Quick painkiller question

[CAPP0]

I had surgery yesterday, nothing major and I'm home again, but the consultant was very clear that I need to stay fully dosed-up on painkillers and anti-inflammatories for several days. The nursing staff recommended paracetamol for the former and ibuprofen for the latter, all standard stuff. They said (and I knew) that you can take both concurrently.

My quick question is - should I take both drugs together every 4 hours, or one type and then the other on a 2-hour cycle, eg paracetamol at 12.00, ibuprofen at 14.00, paracetamol at 16.00, etc etc?

Obviously I could call the hospital and ask! Just didn't want to trouble them if it was an easy question. My pain levels are very low at the moment, so I'm just following consultant's orders re taking the drugs currently.

[Rotaree]

I was in exactly the same position a few weeks ago and was recommended by my doctor to do the 'two hour cycle' to avoid a dip at the end of four hours where I would effectively be without pain relief. It worked very well for me. Good luck and get well soon!

[cbcbcb]

Bear in mind that you should take no more than 4 doses in a day, so if you take them 4 hours apart, you must miss a dose. As an alternative pattern, you can alternate drugs every 3 hours, which means you have the benefit of the painkillers for the whole day.

[CAPP0]

Thanks both - yes, I was thinking that I should sort out my "waking hours" and split the 4+4 doses across that span.

Appreciate the replies.

[The_Doc]

Paracetamol 1g 4 times a day

Ibuprofen 400mg 3 times a day

These are the MAX doses in a normal 70Kg adult with normal kidneys etc etc

SO:.......Both sets of tablets with meals, and paracetamol additional dose at bedtime

NB: much more info is needed about a patient than stated above to prescribe.

[CAPP0]

The_Doc said:

Paracetamol 1g 4 times a day

Ibuprofen 400mg 3 times a day

These are the MAX doses in a normal 70Kg adult with normal kidneys etc etc

SO:.......Both sets of tablets with meals, and paracetamol additional dose at bedtime

NB: much more info is needed about a patient than stated above to prescribe.

Ah thank you - must RTFM, I thought I could take 4 doses of Ibuprofen not 3! Mind you I'm 6'4" and 98kg so I guess I would have coped with the slight overdose in the past 24 hours a little better than an adult lady with, say, a 5'0" 40kg body!

(Is that a valid observation? That the effect of the recommended dose of over-the-counter medicines would vary wildly depending on the physical size of the "adult" taking them?)

[RichS]

I've always assumed so, though it has to be said I've been working from a position of zero knowledge other than common sense.