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Antipyretic efficacy of ibuprofen vs acetaminophen
R E Kauffman1, L A Sawyer, M L Scheinbaum
1Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
Insights
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen effectively reduce fever in children compared to placebo. Ibuprofen demonstrated superior fever reduction and duration of action over acetaminophen.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fever is a common symptom in children, often managed with antipyretic medications.
- Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are widely used antipyretics, but direct efficacy comparisons are valuable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the antipyretic efficacy of ibuprofen and acetaminophen against a placebo in children.
- To evaluate the safety profile of both medications.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
- 37 febrile children (aged 2-12 years) received either ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or placebo.
- Temperature was monitored for 8 hours, with adverse effects tracked for 24 hours.
Main Results:
- Both ibuprofen and acetaminophen significantly reduced fever compared to placebo.
- Ibuprofen showed a greater reduction in temperature and a longer duration of antipyresis than acetaminophen.
- No adverse effects were reported in any treatment group.
Conclusions:
- Ibuprofen is a potent and safe antipyretic agent for children.
- It serves as a viable alternative for children who do not respond adequately to acetaminophen.
Objective:
To compare the antipyretic efficacy of ibuprofen, placebo, and acetaminophen.
Design:
Double-dummy, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Setting:
Emergency department and inpatient units of a large, metropolitan, university-based, children's hospital in Michigan.
Participants:
37 otherwise healthy children aged 2 to 12 years with acute, intercurrent, febrile illness.
Interventions:
Each child was randomly assigned to receive a single dose of acetaminophen (10 mg/kg), ibuprofen (7.5 or 10 mg/kg), or placebo.
Measurements/Main Results:
Oral temperature was measured before dosing, 30 minutes after dosing, and hourly thereafter for 8 hours after the dose. Patients were monitored for adverse effects during the study and 24 hours after administration of the assigned drug. All three active treatments produced significant antipyresis compared with placebo. Ibuprofen provided greater temperature decrement and longer duration of antipyresis than acetaminophen when the two drugs were administered in approximately equal doses. No adverse effects were observed in any treatment group.
Conclusion:
Ibuprofen is a potent antipyretic agent and is a safe alternative for the selected febrile child who may benefit from antipyretic medication but who either cannot take or does not achieve satisfactory antipyresis with acetaminophen.