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What Are The Side Effects Of Tylenol And Motrin?

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Posted on Fri, 8 May 2015
Question: Is it safe to take one Tylenol the same time with 2 Motrin 3 times daily? My Mother-in-law takes this combination daily at 10 am, 2 pm and 10 pm as well as taking 2 Aleve at 6 am and again at 6pm. She is suffering from headaches although she has been checked by her family doctor for anything that may be causing these headaches and was given a clean XXXXXXX of XXXXXXX Is this combination safe for any length of time? Is there anything else she can try to rid herself of these headaches?
Let me correct myself, she takes ONE Aleve at 6 am and ONE Aleve at 6 pm.
As well as the Motrin.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (56 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Aleve and Motrin not suitable together

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Regarding the Tylenol combination with either Motrin or Aleve there are no interactions and it can be safely taken with each of them.
On the other hand I don't agree with the combination of Motrin and Aleve together. They both belong to the same group of drugs called non steroid anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) so they act in a similar manner and have similar side effects, using them together would increase the risk of those side effects appearing, especially in an elderly person like your mother in law.
Their long term side effects are increased risk of vascular conditions (heart attack stroke etc), increased risk of gastrointestinal issues (ulceration, bleeding), kidney damage. All those conditions are more common and threatening in the elderly. So while at times taking them may be a necessary evil she should eliminate at least one of them and keep the dosage of the other at the necessary minimum.
As for getting rid of the headaches, it's hard to say since there can be many causes, more info may be necessary such as location of headaches, frequency, duration, character (throbbing, constant, lancinating etc), history of onset and evolution in time, association with phenomena like vomiting, red eye and tearing, nasal discharge, other medical conditions.
Anyway none of the medication you mention prevent headache, they just temporarily alleviate it.

I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Are The Side Effects Of Tylenol And Motrin?

Brief Answer: Aleve and Motrin not suitable together Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Regarding the Tylenol combination with either Motrin or Aleve there are no interactions and it can be safely taken with each of them. On the other hand I don't agree with the combination of Motrin and Aleve together. They both belong to the same group of drugs called non steroid anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) so they act in a similar manner and have similar side effects, using them together would increase the risk of those side effects appearing, especially in an elderly person like your mother in law. Their long term side effects are increased risk of vascular conditions (heart attack stroke etc), increased risk of gastrointestinal issues (ulceration, bleeding), kidney damage. All those conditions are more common and threatening in the elderly. So while at times taking them may be a necessary evil she should eliminate at least one of them and keep the dosage of the other at the necessary minimum. As for getting rid of the headaches, it's hard to say since there can be many causes, more info may be necessary such as location of headaches, frequency, duration, character (throbbing, constant, lancinating etc), history of onset and evolution in time, association with phenomena like vomiting, red eye and tearing, nasal discharge, other medical conditions. Anyway none of the medication you mention prevent headache, they just temporarily alleviate it. I remain at your disposal for further questions.