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Pain remedies: is it safe to switch back and forth between ibuprofen and paracetamol?

Some people believe that switching between ibuprofen and paracetamol can be dangerous, however, as long as you’re sticking to the recommended doses suitable for your child’s age, and the dose schedule, there should be no trouble on the odd occasion.

That having been said, while it’s okay to switch between the two if you run out of one or the other, or if one does not seem to be working, it’s best not to make a habit out of alternating the two medications. That’s because they have very different chemical compositions, and trying to process all of those chemicals can be hard on your child’s kidneys.

You should also be careful that you don’t give your child to much of either, and that you try to stick to the recommended doses for your child’s age. That’s because giving your child a smaller dose may mean that the medicine does not work correctly, and your child is still uncomfortable or in pain!

Whenever you’re in doubt, however, even when it’s with generally ‘safe’ medicines like ibuprofen and paracetamol, it’s best to speak to your doctor before taking action.

Always remember that ibuprofen should not be given to kids with asthma.

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