Can I take ibuprofen with other medicines?
It's important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're already taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start taking ibuprofen. Similarly, check with your pharmacist before taking any new medicines with ibuprofen, to make sure that the combination is safe. Some key points are:
Can you take ibuprofen with other painkillers?
It's fine to take ibuprofen with paracetamol. You can also take ibuprofen alongside opioid-type painkillers such as codeine, co-codamol, tramadol or morphine.
However, don't take ibuprofen with the following painkillers, because this will make you more likely to get side effects on your stomach and intestines:
painkilling doses of aspirin
other anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) like naproxen or diclofenac
selective inhibitors of COX-2 such as celecoxib or etoricoxib.
Avoid taking plain ibuprofen with combination products that contain ibuprofen, for example cold and flu remedies and over-the-counter painkillers. Be sure to check the ingredients of other medicines before taking them with ibuprofen, or ask your pharmacist for advice.
It's best to check with your pharmacist if you want to use an anti-inflammatory gel (such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen or piroxicam) alongside ibuprofen taken by mouth, because this may not be safe for everyone.
Can I take ibuprofen if I'm already taking other medicines?
If you're already taking any medicines, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, you should always get advice from your pharmacist before taking ibuprofen, to make sure the combination is safe.
You're more at risk of ulceration or bleeding in your gut if you take ibuprofen with corticosteroids such as prednisolone. There may also be an increased risk of bleeding in the gut if you take ibuprofen with other medicines that can increase the risk of bleeding, such as those below. If you are taking one of these you shouldn't take ibuprofen unless advised to by your doctor:
anti-blood-clotting (anticoagulant) medicines such as warfarin, dabigatran, apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, heparin and low molecular weight heparins such as enoxaparin
antiplatelet medicines to reduce the risk of blood clots or 'thin the blood', eg dipyridamole, clopidogrel, prasugrel, low-dose aspirin
erlotinib
ginko biloba (a herbal remedy)
iloprost
SSRI antidepressants, eg fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram
venlafaxine.
If you're taking alendronic acid it's best to avoid taking ibuprofen unless it's been recommended by your doctor, because ibuprofen may increase the risk of irritation to the foodpipe, stomach or intestines.
You may be more at risk of getting side effects on your kidneys if you take ibuprofen with any of the following medicines:
ACE inhibitors, eg enalapril, captopril
ciclosporin
diuretics, eg furosemide
tacrolimus.
Ibuprofen may increase the blood levels and risk of side effects of the following medicines. If you're taking ibuprofen with any of these your doctor may want to monitor you more closely:
digoxin
lithium
methotrexate.
Ibuprofen may oppose the blood pressure lowering effects of certain medicines to treat high blood pressure, such as:
calcium-channel blockers such as amlodipine
ACE inhibitors such as captopril
beta-blockers such as atenolol.
Taking ibuprofen with quinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin, may carry an increased risk of seizures (fits), particularly in people with epilepsy.
More information about ibuprofen
Last updated: 22.03.2019
('You Might Also Like',)
