the frequency of doses and dosage of drugs prescribed by your doctor. It is allowed to take “Paracetamol" no more than four times a day, while the break between them should be at least four hours. Nurofen is taken three times a day approximately every six hours.
7. Drugs with antipyretic effect reduce the temperature by an average of 1-2 degrees. This, as a rule, is enough to alleviate the condition of the child. Do not exceed the dosage of the drug in order to achieve normal levels of body temperature.
8. It is not recommended to take antipyretics with the course, as this can blur the clinical picture of the pathology. Drinking the drug again is allowed only with a repeated rise in temperature to a critical level.
9. Without the appointment of a doctor, you can not use "Nurofen" or "Paracetamol" for the period specified in the instructions.
10. Antipyretic drugs do not combine well with antibiotics, since their use complicates the evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment.
11. Only in case of emergency and with the permission of a specialist can two antipyretic drugs be combined. As a rule, these funds are interchangeable.
12. You should also pay special attention to the combination of “Paracetamol” with other cold medicines containing the same active ingredient. This can provoke an overdose of paracetamol and adversely affect the work of the liver and kidneys.
    

Thus, you should carefully consider the choice of an antipyretic drug, especially when it comes to treating a child. Abuse "Nurofenom" or "Paracetamol" should not be. These funds should be used only in case of emergency.

The article compares Nurofen and Paracetamol. We hope it will be useful to readers.