Aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen are painkillers with different mechanisms.
Aspirin reduces inflammation and acts as a blood thinner. It’s used for pain, but also heart conditions and belongs to a class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Ibuprofen is also an NSAID. It’s an anti-inflammatory drug that also alleviates pain and reduces fever.
Paracetamol relieves pain and reduces fever, but lacks anti-inflammatory effects.
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Aspirin and ibuprofen may cause stomach irritation, while paracetamol is gentler on the stomach.
For severe pain, you can take ibuprofen and paracetamol together, as they have different mechanisms of action and typically don’t interact negatively.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Delores Nixon, Sheffield) 'What’s the difference between aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen?'
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