

Always read the product label for hidden acetaminophen because you should not take more acetaminophen than recommended. To add to the confusion, acetaminophen may be listed as APAP on the label.Įxamples of medicines that also contain acetaminophen include DayQuil, Dimetapp, Excedrin, Midol, NyQuil, and Sudafed. It can be confusing because different OTC medications can contain different dosages of acetaminophen, such as 325 mg, 500 mg, or 650 mg. Children and adults weighing less than 50kg will need a lower dosage. But many experts believe most people should not exceed more than 3000mg (6 tablets) a day. The usual dosage of acetaminophen (Tylenol) for adults is two 500mg tablets every 6 hours with a maximum daily dose of 4000mg in 24 hours (which works out to be 8 tablets a day). If you get ibuprofen prescribed by your doctor, they may put you on a higher dosage, with a maximum of 3200mg per day (12 tablets) but if you are buying it over the counter you should never take more than 1200mg per 24 hours (which is 6 x 200mg tablets).Ĭhildren weighing less than 11kg or younger than 12 years will need a lower dosage.

The maximum dosage for ibuprofen brought over the counter is 1200mg (6 tablets). The usual dosage of ibuprofen (Advil) for adults is 200 to 400 mg orally (one or two 200mg tablets) every 6 to 8 hours as needed. However, the purpose of alternating them is usually to provide round-the-clock pain relief, so alternating them on the same day is usually better. You could also alternate them on different days, for example, on a Monday you take ibuprofen, on a Tuesday you take Tylenol, on a Wednesday you take ibuprofen and so on. You can alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen (Advil) every 3 hours or every 4 hours, following the schedules outlined above. How often can you alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen? This dosing schedule does not exceed the recommended maximum dose of 3000 mg/day for acetaminophen and 1200mg/day for over-the-counter ibuprofen. The dosing schedule of every 4 hours allows for a middle-of-the-night dose for those who need round-the-clock pain relief. This dosing schedule does not exceed the recommended maximum dose of 3000 mg/day for acetaminophen and 1200mg/day for over-the-counter ibuprofen.Īn alternating dosing schedule of 4 hours for an adult may look like this: An alternating dosing schedule of 3 hours for an adult may look like this: You can continue this regimen throughout the day, making sure you don’t exceed the recommended maximum dose for each drug. For example, if you get up at 6.00am, you can take a dose of ibuprofen, then at 8.00am, you can take a dose of Tylenol. The best way to alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen (Advil) is to take them 2 to 4 hours apart. How do you alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen? But if you want to get pain relief that lasts around the clock, then it is better to alternate them. Yes, you can take Advil (ibuprofen) at the same time as Tylenol. Can you take Tylenol and ibuprofen at the same time? If you are taking prescription-strength ibuprofen, talk with your doctor before combining it with Tylenol.

High dosages of paracetamol can cause liver damage, so never exceed the recommended dosage, especially if you drink alcohol regularly. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, and may not be suitable for some people such as those with stomach ulcers or kidney problems. This is because they work in different ways with few side effects.īut it is important to keep to the recommended dosage and to watch out for other medications that you may also take that contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen together works better to relieve pain than taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen separately. Yes, it is safe to take ibuprofen ( Advil) and acetaminophen ( Tylenol) together if you need to for extra pain relief, such as for a dental extraction.
