Nurofen ordered to stop claiming pills are more powerful than Panadol

The makers of Nurofen have been ordered to stop claiming its painkillers are more effective than Panadol.

Ads insisted ibuprofen is faster and better than paracetamol - but the claim was based on one scientific study which could not be replicated.

A Federal Court judge has told the company to stop making the assertion that Nurofen is superior.

Last year, the makers of Nurofen were ordered to pay a $6 million penalty over claims the drug can target specific pain.

The company was initially slapped with a $1.7 million fine, but the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission successfully appealed and the Federal Court increased the "inadequate" fine to $6 million.

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In 2016, ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said it was the highest corporate penalty awarded for misleading conduct under Australian consumer law.

The company believed the original punishment was appropriate and said while it didn't intend to mislead consumers, it recognised that more could have been done to "assist" them in navigating the product range.