Why motrin over advil

Please note: Acetaminophen is shown to be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Ibuprofen is not recommended during pregnancy but is safe during breastfeeding. Be sure to ask your primary care provider about any interactions that acetaminophen or ibuprofen could have with other drugs you take. If you have further questions or concerns regarding these common medications, talk to your primary care provider or pediatrician.

If you need help finding a primary care provider, complete our secure, confidential Find A Doc form. Both could cause side effects like rash, nausea and headache, but they also have separate side effects: Acetaminophen may cause side effects such as hypersensitivity reactions, skin reactions, kidney damage, anemia, reduced number of platelets in the blood, or liver failure.

Unless directed by a physician, acetaminophen should not be used for longer than 10 days. You reach for them to lower a fever, banish a headache or ease those monthly cramps. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Which should you choose?

Here family medicine specialist Matthew Goldman, MD , discusses what you should know about which med makes the most sense for your aches and pains. That makes it a smart pick for pain such as:. Acetaminophen is a type of drug called an analgesic. Translation: It reduces pain signals within the nervous system and not at the site itself. That makes it a good choice for pain such as:. You've done your research and know that ibuprofen is considered a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAID , according to MedicineNet.

You also know it's a standard thing to take for swelling, fever, and all types of aches and pains, but did you know ibuprofen comes in different packaging and different names depending on which pharmaceutical company is making it?

When it comes to Motrin and Advil, it's not the name, but the active ingredient that counts. Essentially, Motrin and Advil are the same thing and will do the same thing in your body. The doses recommended on the bottles are usually less than your child can actually take. Advil or Motrin ibuprofen. Adults can take up to mg of Advil every 6 hours, as needed: i.

Alternatively, you may wish to take mg every 4 hours, as needed: i.