About Acetaminophen vs. Aspirin
Acetaminophen and aspirin make up the vast majority of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers sold in the US. The most commonly prescribed pain relievers also contain large doses or modified versions of these relatively safe drugs. Acetaminophen and aspirin are also major ingredients in a number of preparations for the common cold and other conditions. Either acetaminophen or aspirin is usually recommended by doctors by just about every type of pain we suffer. Let's see what makes these two compounds so popular.
-
History of
-
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, left directions for a powder for the relief of pain made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree. By 1830, Italian, French and German researchers had each isolated salicin, the active ingredient in Hippocrates' recipe. Twenty years later, Charles Frederic Gerhardt buffered a product to protect the stomach and, in 1899, Felix Hoffman rediscovered the formula. His employers at Bayer marketed the new drug as "Aspirin", the first "wonder drug" of the 20th century.
Acetaminophen was an unintended benefit of malaria research begun when cinchona trees, used to produce quinine, became scarce. Compounds developed during this research, used by Bernard Brodie and Julius Axelrod in a 1948 study, led to the development of paracetamol, patented and marketed as Tylenol in the US by McNeill Laboratories, beginning in 1955. In 1956 Frederick Stearns & Co. introduced Panadol in Great Britain.
The Facts
-
Aspirin is one of a class of drugs called NSAIDS--non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs---that relieve pain by reducing inflammation. Aspirin is metabolized, or transmitted to the bloodstream, through the lining of the stomach. Aspirin is delivered in 81, 325, 500 and 650 mg doses. The "low-dose" 81 mg is used for heart health and children. 325 mg is the most commonly used OTC preparation. Acetaminophen--para-acetylaminophenol or APAP-- is metabolized in the liver. It is available in 325, 500 and 650 mg doses. Acetaminophen combines easily with opiates to make effective prescription pain relievers. Since overdose is a concern, dosage should be based on patient weight but should not exceed 4,000 mg per day for an adult.
-
Benefits
-
Both acetaminophen and aspirin are safe, effective, inexpensive pain relievers. Acetaminophen is the non-irritating alternative to aspirin, safe for children and those with gastric conditions like ulcers and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Aspirin has been used effectively for arthritis and migraines and has become the preventative drug of choice for heart patients. Special coatings, time-release tablets and low-dose options minimize stomach irritation.
Risk Factors
-
Both of these pain relievers are medications and both interact with other medications. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you take other drugs on a regular basis. Even coated or buffered aspirin can irritate the lining of the stomach. Its use by children who have fevers, especially those associated with flu or chicken pox has been associated with the development of Reye's syndrome, a dangerous, sometimes fatal condition. It is not recommended for patients undergoing anti-coagulation therapy (blood thinners).
Identification
-
Both aspirin and acetaminophen are marketed in tablets, "caplets" (capsule-shaped compressed tablets) and coated tablets as well as suppositories. Topical, timed-release or chewable doses of aspirin are available. Both compounds are white, although children's chewable tablets may be colored and flavored.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit DRW & Associates
