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Tylenol Vs. Ibuprofen for Arthralgia

Arthralgia is a term used to describe joint pain stemming from a variety of causes, such as injury, arthritis or infection. Depending on the underlying cause of arthralgia, Tylenol or ibuprofen may be more effective at relieving symptoms.

  1. Tylenol Uses and Efficacy

    • Tylenol belongs to a class of drugs known as aniline analgesics. It is recommended for the treatment of fever and minor pain and is less likely to cause gastrointestinal irritation than NSAID pain relievers, according to Tylenol.com. Tylenol Arthritis is specially formulated to treat arthralgia caused by arthritic conditions and can relieve pain for up to eight hours.

    Benefits of Ibuprofen

    • Ibuprofen is a painkiller from the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because it reduces inflammation, ibuprofen may be slightly more effective than tylenol for treating arthralgia caused by inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. According to Medicine Net, ibuprofen is often prescribed to treat mild-to-moderate arthritis pain in divided doses of 300 to 800 mg. four times daily.

    Pharmacology

    • Ibuprofen works by preventing the production of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes that create pain-causing chemicals called prostaglandins. According to Rx List, Tylenol is believed to work by increasing the body's threshold for pain, though the exact mechanism isn't known.

    Safety

    • While generally considered safe, both Tylenol and ibuprofen can cause serious side effects. According to E Med TV, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can increase the risk for heart attack and stroke. The greatest risk associated with Tylenol is its extreme liver toxicity when taken in high doses or combined with alcohol.

    Considerations

    • Both Tylenol and ibuprofen can be effective for managing mild to moderate cases of arthralgia, though one may be recommended over the other based on the origin of pain.

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