How does Tylenol/IBprofen work?

Question

What is the main ingredient found in these medicines and what does it do to our bodies to cause pains like head aches and muscle pain and such to go away or lessen the pain??

Answer 1

Tylenol is a popular American brand of drugs for relieving pain, reducing fever, and relieving the symptoms of allergies, cold, cough, flu., sold by Johnson & Johnson. The name is derived from N-aceTYL-p-aminophENOL (APAP). Its original, flagship product, acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol outside of North America), is marketed for headaches, fever, muscle and body pain, arthritis, and joint pain. It is available without prescription ("over the counter") and has few side effects. In addition to products related to allergies and cold, Tylenol also sells a stronger pain reliever containing codeine.

ibuprofen (ī'byūprō'fən) , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain, fever, and inflammation. Along with naproxen and ketoprofen, ibuprofen belongs to the propionic acid class of NSAIDs. It was first made available in 1967. Like other NSAIDs, it acts by inhibiting the body's production of prostaglandins. Available over the counter in a variety of preparations (e.g., Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), it is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and painful menstruation. Side effects include rash, alteration of platelet function and bleeding, and intestinal upset, which can lead to gastritis. Like other NSAIDS, it appears to have no potential for abuse or physical dependence. It should not be used by those who are allergic to aspirin.

Tylenol and Ibuprofen are both NSAID which is believed to work through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), thus inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. There are at least 2 variations of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), ibuprofen inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2. It appears that its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activity are achieved principally through COX-2 inhibition; whereas COX-1 inhibition is responsible for its unwanted effects on platelet aggregation and the GI mucosa.-

Answer 2

Tylenol --- The name is derived from N-aceTYL-p-aminophENOL.
The active substance of Tylenol, Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen has long been suspected of having a similar mechanism of action to aspirin because of the similarity in structure. That is, it has been assumed that Acetaminophen acts by reducing production of prostaglandins, which are involved in the pain and fever processes, by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme as aspirin does.

However, there are important differences between the effects of aspirin and those of Acetaminophen. Prostaglandins participate in the inflammatory response which is why aspirin has been known to trigger symptoms in asthmatics, but Acetaminophen has no appreciable anti-inflammatory action and hence does not have this side-effect. Furthermore, the COX enzyme also produces thromboxanes, which aid in blood clotting — aspirin reduces blood clotting, but Acetaminophen does not.
Acetaminophen indirectly blocks COX, and this blockade is ineffective in the presence of peroxides. This might explain why Acetaminophen is effective in the central nervous system and in endothelial cells but not in platelets and immune cells which have high levels of peroxides.

In 2002 it was reported that Acetaminophen selectively blocks a variant of the COX enzyme that was different from the then known variants COX-1 and COX-2. This enzyme, which is only expressed in the brain and the spinal cord, is now referred to as COX-3. Its exact mechanism of action is still poorly understood, but future research may provide further insight into how it works.

Ibuprofen --- Ibuprofen is an NSAID which is believed to work through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), thus inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. There are at least 2 variants of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2). Ibuprofen inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2. It appears that its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activity are achieved principally through COX-2 inhibition; whereas COX-1 inhibition is responsible for its unwanted effects on platelet aggregation and the GI mucosa.

Answer 3

Tylenol (acetaminophen, paracetamol) work by reducing prostaglandins, which are 'pain messengers. It also dilate blood vessels, which is how it reduces fever.
Ibuprofen is called an NSAID (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug). It inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1, -2), which also blocks prostaglandins. It reduces inflammation by reducing COX-2, and its analgesic and anti-pyretic effects are also through COX-2 inhibition. COX-1 inhibition is related to platelet aggregation and increased bleeding.

Answer 4

tylenol and ibuprofin each work in different ways to effect relief of pain.tylenol is an analgesic--it works in making the brain not recognise the pain. ibuprofin is an asnti-inflammatory medication--makes the inflammation that causes the pain to go away, therefore, the pain will go away.
tylenol is acetominaphen. ibuprofin is ibuprofin--the trade names for ibuprofin vary--motrin, advil,etc. naproxen(aleve, naprosyn) work in the same way as ibuprofin--aspirin also has the anti-inflammatory qualities.

i hope that this helps you. have fun. feel better if you are not well.....

Answer 5

the active ingredient in Tylenol is a compound called acetaminophen. It along with ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs called as nsaids(non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs). Some newer classifications however argue that acetaminophen has minimal anti inflammatory properties and hence shouldn't be labelled as a strict nsaid.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs, are drugs with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects - they reduce pain, fever and inflammation. The term "non-steroidal" is used to distinguish these drugs from steroids, which (amongst a broad range of other effects) have a similar eicosanoid-depressing, anti-inflammatory action. NSAIDS are unusual in that they are non-narcotic. NSAIDs are sometimes also referred to as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents/analgesics (NSAIAs). The most prominent members of this group of drugs are aspirin and ibuprofen.
Beginning in 1829, with the isolation of salicylic acid from the folk remedy willow bark, NSAIDs have become an important part of the pharmaceutical treatment of pain (at low doses) and inflammation (at higher doses). Part of the popularity of NSAIDs is that, unlike opioids, they do not produce sedation or respiratory depression and have a very low addiction rate. NSAIDs, however, are not without their own problems (see below). Certain NSAIDs, including ibuprofen and aspirin, have become accepted as relatively safe and are available over-the-counter without prescription.
Mode of action
Most NSAIDs act as non-selective inhibitors of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, inhibiting both the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) isoenzymes. Cyclooxygenase catalyses the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane from arachidonic acid (itself derived from the cellular phospholipid bilayer by phospholipase A2). Prostaglandins act (among other things) as messenger molecules in the process of inflammation. This mechanism of action was elucidated by John Vane, who later received a Nobel Prize for his work

Answer 6

its a pain reliver im not real sure how it works but i do know tht ibprofen works better for me i take 3 every six hours when im not feelin well or sore