NewsHealthParacetamolA pharmacist has shared his advice on which painkiller to take11:33, 07 Jul 2026Updated 12:05, 07 Jul 2026When you find yourself feeling unwell, or experiencing aches or pains, you might reach for some common painkillers - such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. But which you should take depends on a few things.‌Thankfully an expert has spoken exclusively to the Mirror about painkillers - and settled the debate once and for all on which is best to take. Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, previously explained which is more beneficial when it comes to paracetamol or ibuprofen, and debunked a common misconception many people hold about them. He said: "Paracetamol is probably more effective at bringing down temperature, so it's almost like a double-whammy, you get rid of your headache and bring your temperature down.‌"But if you feel that you have more body aches, that's your main symptom, then ibuprofen is probably slightly better as it's an anti-inflammatory." The expert also warned that people should be cautious when taking ibuprofen, as many are allergic to the class of drug it belongs to. You can find out more about who shouldn't take ibuprofen and other NSAIDs here‌However, he reveals that what most people don't realise is that you can actually take both medicines together when you're feeling particularly under the weather. He said: "If you feel that one isn't enough you can take ibuprofen as well as paracetamol, you can take them together. A lot of people don't know that it's not one or the other, you can put them together as they work in different ways."Article continues belowWhile paracetamol and ibuprofen can ease aches, pains and high temperatures, as well as mild cold and flu symptoms, Abbas notes they offer little relief for those struggling with coughs and nasal congestion.To tackle these particular symptoms, cold and flu remedies would be more appropriate. For example, a decongestant-based medicine would be most effective for a blocked nose, while an expectorant would be needed for a chesty cough and a cough suppressant for a dry, tickly cough.However, when using cold and flu medicines, always check the packaging and leaflet to confirm which other products can be safely combined, as while paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken together, they may not be compatible with other medications.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌ParacetamolFlu