Acetaminophen is an analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal inti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat mild pain, inflammation, and fever. Researchers do not know exactly how acetaminophen works. Ibuprofen blocks the enzyme that makes prostaglandins (chemicals released in the body that promote. Active ingredient in Tylenol vs Advil. The active ingredient in Advil is ibuprofen, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. On the other hand, the active ingredient in Tylenol is acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol), an analgesic and an antipyretic agent. The most common antipyretics in the United States are ibuprofen and aspirin, which are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used primarily as analgesics (pain relievers), but which also have antipyretic properties; and acetaminophen (paracetamol), an analgesic with weak anti-inflammatory properties. At the time of this report, 5 studies had been identified that compared alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen versus either acetaminophen or ibuprofen as single agents. 71, –, 75 Initially, changes in temperature were similar for all groups in these studies, regardless of therapy. However, 4 or more hours after the initiation of treatment, lower temperature was consistently observed in the. 1. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Jun;158(6):521-6. Efficacy and safety of acetaminophen vs ibuprofen for treating children's pain or fever: a meta-analysis. Antipyretic Efficacy and Safety of Ibuprofen Versus Acetaminophen Suspension in Febrile Children: Results of 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Single-Dose Studies. Jayawardena S(1), Kellstein D(1). Author information: To compare the antipyretic efficacy of ibuprofen, placebo, and acetaminophen. Double-dummy, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Efficacy and safety of acetaminophen vs ibuprofen for treating children's pain or fever a meta analysis objective to compare the antipyretic efficacy ibuprofen, placebo. They also compare side 19. Methods A prospective, randomized double-blind placebo control study comparing the efficacy of acetaminophen to acetaminophen alternated with ibuprofen in 38 healthy outpatient children 6 months to 6 years presenting to the outpatient clinic with fever 38°C was conducted.