Paracetamol/Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin) – Which one is safer? Which one is more effective?

Let me start by reminding you that the above question should actually be about whether either ibuprofen is safer or more effective than acetaminophen (or paracetamol).

We need to be questioning the larger family of drugs rather than the specific brands such as Tylenol, Motrin and Advil.

So, which one of the two groups of medications is safer?

Generally speaking, these two groups: namely ibuprofen and acetaminophen – are equally safe. One may be safer, or preferable, over the other in certain groups of children, who have underlying medical conditions, but you can read more about this in the post – Can my child receive any one of the fever-reducing medications.

And which one is more effective?

Both of these groups of medications are equally effective. They each have their benefits and potential disadvantages, and therefore one family of drugs may be better for certain groups of children compared to others.
You can learn more about these differences in my other posts on this website.

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