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Comparing Acetaminophen vs Diclofenac

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Acetaminophen Diclofenac
View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Acetaminophen Diclofenac
Prescription and OTC

Acetaminophen is an effective mild pain reliever with a low risk of side effects. It carries a risk of liver damage even at recommended dosages, but the risk is increased with higher dosages, a... View more

Prescription only

Diclofenac is an effective medicine for relieving pain but may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects compared with some other NSAIDs. Prescribed... View more

More about Acetaminophen More about Diclofenac
Ratings & Reviews

Acetaminophen has an average rating of 6.1 out of 10 from a total of 101 ratings on Drugs.com. 50% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 30% reported a negative effect.

Diclofenac has an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from a total of 690 ratings on Drugs.com. 69% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 20% reported a negative effect.

View all 101 reviews

View all 690 reviews

Drug Class
Side Effects

See also: acetaminophen side effects in more detail.

See also: diclofenac side effects in more detail.
Generic Availability

Lower cost generic

Lower cost generic
Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance
Quantity 100 each
Dosage 500 mg
Per Unit* $0.10
Cost* $10.40

View all acetaminophen prices

Quantity 10 delayed release tablet
Dosage sodium 75 mg
Per Unit* $1.41
Cost* $14.13

View all diclofenac prices

Get free Discount Card

Get free Discount Card

Dosage Forms Available
  • Intravenous solution
  • Oral capsule
  • Oral liquid
  • Oral suspension
  • Oral tablet
  • Oral tablet, chewable
  • Oral tablet, disintegrating
  • Oral tablet, extended release
  • Rectal suppository
  • Oral capsule
  • Oral delayed release tablet
  • Oral powder for reconstitution
  • Oral tablet
  • Oral tablet, extended release
Brand Names
7T Gummy ES Chewable Tablets, Abenol, Acephen, Actamin, Actimol Children's, Actimol Infant, Adprin B, Aldi Hedanol Paracetamol, Alpha First Aid Supplies Paracetamol, Alphapharm Paracetamol, Altenol, Alvedon, Amadol Paracetamol, Amcal Childrens Paracetamol 1-5 Years, Amcal Childrens Paracetamol 5-12 Years, Amcal Paracetamol Infant Drops 1 Month to 2 Years, Amcal Paracetamol Pain Relief, Amcal Paracetamol Tabsules, Aminofen, Anacin Aspirin Free, Anadin Paracetamol, API Healthcare Coloufree Childrens Paracetamol, API Healthcare Colourfree Childrens Paracetamol Double Strength, API Healthcare Paracetamol, Apra, Arthritis Pain Relief, Atasol, Atasol Forte, Aurophen, Bi-Lo Paracetamol, Biochemie Paracetamol, Blooms the Chemist Paracetamol, Bristol Pharma Paracetamol, Buckley's Complete, Bydol, Calpol Fastmelts, Calpol Infant, Calpol Paediatric, Calpol Six Plus, Capital Chemist Paracetamol, Cetafen, Cetafen Extra, Chem Mart Chemadol, Chem Mart Chemadol Children 1 to 5 Years, Chem Mart Chemadol Colourfree, Chem Mart Chemadol Colourfree Children 5-12 Years, Chem Mart Chemadol Colourfree Childrens 1-5 Years, Chemists Own Chiildrens Paracetamol 5-12 Years, Chemists Own Childrens Paracetamol 1-5 Years, Chemists Own Paracetamol, Chemists Own Paracetamol Capseals, Chemists Own Paracetamol Pain & Fever 1 Month to 2 Years, Chemists Own Paracetamol Pain & Fever 1 to 5 Years, Chemists Own Paracetamol Pain and Fever 5 to 12 Years, Chemplus Paracetamol, Chemworld Colourfree Childrens Paracetamol Double Strength 5-12 Years, Chemworld Colourfree Childrens Paracetamol Junior 1-5 Years, Chemworld Paracetamol, Chemworld Paracetamol Infant Colour Free, Children's ElixSure, Children's Silapap, Children's Tylenol, Childrens Panadol 1 - 5 Years, Childrens Panadol 1 - 5 Years Colourfree, Childrens Panadol 5 - 12 Years, Childrens Panadol 5 - 12 Years Colourfree, Cipla Genpharm Paracetamol, Claradol, Coles Paracetamol, Conacetol, Conney Aspirin-Free, ConRx Extra Strength, Country Chemists Paracetamol, Cuprofen for Children, Dafalgan, Dakota Paracetamol, DG Health Pain Reliever, Disprol Paracetamol, Disprol Soluble Paracetamol, Doliprane, Doliprane Adultes, Doliprane Sans Sucre, Dolitabs, Dolko, Dolko Enfants, Dolono, Dolono Infant, Dolotec, Duatrol SR, Dymadon, Ed-APAP, Efferalgan, Efferalgan Pediatrique, Efferalganodis, Elixsure Fever/Pain, Equaline Pain Relief, Expandox, Fawns & McAllan Paracetamol, Febridol, Febridol Clear Effervescent, Febridol Infant Drops, Febridol Syrup for Children, Febrol Solution, Fennings Childrens Cooling, Feverall, Flu Strength Hot Lemon Powders, Galpamol, Geluprane, Genapap, Genapap Extra Strength, Genebs, Gold Cross Paracetamol, Guardian Childrens Paracetamol, Guardian Childrens Paracetamol 5-12 Years, Guardian Paracetamol, Guardian Paracetamol Tabsules, Help I Have A Headache, Home Brand Paracetamol, HyVee Health 8 Hour Pain Relief, Infant's Tylenol, Infantaire Drops, Jr. Tylenol, Leader 8 Hour Pain Reliever, Lemsip Childrens Cold & Flu, Lemsip Cold and Flu Liquid Capsule, Lemsip Headcold, Lemsip Max, Lemsip Original, Lemsip Pharmacy Non-Decongestant Formula, M-Pap, Mapap, Mapap Arthritis Pain, Mapap Extra Strength Rapid Burst, Mapap Rapid Release Gelcaps, Mapap Rapid Tabs, Masophen, Midol Long Lasting Relief, Nortemp Children's, Orajel Maximum Strength Toothache, Panadol, Panadol ActiFast, Panadol Childrens, Panadol Colourfree Drops, Panadol Extend, Panadol Gel Caps, Panadol Gel Tabs, Panadol Jr, Panadol Mini Caps, Panadol Osteo, Panadol Rapid Handipak, Panadol Soluble, Panamax, Panamax 240, Panamol, Paracetamol, PediaCare Children's Acetaminophen Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Infants' Acetaminophen Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Smooth Melts Acetaminophen Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, Pharbetol, Silapap Childrens, Tactinal, Tempra Quicklets, Topcare 8 Hour Pain Relief, Topcare Arthritis Pain Relief, Triaminic Fever Reducer Pain Reliever, Triaminic Infant Drops, Tycolene, Tylenol, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol Childrens Paracetamol, Tylenol Cold Sore Throat, Tylenol Cool Caplet Extra Strength, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Regular Strength, Tylenol Sore Throat Daytime, Tylophen, UN-Aspirin Extra Strength, Valorin, Vicks Formula 44 Custom Care Body Aches, Vitapap, Zee Unaspirin ES View more Cambia, Cataflam, Lofena, Voltaren, Zipsor, Zorvolex
Half Life The half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value.

2.5 hours

1.8 hours
CSA Schedule ** View glossary of terms
N
Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
N
Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
Pregnancy Category
C
Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.
D
Category D Positive evidence of risk

See the full pregnancy warnings document.
Drug Interactions

A total of 129 drugs are known to interact with acetaminophen:

  • 8 major drug interactions (22 brand and generic names)
  • 85 moderate drug interactions (276 brand and generic names)
  • 36 minor drug interactions (162 brand and generic names)

A total of 426 drugs are known to interact with diclofenac:

  • 95 major drug interactions (401 brand and generic names)
  • 313 moderate drug interactions (1235 brand and generic names)
  • 18 minor drug interactions (87 brand and generic names)
Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions
  • Ask your doctor before using acetaminophen together with alcohol. This can cause serious side... View more
  • Ask your doctor before using diclofenac together with alcohol. Do not drink alcohol while taking... View more
Disease Interactions
First Approval Date

November 07, 1968

July 28, 1988
WADA Class View World Anti-Doping Agency classifications.

N/A

N/A
More Information
Patient resources
Professional Resources
Related Treatment Guide

** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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