Is it a bad idea to mix Aspirin, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen as long as you stick to the right dosages?

Question

you can't take more that 2 paracetamol (500mg) tablets every 4 hours, 2 Ibuprofen (200mg) and 3 aspirin (300mg) but if you were to take all of the above in one go would that be safe or would they interact with each other? because it doesn't say on the safety warnings about mixing them?

Answer 1

Wow, there is a lot of misinformation here. Let me see if I can try to clear it up:

1. It is incorrect make an analogy between NSAIDs and opiod analgesics. The dosages and side effect profiles are completely different. Their risks to any average patient are completely different.

2. These are three different drugs with similar, though distinct effects:

a. Aspirin irreversibly inhibits COX-1 and modifies the enzymatic activity of COX-2. This combination is what provides the pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects, and blood-thinning properties of aspirin (which is why ulcers may develop).

b. Ibuprofen is not aspirin. It modifies COX-2 as well, and COX-1 to a *much* lesser extent. Ibuprofen also provides pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects, but fewer effects on the platelets.

c. Acetaminophen is still a bit of a mystery, although one popular idea is that it works through COX-3. This is why it has no blood-thinning properties and has almost no GI issues.

3. Both aspirin and ibuprofen are analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory. However anti-inflammatory effects are only seen at very large doses used chronically (2-3g/day), well over what most manufacturers recommend. That's why the larger doses are prescription only. They both have the ability to reduce platelet function, though aspirin much more so at lower doses. This makes ibuprofen a safer (though not completely) choice than aspirin, with respect to ulcer formation.

4. Tylenol is an analgesic and antipyretic. It has no anti-inflammatory or antiplatelet activity. However, in larger doses (or in alcoholics) it can be toxic to your liver. It should be limited to less than 4g/day for healthy folks or less than 2g/day for people who consume 2+ alcoholic drinks per day.

5. The safest, most effective combination therapy has been shown to be alternating doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen, while not exceeding recommended maximum daily dose.

Ultimately, the question that pops into my mind is, why do you feel the need to take so much pain medication to begin with?

Answer 2

Yes, they all do the same thing, so it would be overdosing.  Would you take Morphine, Demerol and Darvocet all at the same time?

Answer 3

aspirin reduces inflamation, pain and fever

the others only do 2 out of 3

if you take it with food (unless it is enteric coated) every 4 hours (unless it is 'long acting ' LA) it is overall the safest drug (but it does not make the most profit)

this assumes that you do not have 'stomach problems', you are older than 10, and u have not very recently had 'flu'

Answer 4

Both aspirin and ibuprofen can cause gastric ulcers. Taking the 2 together increases the risk of getting a bleeding ulcer. Paracetamol dose not cause ulcers and can be taking with ibuprofen or aspirin.

Answer 5

Ibuprofen and aspirin are both aspirin products. You should not take them together without overdosing. Tylenol, acetaminophen, is not an aspirin product and can be taken opposite Ibuprofen. Paracetamon is acetaminophen. Therefore it can be taken every 4 hours opposite the Ibuprofen. Such as:

I at 2, 6,10 and P at 4, .8. and 12

You can get 600 Ibuprofen and even 800 Ibuprofen with a prescription.  It is hard on the digestive tract. The acetaminophen can easily be overdosed. Be careful with that.