Is Tylenol or ibuprofen better for a sprained ankle?

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for swelling.

Ibuprofen is the clear winner here because it is an anti-inflammatory. So, if you sprain an ankle or experience swelling, take ibuprofen.

What is the best pain reliever for a sprained ankle?

In most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — are enough to manage the pain of a sprained ankle.

Is Tylenol good for sprained ankle?

Pain related to most ankle sprains can often lessen within 2 weeks, and evidence shows that nonopioid treatments like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be more effective than opioids in managing pain.

Is ibuprofen or Tylenol better for injury?

As you may have guessed from the descriptions above, acetaminophen is best used for fever, aches and pains, but will not be very helpful if the pain is due to inflammation. Ibuprofen is more helpful for these symptoms when inflammation is the cause.

Does ibuprofen reduce ankle swelling?

The results showed that ibuprofen had no effect on the ankle swelling. The need for additional analgesics was not influenced by treatment with ibuprofen, which means that ibuprofen has no effect on pain.

5 Things They Don't Tell You About Ankle Sprains-Don't Delay Healing.

Should you take ibuprofen after spraining ankle?

You shouldn't take ibuprofen for 48 hours after your injury as it may slow down healing.

What helps a sprained ankle heal faster?

RICE. The acronym RICE stands for: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Doctors often recommend these tactics to reduce swelling and inflammation in the days after an injury. Resting the ankle is key for healing, and wearing a brace can help stabilize the injured area.

Why do hospitals use Tylenol instead of ibuprofen?

Hospitals prefer acetaminophen -- the active ingredient in Tylenol -- because it has fewer side effects than aspirin. And they prefer Tylenol, says Consumer Reports in its June issue, because of the king-size discount the company offers hospitals.

Does Tylenol help swelling?

The bottom line. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an anti-inflammatory or NSAID. It relieves minor aches and pains, but doesn't reduce swelling or inflammation. Compared to NSAIDs, Tylenol is less likely to increase blood pressure or cause stomach bleeding.

Should I take anti-inflammatory for sprained ankle?

Most doctors recommend anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen (brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), naproxen (brand name: Aleve), or ketoprofen (brand name: Orudis KT). You can also take acetaminophen for pain (brand names: Tylenol, Datril, Panadol), although this medicine is not an anti-inflammatory.

Does ibuprofen reduce swelling?

Unlike acetaminophen, ibuprofen acts as an anti-inflammatory drug, which means it reduces inflammation and swelling.

Should I take Tylenol for sprains?

Patients with Grade 1 or 2 sprains and strains can benefit from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), which can help reduce inflammation at the injury site while offering pain relief. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also provide pain relief.

Does ibuprofen heal sprains?

Avoid Ibuprofen When Healing From a Sprain

Some recent studies have suggested that NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) might stop the body's natural response, which is to increase the flow of blood to the area to promote healing.

Will ibuprofen gel help a sprained ankle?

A pharmacist can help with sprains and strains

They might suggest tablets, or a cream or gel you rub on the skin. At first, try painkillers like paracetamol to ease the pain and ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray to bring down swelling. If needed, you can take ibuprofen tablets, capsules or syrup that you swallow.

Can I take Tylenol and ibuprofen together?

You can take ibuprofen and acetaminophen at the same time. Just make sure to not take more than the recommended dose. Some people experience some stomach or abdominal pain when taking the two medications together. In this case, it's better to alternate when you take each medication.

Is Advil or Tylenol better for inflammation?

Advil reduces inflammation, which reduces pain. It works best on pain caused by inflammation, such as pain from RA. Tylenol works to lower your body's pain threshold. It works best for pain that is not specifically from inflammation, such as pain from osteoarthritis.

Does Tylenol slow down recovery?

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A review of past research finds that fever-reducing drugs have no effect on the speed of children's recovery from an infection, contrary to the fears of some doctors and parents.

Is ibuprofen the best anti-inflammatory?

Acetaminophen only relieves the pain and doesn't reduce your levels of prostaglandins. “In general, pain that is associated with inflammation, like swelling or acute injury, is better treated with ibuprofen or naproxen,” says Matthew Sutton, MD, a Family Medicine physician at The Iowa Clinic's West Des Moines campus.

Why do doctors say Tylenol over ibuprofen?

Tylenol controls pain and fever but does not control inflammation so for conditions such as muscle sprains and cramps, Advil will be more effective. One review showed that acetaminophen had little benefit in the management of osteoarthritis.

What can I take instead of ibuprofen for inflammation?

Acetaminophen or aspirin

Unlike ibuprofen, over-the-counter acetaminophen has not been linked to heart problems. Nagda recommends it to some of her patients—especially elderly ones—who aren't good candidates for anti-inflammatory medicines.

Should you elevate a sprained ankle while sleeping?

Healthguidance.org recommends how to sleep with a sprained ankle is by elevating it slightly to drain fluids and prevent unnecessary swelling, so place a pillow or some blankets under the offending ankle while you sleep. Also apply some ice before going to bed to reduce inflammation.

Should I wrap a sprained ankle overnight?

Most experts recommend that you only wrap your ankle during the day for support and protection, while you continue to ice, elevate and rest the injury. While some people feel a sense of comfort from a compression wrap at night—unless it provides pain relief, you shouldn't have your ankle wrapped while you sleep.

Can a sprained ankle heal in 2 days?

After 2 to 3 days

protocol, a mild sprain will be mostly healed and ready for you to resume normal activity. A moderate or severe sprain may require you to keep up these treatment steps for longer—up to several weeks.

Why does ibuprofen slow down healing?

NSAIDs can slow healing

Ironically this is because these drugs do exactly what they are advertised to do: block inflammation. The problem is that inflammation is part of the necessary steps in healing: a normal, necessary, and useful response.

Does ibuprofen slow muscle healing?

In the case of muscle injury, the evidence suggests that NSAID use can significantly delay muscle regeneration and decrease muscle strength and size after repair. This seems to be an inevitable consequence of the fact that the inflammatory response to injury is a necessary phase of soft tissue healing.