Ibuprofen v aspirin

[Zen]

What's the difference?

Between back pain and a sinus infection, I've been miserable since Tuesday.
I've been taking aspirin because that's what I have in the house.

I can't take acetaminophen. Would ibuprofen be better than aspirin?

[kelownagirl]

I'm not positive but I think ibuprophen also has a mild anti-inflammatory as well so I think it's better for muscle (back) pain than plain aspirin. I don't take aspirin so I can't comment. Sorry your back is in pain...

[DirtDiva]

Probably, yes, as it does have anti-inflamitory properties.

[OakLeaf]

Aspirin is also anti-inflammatory.

Aspirin's a little harder on your stomach and tends to have more of a blood-thinning effect. If neither one of those is an issue for you, use whatever works better.

Hope you feel better soon :( Try a neti pot if you aren't already irrigating.

[Zen]

Irrigating?
With salt water?
I might have a turkey baster.

[OakLeaf]

Irrigating?
With salt water?
I might have a turkey baster.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=20616

1/4 tsp canning-pickling salt (sodium chloride with no anti-caking agents or iodide) and a pinch of baking soda in 8 oz warm water. Or you can get pre-measured packets as well as the pots at the drug store (SinuCleanse or Sinus Rinse or other neti pot). The instructions say to boil water and cool it first, I never bother. My optometrist thinks tap water's safe enough to wash my hands before handling contact lenses, IMO it's safe enough for my sinuses. But if your tap water has a very high mineral content, you might consider using distilled water.

I guess a turkey baster would work as long as you didn't squeeze too hard - excessive pressure wouldn't be good. I don't know that you'd want to use it on a turkey afterward though :p

Warning: irrigating when you have a sinus infection is one of the grossest things you will ever do. But you'll immediately realize that that cr*p is better off washed down your sink than festering in your sinuses.

[sundial]

Hubby has suffered from sinus infections and he used the NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit available at most drug stores. He got over his sinus infections quicker by rinsing with this saline solution included in this kit.

He also suggests ibuprofen over aspirin as it isn't as hard on the stomach. Aspirin does have anti-inflammatory properties as does ibuprofen, but patients experience fewer GI side effects with ibuprofen. (He's a pharmacist.)

Hope you feel better soon. Sinus infections are not fun!

[Flybye]

Ibuprofen is safer than aspirin.

I can't remember the explanation right off hand, but I have discussed this same issue in length with my husband who is a pharmacist. What I seem to recall is that aspirin binds to cells in the blood stream and stays in the body longer. It either kills or weakens blood cells and the body has to replenish them which takes quite awhile (months) and is therefore not as safe as aspirin.

I could be remembering this completely wrong so don't take my reasons for it as science. I so remember for a fact that we are better off taking ibuprofen - (oh, and take it with food)

We had this discussion late at night when I was sick and I was half-way listening. I felt like crap and just wanted a simple answer like "no, honey, don't take aspirin, it isn't as safe". A simple explanation is NOT something you get from a pharmacist :D I actually respect that and am now wishing I would have listened more closely so I would have a better answer.

Oh, and yes, both are anti-inflammatories and both thin the blood.

Sleep well and get better soon!!

[Flybye]

Hubby has suffered from sinus infections and he used the NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit available at most drug stores. He got over his sinus infections quicker by rinsing with this saline solution included in this kit.

He also suggests ibuprofen over aspirin as it isn't as hard on the stomach. Aspirin does have anti-inflammatory properties as does ibuprofen, but patients experience fewer GI side effects with ibuprofen. (He's a pharmacist.)

Hope you feel better soon. Sinus infections are not fun!

Our lives sound so similar sometimes it freaks me out!!

[margo49]

I take ibuprofen for actual pain
and paracetomol with chamomile tea and honey for fever or virus.
This latter is my idea of complimen-tree medicine ;)

[RoadRaven]

I don't take aspirin cause I remember my mum saying when I was a kid it leaves some kind of sediment in your liver that never cleans out. I have never checked it out so it may be a completely eroneous (sp?) "fact"!

I use iburofen mostly, but you can use it with paracetomol as well - which I have been known to do to "top up" the pain-killing potential.

My partner doesn't take ibuprofen at all as it makes him feel ill - he always uses paracetamol.

Zen, I suggest you go to the chemist (drugstore?) if you are still in pain and ask for the strongest anti-inflam you can get without going to a doctor for a prescription.

Over here I get something called Voltaren + 25. I have to sign for it and its ingredient is diclofenac. It is awesome.

I do not advocate use of drugs unless necessary, but if you have back pain that is muscular, a couple of days on anti-flams means your muscles can relax and "un-twist" themselves.

As for the sinus, well, you are tougher than I. I have had three serious sinus infections and I think 2 days is the longest I lasted before getting antibiotics. The pain behind the eyes was tooooo much.

[OakLeaf]

paracetamol = acetaminophen

Voltaren is Rx only in the US. Naproxen sodium (Aleve) is OTC if you prefer that.

A true anti-inflammatory dose of ibuprofen is 300-600 mg q 6 hours.

Aspirin seems to be safer than other NSAIDs for long term use in terms of heart and liver damage, but the bottom line is I wouldn't take any pharmaceutical long term without close medical supervision (and then with misgivings and a real medical need that can't be addressed without the drug).

Contrary to what was thought even a few years ago, doctors now agree that yellow-green mucus does not indicate a bacterial infection. The vast majority of sinus infections, like other URIs, are viral, and excessive antibiotic use contributes to development of resistant bacteria. Like all other URIs, sinus infections should not be treated with antibiotics unless they persist after 5-7 days.

IANAD, etc., etc.

[Zen]

I did something last night with a funnel and almost drowned.
I was gasping for air and coughing.
apparently I did something wrong (duh. ya' think?)
It did help clear my head, though.

[snapdragen]

Maybe you could get yourself one of those squeezy bulbs used to clear out babies noses? I used that until I found a neti pot, it worked well. You want to get your head tilted so the salt water doesn't run down the back of your throat. I know I've seen demos online - much better than those youtube ones. I'll have to see if I can find them again.

[RoadRaven]

Thankyou for the clarification, OakLeaf - I had no idea that acetaminophen was paracetomol/panadol!


I suppose that I should qualify my antibiotic comment. I actually cannot accurately remember the last time I or my children had antibiotics.

I think the last lot of them in this house was when my youngest had a nasty infection that we were concerned would become blood poisoning - that would be 5-6 years ago. My partner has had them a couple of times in the past few years for nasty tooth infections that needed root canals. I think my last dose must be one of the sinus infections would be ten years or so ago (the last sinus infection)...

I do not advocate them as anything but a last option - when the children have earaches for example (a commonly overprescribed ailment) I am ruthless and give them painkillers and usually we don't even get to the doctors...



And Zen - tooooo funny!
I read your post and all I could think of was how your obit or coroner's report might read - death by funnel drowning - how does one explain that!? :p

[ummbnb]

For the sinus infection:
Neti Pot
Alkalol (not Alcohol) - cured my chronic sinus infections a few years back. You can get it behind the counter at most pharmacies.

[sundial]

I did something last night with a funnel and almost drowned.

Did it include the whip too?

[kelownagirl]

I made the mistake of laughing out loud at this thread and then had to explain the whole darn thing to the hubby.... :rolleyes::D

[Zen]

Did it include the whip too?

You do have an active imagination :eek:

[SouthernBelle]

Zen, Just found this thread. When I cracked my ribs a couple of years ago, ibuprophen was much more helpful than the prescription pain relievers.

[Skierchickie]

Zen,

I prefer ibuprofen for most things, over aspirin or acetaminaphin (acetaminaphin does nothing for me for headaches, monthly blech, or anything else). Do be careful taking anything. Ibuprofen is safe, but not if you take too much. A runner friend of mine (a nurse - at the time she was the head nurse in a local ER) used to routinely take a bunch at a time, every single day, for running/skiing/biking related aches and pains. That was before the resulting internal bleeding. Can't remember exactly what happened, but it was not good (you'd think an ER nurse would know better :rolleyes:). Now she takes absolutely nothing for those aches and pains, headaches, etc.

Careful Zen - we love you! And your amazing sense of humor!

I don't know what is wrong with your back, so I'm probably off base, but have you tried icing? No, no - not that kind! I mean an ice pack!;)

[Zen]

I'm much better now,thanks for your concern.
I was absolutely miserable for a while there, hot baths, blue goo, and sleeping on a heating pad.
I think the backache went away with the sinus clog.

I have a cycling friend who takes ibuprofen before she rides. I couldn't figure out why someone would take a drug before they needed it. One thought led to another so I posted a question here.

I have to take so many drugs already I want to avoid more

[SadieKate]

Alkalol (not Alcohol) - cured my chronic sinus infections a few years back. You can get it behind the counter at most pharmacies.Love the stuff. It's fabulous.

[SadieKate]

I have a cycling friend who takes ibuprofen before she rides. I couldn't figure out why someone would take a drug before they needed it. One thought led to another so I posted a question hereFor those of us with knee issues, we can take Vitamin I before the ride or we can stop and take it during the ride. At the end of the day, I take less if I take some before the ride starts. Prophylactic use means the inflammation doesn't get started or doesn't get beyond a minor nuisance.

Glad you're feeling mo' bettah. My husband used to think I was being a weenie about the pain and sickness of a sinus infection -- and then he got his first one. :D :D :D

[DirtDiva]

...acetaminaphin does nothing for me for headaches, monthly blech, or anything else...
Acetaminophen/paracetamol just isn't particularly effective when taken as a single dose as you would for a headache. When taken several times a day over a longer period of time (as you would after an injury or minor surgery), it becomes a much more useful painkiller. :)

[Zen]

And liver killer.

[SadieKate]

Well, your liver suffers when you're under stress (i.e., pain) anyway. And it really takes lot of Tylenol taken for long periods to cause problems.

Ibuprofen and Aspirin have their own problems. None are side effect free.

[DirtDiva]

Well, I meant a couple of weeks, not years. :rolleyes:

[RoadRaven]

I have a cycling friend who takes ibuprofen before she rides. I couldn't figure out why someone would take a drug before they needed it. One thought led to another so I posted a question here.


Hey there Zen
Glad you are feeling so much better.

I take pain killers before an important time trial... it helps me to dig a little deeper because it takes longer for it to hurt.

We have a friend who followed a recent prize money tour here and he said many of the riders had panadol in their back pockets - right along side their gus and gels...

[IFjane]

And Zen - tooooo funny!
I read your post and all I could think of was how your obit or coroner's report might read - death by funnel drowning - how does one explain that!? :p

RR - ROTFLMAO!

Begs the question - if one drowned by funnel, would he even need to explain it?:D

[OakLeaf]

if one drowned by funnel, would he even need to explain it?:D

LMFAO

English major! Busted! If you absolutely can't say "they," the appropriate pronoun on this forum is "SHE." :D

[IFjane]

LMFAOEnglish major! Busted! If you absolutely can't say "they," the appropriate pronoun on this forum is "SHE." :DOops! Oak, you are completely correct....:o:o.....but you still did not answer the question! ;)....and my excuse is.....uh.....several glasses of wine prior to posting!