Canfora Medicine Guide
Clear answers about everyday medicines
Can you take two painkillers together? Split a tablet? Use one past its expiry date? Plain-language guides with doses, tables and the sources behind them, so you know what to do and when to ask a professional.
Popular questions
Start with a guide
Each guide explains the essentials and links to in-depth articles that answer one specific question.
Pain reliefParacetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin and diclofenac comparedOpen the guide 
Combining medicinesInteractions, duplicate ingredients and alcoholOpen the guide 
Taking medicinesSplitting tablets, missed doses, expiry and storageOpen the guide 
Surgery & proceduresWhat to stop, take and ask around an operationOpen the guide 
Stomach & gutAntacids, acid reducers, laxatives, anti-diarrhoealsOpen the guide 
Skin treatmentsSteroid creams, retinoids, wound care and moreOpen the guide 
Diabetes careGlucose meters, diabetes tablets and GLP-1 pensOpen the guide 
Clinical notesPractical reference for nurses and pharmacistsOpen the guide 
Vitamins & supplementsVitamin D, K2, CoQ10, omega-3 – what is worth itOpen the guide Questions readers ask most
The articles people search for most often, from pain relief to clinical reference notes.
- Can I Take Nurofen and Panadol Together?Doses, spacing and who should skip the ibuprofen.
- How to Buffer Lidocaine with Sodium BicarbonateThe 10:1 ratio, preparation and stability.
- Which Ibuprofen Is Easiest on the Stomach?Why coatings don't help, and what does.
- What Colour Tube for a Depakote (Valproate) Level?Tubes and timing for valproate and other levels.
- Panadol vs Nurofen: What Is the Difference?How they work and which suits which pain.
- How Far Apart Should You Take Nurofen and Panadol?A sample schedule and daily limits.
- Can You Take Nurofen and Voltaren Together?Why two anti-inflammatories don't mix.
- Does Gaviscon Affect an H. pylori Test?What to stop before a breath or stool test.
- Levothyroxine PO to IV Dose ConversionThe 50–75% rule with a conversion table.
- Can Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) Be Cut in Half?Immediate vs extended release, and the 5 mg option.
Built to be checked
Health information is only useful if you can trust it, so every article follows the same rules.
The answer comes first
Each article opens with a short answer, then gives the detail: doses, named products, tables and exceptions.
Sources you can open
We rely on product information, national health services, regulators and guidelines, and list them at the end of every article.
Safety and update dates
Warning signs and “see a doctor” advice are part of every article, and each one shows when it was last updated.
Most medicine mix-ups are avoidable
The most common problems aren’t rare interactions. They’re the same ingredient taken twice, two anti-inflammatories at once, or a sedating medicine added to another. A minute with the label prevents most of them.
Check before you take
- Read the active ingredients, not the brand: cold and flu products often contain paracetamol.
- One anti-inflammatory at a time: ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and aspirin don’t mix.
- Drowsy + drowsy = risky: opioids, sleeping tablets, some antihistamines and alcohol add up.
- Tell your pharmacist about every medicine and supplement you take.
Frequently asked questions
Is farmaciacanfora.com a pharmacy?
No. Despite the name, we don’t sell or dispense medicines, issue prescriptions or offer consultations. Canfora Medicine Guide is an information site. See About Canfora.
Who writes the articles?
The guide is written and maintained by Dr. Ema Hudson. Every article lists its sources and the date it was last updated; our editorial policy explains the process.
Can I ask a question about my own medicines?
We can’t give personal medical advice. Your pharmacist is the quickest expert to ask about combining or taking medicines, and your doctor for anything about your condition. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Are the guides for health professionals too?
Most guides are written for the public. The clinical pharmacy notes are practical references for nurses, pharmacists and students; local protocols always take precedence.