What's the difference between ibuprofen and acetaminophen?
1, the mechanism of drug action is different.
Ibuprofen inhibits cyclooxygenase activity and blocks the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandin, thus relieving pain. Acetaminophen inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandin in the central nervous system and blocks the impulse of pain nerve endings to play an analgesic role.
2. The characteristics of drug action are different.
Ibuprofen is suitable for common headache, toothache, neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain and dysmenorrhea. After oral administration, the plasma concentration can reach the peak at 1-2 hours, with a half-life of about 4 hours and a drug effect of about 6 hours.
The application scope of acetaminophen is similar to that of ibuprofen, and it is almost completely absorbed by the digestive tract, and the drug is evenly distributed in various body fluids. It takes effect within 30 minutes-1 hour after oral administration, with a half-life of about 2 hours and a duration of 4-6 hours.
From the above, we can know that ibuprofen takes longer to take effect and acetaminophen takes effect faster.
3. The characteristics of drug toxicity are different.
Long-term use of ibuprofen may lead to kidney damage, heart attack and stroke. If it is taken orally in excess and dehydrated, the risk of kidney damage will increase. Excessive acetaminophen may lead to liver injury, which is irreversible. Taking acetaminophen in the case of overdose, dehydration and malnutrition will increase the risk of liver injury, and long-term high dose will also lead to abnormal renal function.
From the toxicity characteristics, long-term use of ibuprofen is more harmful to the kidney than acetaminophen, so acetaminophen must be used safely and overdose is prohibited.
4. The side effects of drugs are different.
Ibuprofen stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to gastric ulcer bleeding, burning sensation, mild dyspepsia, changes in platelet function and prolonged bleeding time. Pregnant women are forbidden. Acetaminophen has less side effects on gastrointestinal tract, has no effect on platelets, bleeding time and uric acid excretion, and has a wider application range. Infants, pregnant women and the elderly with various chronic diseases can give priority to acetaminophen.
From the side effects of drugs, acetaminophen is relatively safe, especially for people with chronic gastritis, pregnant women, various chronic diseases, infants and other people.
Who invented ibuprofen?
The inventor of ibuprofen is Stuart Adams, a British scientist. This invention is more like "accidentally inserting a willow tree". The earliest function of this medicine is not to reduce fever and relieve pain, but to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Now the sales data of ibuprofen is so terrible that it is an inexhaustible cornucopia for his inventor, Mr. Adams, who is known as the father of ibuprofen. From 65438 to 0952, Adams joined the research department of Boots Company and began to study the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. At that time, the treatment of this disease was either toxic or had long-term side effects. One of the treatments is high-dose aspirin.
Adams began his research by studying the working principle of aspirin. He is very interested in the anti-inflammatory properties of this drug, hoping to find a drug with these properties like aspirin without causing allergic reaction, internal bleeding or stomach irritation.
1956, Adams recruited chemist John Nicholson. The two men collaborated to test 600 chemical components, hoping to find a drug that can reduce inflammation and be accepted by most people. Only five entered the clinical trial. The first four times failed, only ibuprofen was proved to be effective.
1966, they obtained the American patent of ibuprofen. Three years later, ibuprofen was approved as a prescription drug in Britain, and soon it was listed as an over-the-counter painkiller all over the world.