Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are two of the most common over-the-counter pain relievers. Learn whether you can mix the two, as well as information about how they interact with other pain relievers.

"You can alternate," Leonard says, adding that Ibuprofen and Tylenol can also be used to get your fever and pain in check. You do not, however, want to take them at the same time, she advises.

Some people will take both an NSAID like Advil or Aleve and Tylenol together as it helps their pain relief more, Linder says. Others prefer to alternate Tylenol and an NSAID with each subsequent dose.

People often use the wrong painkiller or take too much too quickly, increasing the risk of side effects, say pharmacists. Here are safer and more effective ways to take drugs like Advil and Tylenol.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), on the other hand, works for closer to four to six hours. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is most effective for more mild pain that is not caused by inflammation, Dr. Peperzak said.

There’s acetaminophen, or Tylenol. There’s ibuprofen, which is used in products including Advil and Motrin. There’s aspirin, which, like ibuprofen, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ...

The pain relievers acetaminophen and ibuprofen are in several over-the-counter drugs. Some people even mistake the two. But they have specific purposes and can cause problems if you’re not careful.

You can alternate between acetaminophen and ibuprofen if one doesn’t sufficiently bring your fever down and you still have some time before you can take the next dose, Dr. Wrenn said.