Ibuprofen vs Aspirin

Painkillers are essential to every human on this planet. These are always helpful in alleviating acute pain or pain that does not last long. However, not all painkillers are safe and effective in every individual. Some may cause bleeding and aggravate the client’s condition while some may cause minimal stomach upset when used.

Most painkillers are intended to relieve pain temporarily at about three to four hours in maximum time and duration. These can always be bought over-the-counter while some, the opioid types, require a prescription by a physician. Two of the most common painkillers are ibuprofen and aspirin. Let us tackle the differences.

Ibuprofen is a generic drug. Some of the brand names of ibuprofen are: Advil, Motrin, Nurofen, Nuprin and many others. Aspirin, on the other hand, is a trademark that is the property of Bayer. The generic name of aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid.

Ibuprofen is used for symptoms of fever, pain, dysmenorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, pericarditis, and patent ductus arteriosus. Aspirin, on the other hand, can also be used for fever, pain, as well as rheumatic fever. It can also be used for rheumatoid arthritis, pericarditis, as well as Kawasaki disease. It also prevents severe incidents such as stroke, embolism, TIA, heart attacks since aspirin is also a blood thinner.

One of the known adverse and long-term effects of aspirin use is stomach upset, and in the long run is stomach ulceration. So this drug is definitely not given to people with stomach ulcers as this will predispose them to more ulcerations and bleeding. It is also not given to those people who have clotting disorders such as hemophilia. Adverse effects of ibuprofen include the ulceration of the stomach (same as aspirin), dyspepsia, nausea, dizziness, rash, and hypertension. Other adverse effects but not common include heart failure, renal impairment, bronchospasm, and confusion.

The history of ibuprofen dates back as early as the 1960’s. It was discovered by the Boots Group headed by Andrew Dunlop together with his colleagues John Nicholson, Vonleigh Simmons, Jeff Wilson, Stewart Adams, and Colin Burrows. On the other hand, the main ingredient for aspirin was used as early as 400 BC. In the1850’s, it was modified and another source was discovered which was less irritating in the stomach. It was produced under Bayer AG.

Summary:

1.Ibuprofen is a generic drug while aspirin is a trademark drug.
2.Ibuprofen and aspirin can be used for pain, fever, and rheumatoid arthritis.
3.Aspirin was used as early as 400 BC, but it was formally made in the 1850’s by Bayer AG while ibuprofen was discovered in the 1960’s by the Boots Group.
4.Adverse effects of both drugs are related to ulcerations of the stomach.

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