# Paracetamol vs Ibuprofen in Nigeria: which painkiller should you reach for?

**The short answer:** For everyday headache or fever, start with paracetamol — it is gentler on the stomach and safe in pregnancy. Reach for ibuprofen when there is swelling or inflammation behind the pain, like a sprain, toothache, or period pain, and take it with food.

Walk into any chemist in Nigeria with a headache and you will be offered one of these two. They are not interchangeable. Paracetamol brings down fever and dulls pain but does nothing for inflammation. Ibuprofen is an NSAID — it attacks the inflammation itself, which is why it works better for a swollen ankle or an aching tooth.
The price difference is small; the safety difference is not. Paracetamol taken correctly is one of the safest medicines there is (the danger is overdose — many cold remedies already contain it, so doses add up quietly). Ibuprofen is harder on the stomach lining and the kidneys, and anyone with an ulcer, kidney trouble, or in the last three months of pregnancy should leave it alone.

## Side by side

| | Paracetamol | Ibuprofen |
|---|---|---|
| Works on inflammation | No | Yes — its main advantage |
| Stomach friendliness | Gentle; fine on an empty stomach | Can irritate; always take with food |
| Pregnancy | Considered safe at normal doses | Avoid, especially the last trimester |
| Main danger | Overdose — hidden in many cold/flu remedies | Ulcers, kidney strain with long use |
| Typical uses | Fever, headache, malaria-related aches | Sprains, toothache, period pain, arthritis |
| Drug class | Non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic | Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) |
| Typical price | ~₦725 online (tablets) (September 2026) | ~₦1,000 online (tablets) (September 2026) |
| NAFDAC registrations | 82 active Greenbook listings | 52 active Greenbook listings |
| Common brands | [Panadol Extra](https://ogbogwu.com/brands/panadol-extra/), [Calpol](https://ogbogwu.com/brands/calpol/) | [Brufen](https://ogbogwu.com/brands/brufen/), [Nurofen](https://ogbogwu.com/brands/nurofen/) |

## Reach for Paracetamol when…

- It's a fever or a simple headache
- You're pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have an ulcer, heartburn history, or kidney problems
- You're also taking a cold remedy (check it doesn't already contain paracetamol before adding more)

## Reach for Ibuprofen when…

- The pain comes with swelling — sprain, toothache, injury
- It's period pain (ibuprofen consistently beats paracetamol here)
- Arthritis or joint flare-ups
- You can take it with food and your stomach and kidneys are healthy

## Can I take paracetamol and ibuprofen together?

Yes — they work differently and can be combined or alternated for short periods when one alone isn't enough. Keep each within its own daily limit and don't run the combination for more than a few days without seeing a doctor or pharmacist.

## Which is better for malaria fever?

Paracetamol is the usual choice for the fever and body aches that come with malaria — it's gentler when you may also be dehydrated. It treats the symptoms only; you still need a proper ACT like artemether-lumefantrine to treat the malaria itself.

Full guides: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/paracetamol/ · https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/ibuprofen/
Source: https://ogbogwu.com/compare/paracetamol-vs-ibuprofen/ — educational comparison, not a prescription.