Het Pijnstillersparadijs: Europese Zelfbeheersing vs. Amerikaanse Pillenfeest

Yes, it's a thing. The idea behind it is that you don't want to become dependent on the pills to the point that they have less effect or that you feel worse without them. Sincerely, a Dutch non-techno non-DJ.

Also it can cause or amplify a lot of stomach issues
- Regular use also fucks up your organs. Paracetamol (Tylenol) kills your liver, and ibuprofen kills your kidneys.
  
  What about acetaminophen?
  
  acetaminophen = paracetamol = Tylenol
  
  One compound*, different names.
  
  ...Pedantic edit ten days later that nobody will even read:
  
  *plus fillers and binding agents which can vary substantially between manufacturers for many medications, but not the active ingredient(s)
  
  Acetaminophen and paracetamol are the same thing.
  
  Others have answered, but I'll say it anyway.
  
  The name paracetamol is used in most of the world, and by the WHO. Acetaminophen is the adopted name in the United States, Canada, and Japan. US pharmacies also use APAP. The most common trade names are Tylenol and Panadol. They all refer to the same stuff.
  
  Thanks, I did not know that
Also often the pain is telling you that something is wrong - you wouldn't treat a broken ankle with strong painkillers and continue walking as if nothing was wrong just because it doesn't hurt anymore - would you?

Painkillers should make the pain bearable so you can still listen to your body and not take away the pain completely
- you wouldn’t treat a broken ankle with strong painkillers and continue walking as if nothing was wrong just because it doesn’t hurt anymore - would you?
  
  Of course not! We limp around trying to keep it from hurting, praying to any deity that will listen and some that won't that it heals before you have to pay for a visit to urgent care.
  
  The pills are just to help us go to work while we mentally figure out how many meals we will be skipping to pay for it.
  
  Now ask me if I'm joking.
- Depends, how much is getting it seen going to cost me? And can I do my job with crutches I bought at the pharmacy? Cause if I miss a day I'll get fired and the hospital will put me in jail if I don't pay my bills.
  
  America is a shit hole country.
- yes, but if i know i broke my finger, and it has a cast around it, why should it keep hurting???
  
  back in the ooga booga days there weren't any casts, so it's pretty logical that it shouldn't keep hurting, but if I already know i broke my finger and can't move it, I think it's okay to use pain killers to stop the pain.
I have never heard of this in the context of ibuprofen. I know it’s bad on the stomach which means you shouldn’t take it for long periods of time (unless prescribed by a doctor). However, when the source of the pain disappears it’s pretty easy to kick the habit. Very different from opioids that are addictive beyond their painkilling ability.

Also between European countries the price of otc painkillers differs tremendously, and my impression is that European pharmacies generally only sell small packages in an effort to maximise profits.
- that very much depends on your country. here in the Netherlands every supermarket/pharmacy sells them, and they usually have them at school/office administration desks for free.
  
  in France however, paracetamol isn't even otc 😭😭
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medication_overuse_headache?wprov=sfla1
  
  You can absolutely become addicted to all kinds of painkillers. Thats part of the reason why i write down every dose of painkillers i take. Not just the triptanes for my migraine.
- The size has more to do with limiting use.
  
  How exactly do small packages limit use? There is no limit to the amount of packages you can buy. However, those small packages are severely overpriced. I think it’s safe to say that profit considerations played a role in their design.
  
  Nobody buys 3 packages at once. If someone does that it raises some alarms. And they come in blisters, not as candy, so your first way of taking them is one by one.
  
  I do! I usually buy an annual supply in the Netherlands because it is much cheaper than in other European countries. No alarms were ever raised (obviously since otc pharmacies are entirely anonymous). Again, the price difference between countries gives a strong indication of the profit motive involved.
  
  The argument about blisters sounds ridiculous. Do you really believe you will stop an addict from his addiction because he has to push a bit harder.
You can’t become dependent on ibuprofen, it’s not addictive. You shouldn’t be popping it like candy, but taking it when you are in pain is perfectly fine.
- You can reduce their effectiveness though.
  
  Do you have a source for that?
  
  Still, the vast majority of people taking NSAIDs in the recommended doses who have appropriate monitoring (such as the occasional blood test) have no major problems with them.
  
  Source
  
  Not in humans, but an indicator anyhow: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4341275/
  
  My doctor, but there's a bunch of studies where they injected rats too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medication_overuse_headache?wprov=sfla1

You can absolutely become addicted to all kinds of painkillers. Thats part of the reason why i write down every dose of painkillers i take. Not just the triptanes for my migraine.
I don't think that actually happens.
Do people develop a dependency on ibuprofen? I didn't know that was possible.

Then again, I don't see why it wouldn't be.

To be fair we also have it much easier with our healthcare that doesn't know the concept of sick-days. When you're sick you just don't go to work and your healthcare pays half your salary while your employer continues paying the other half.

So we can actually afford to stay home in bed and let our bodies do the work while we rest.

Screw your sick days! I'm gonna work myself into oblivion to be able to buy my big-ass coal-roller truck on credit and fill up my garage to the brim with crap that I'll let someone else move when I die from a cheese and Ibuprofen overdose. 'Murica!!!!!

I'm Dutch and I only take paracetamol when I cannot sleep or function due to pain/illness. I've never taken something stronger like Ibuprofen in my life. When I'm ill I usually just lie in bed and wait for it to blow over

Is acetaminophen really considered to be less strong than ibuprofen? I’d always considered them to be equal with ibuprofen being safer.
- Yep here in Dutchland many people think paracetamol is a safer version of aspirine. They don’t know paracetamol can get dangerous very quickly. Dutch hospitals often get patients into the ER with a possible paracetamol overdose.
  
  Here is a toxicologist working in a Dutch hospital saying that https://youtu.be/P_Zt-xw7bME (has English subs)
- In the Netherlands, yes. Ibuprofen is considered "stronger" or at least more serious. Most of that is because the general consensus seems to be to take 2 paracetamol (1000mg) and if it doesn't help, add 400mg of ibuprofen on top.
  
  So, everyone sees it as "stronger" instead of complementary
- In my Dutch social circle it is indeed, but don't ask me why. Personally I dislike Ibuprofen, it always makes me feel queasy and upsets my stomach.
  
  Always take it with food.
- Reading the other comments, this seems to be more of a cultural thing than something based on facts. Ibuprofen seems to be taken in more serious situations. Personally I've never had it so I'm not sure. Paracetamol is more of a casual thing here. Many people, like me, would only take it when very ill. But I've definitely had a few classmates or colleagues who just take paracetamol whenever they have a slight headache or something.
  
  Ibuprofen is also anti-inflammatory while paracetamol isn't, so it can be used to reduce swelling (eg) rather than just for pain reduction
You're the second person I've seen saying that ibuprofen is stronger than paracetamol. Where does that come from?

It is slightly stronger, but the dose is smaller. A single dose of router either is roughy the same pain reduction, and similar damage for exceeding their recommended usage
- Not sure. I've never used it but it always seems to be used as such, so I just assumed that was the case
  
  It can be prescribed in much higher dosages, unlike paracetamol, but the regular over the counter stuff is the same.
  
  200 ibuprofen = 250 paracetamol
  Extra strength just doubles both
  But prescription for ibuprofen can go up a bit from that. Never seen a higher prescription for paracetamol.

Yeah, in the UK they reduced the amount you can buy at once too, so drugs like paracetamol and ibuprofen only come in 16 tablet packs and you can only buy 2 packs at a shop., It's helped lower suicides quite well.

People here have a real aversion to taking tablets a lot of the time. I have to convince people to take regular paracetamol (which is non addictive and doesn't have side effects so long as you don't take more than the recommended amount) after they have had surgery semi-regularly.

Suicide by by paracetamol is such a fucking horrible way to go, mostly since it doesn't kill you, it just completely destroys your liver.

Just enough time to regret it, before you die slowly and in great pain
- Much faster drinking distilled water.
That's... Ugh. That's the worst way to go. You have an entire week of pain to regret your decision while doctors can do nothing to help you.

Ibuprofen is pretty fucking strong. I stick with CBD and paracetamol and I’m bedridden with a painful disease.

Yeah I just stick to hot railing fentanyl if I have a headache or something. Much less addictive.
- Idk if you’re just saying this out of the blue or comparing what I’m saying to that.
  
  But NSAID’s like ibuprofen are quite strong and have lots of side effects. Regular usage can have quite some negative impacts on health. In comparison CBD oil is pretty gentle.
Ibuprofen and paracetamol are roughly the same in theme of pain relief and harm in long-term use.
- UK National Health Service Website:
  
  FAQ: Can I take [X] for long periods?
  
  [paracetamol]
  
  It's safe to take paracetamol regularly for many years as long as you do not take more than the recommended dose.
  
  [ibuprofen]
  
  If you still need ibuprofen after taking it for 10 days (or for 3 days if you're under 18) check with your doctor before continuing. If you need to take ibuprofen tablets, capsules, granules or liquid for a long time and you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach.
  
  It seems like you've mistaken what "strong" means.
  
  But I shouldn't have said "long term". The dangers of each are different.
  Ibuprofen is relatively safe to go a bit over the recommended dose, but not over the recommended duration.
  Paracetamol is relatively safe to go over the recommended duration, but not the recommended dose.
- Paracetamol for me is better for headache and ibuprofen is better for muscular pain.
  
  Low doses of ibuprofen are better as an anti-inflammatory, and higher doses are better for pain relief, from what I've learned online (I'm not a doctor).
  I imagine the muscle pain you were dealing with was due to inflammation from overexertion or something?

Yes, it's real. Just another case of "the European mind cannot comprehend".

I just don't think it's a good idea to take pills without asking a doctor, I'm not a medical professional

yes. Pain killers (if you take way too many) can be incredibly bad for your liver, and (while almost impossible with paracetamol and ibuprofen) you can become 'immune' to them, making them work less/not at all.

In the UK you're limited to 32 pills of paracetamol(acetaminophen in NA) per purchase. Less if they're high dose.

Yeah I got sick of buying the little packets and just ended up buying a bottle of 500 from the US. Pain in the fucking ass

Ibuprofen is famous for making men less fertil and it can cause sterility to the unborn baby when took by pregnant women. Paracetamol on the other hand is very bad for the liver. Better took these two very carefully.