Acetaminophen and ibuprofen: combining them safely
UCI Health physician says it’s generally safe, but can become tricky if not tracked
IN THE NEWS: Combining acetaminophen and ibuprofen is a popular way to find some relief from pain, fever and inflammation.
It’s generally considered safe, UCI Health family medicine physician Dr. Roxann Engle tells the MedShadow Foundation, but it’s important to keep track of the dosing.
“For fever in children, I recommend alternating them every three hours so one is always working at its peak. But it’s crucial to track doses carefully to avoid taking too much by inadvertently repeating one. For ongoing conditions like chronic pain, I suggest taking them together, which makes the schedule easier to follow.”
Engle’s clinical interests include women’s health, skin care and pediatrics. She is also the medical director of UCI Health Primary Care Associates. She sees patients at UCI Health — Yorba Linda. Call 714-790-8600 for an appointment.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.