ibuprofen + acetaminophen (Montefiore Medical Center)

Ibuprofen + acetaminophen is a combination analgesic regimen consisting of 400 mg of ibuprofen and 1000 mg of acetaminophen. This specific combination was the subject of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted at Montefiore Medical Center to evaluate its efficacy in treating acute musculoskeletal extremity pain in the emergency department. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that acts by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2), thereby reducing the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Acetaminophen is a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic that primarily acts within the central nervous system, though its exact mechanism is complex and may involve inhibition of COX-3 and modulation of the endocannabinoid system. The Montefiore study demonstrated that this combination provides pain relief comparable to opioid-acetaminophen combinations (such as oxycodone/acetaminophen), supporting its use as an effective non-opioid alternative for acute pain management.

Brand names

TylenolAdvilMotrin

Other names

ibuprofen/acetaminophenacetaminophen/ibuprofen