Compare treatments
Two treatments for the same problem, side by side: how they work, how quickly, and who each one suits.
- Sildenafil vs TadalafilBoth treat erectile dysfunction by relaxing blood vessel walls. Sildenafil works in 30 to 60 minutes and lasts 4 to 6 hours; tadalafil takes a little longer to start but lasts up to 36 hours, which is why it is nicknamed "the weekend pill".
- Cetirizine vs LoratadineBoth are once-daily, non-drowsy antihistamines for hay fever and allergies. Cetirizine acts faster and is marginally more sedating for some people; loratadine is the more strictly non-drowsy of the two for most.
- Ibuprofen vs ParacetamolDifferent drug classes. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory (an NSAID), so it is the better choice for pain with swelling, such as sprains, period pain and toothache. Paracetamol does not reduce inflammation but is gentler on the stomach and safe alongside most other medicines.
- Naproxen vs IbuprofenBoth are NSAIDs, so they treat pain and inflammation the same way. Naproxen lasts longer, which suits period pain and a flare that runs all day on two doses; ibuprofen clears the body faster, which makes it easier to use occasionally and to stop.
- Co-codamol vs IbuprofenCo-codamol is paracetamol with a low dose of codeine, an opioid, so it works on how pain is perceived. Ibuprofen works on the inflammation causing it. For a swollen ankle or period pain, ibuprofen usually makes more sense; co-codamol is for short-term pain that paracetamol alone is not touching.
- Fluconazole capsule vs Clotrimazole pessaryThe same job by two routes. Fluconazole is one capsule swallowed, which is simpler but reaches the whole body; the clotrimazole pessary treats only where it is inserted, which is why it is the option used in pregnancy.
- ellaOne vs LevonorgestrelBoth are emergency contraception, and both work better the sooner they are taken. Levonorgestrel can be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sex; ellaOne up to 120 hours, and it stays effective closer to ovulation, when levonorgestrel is at its weakest.
- Hydrocortisone cream vs EumovateTwo steroid creams a step apart in strength. Hydrocortisone 1% is mild and the usual starting point, including on the face and in thin-skinned areas. Eumovate is moderately potent, for a flare that mild treatment has not settled, and is used on the body rather than the face.
- Esomeprazole vs Gaviscon AdvanceDifferent jobs. Gaviscon works in minutes, forming a raft that keeps acid down, so it suits heartburn you already have. Esomeprazole reduces how much acid the stomach makes and takes a few days to build up, so it suits heartburn that keeps coming back.
- Laxido vs LactuloseBoth are osmotic laxatives that soften stools by holding water in the bowel. Macrogol (Laxido) generally works faster and is the option guidelines reach for first, including for a hard, impacted stool; lactulose is a liquid some people find easier to take, but it ferments in the gut, so wind and bloating are common.
- Hyoscine (Kwells) vs Cinnarizine (Stugeron)Both prevent travel sickness and both need taking before you travel. Hyoscine (Kwells) acts fastest, within about 30 minutes, but lasts only a few hours and is the more likely to cause a dry mouth and blurred vision. Cinnarizine takes two hours to get going and covers a long journey on one dose.
- Diphenhydramine (Nytol) vs Promethazine (Phenergan)Both are sedating antihistamines used for short-term sleep problems. Diphenhydramine is the shorter acting of the two and is taken 20 minutes before bed; promethazine lasts longer, which helps if you wake in the night but is also why some people feel groggy the next morning.
- Differin gel vs Differin creamSame active ingredient, adapalene 0.1%, in a different base. The gel suits oilier skin and tends to feel lighter; the cream is more hydrating and generally better tolerated on dry or sensitive skin.