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Can I take Ibuprofen and drink alcohol?

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

One of the most popular and easy to buy non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for being over-the-counter is Ibuprofen, which has become part of the leading medications at home and works due to its high effectiveness, which is why it is also common. Consumption in any situation and without medical indication. However, it is essential to always consult a specialist before consuming it, as it can cause problems due to its prolonged intake.

Because Ibuprofen is used to alleviate numerous disorders and even be part of long-term treatment, sometimes doubts may arise about whether certain products or medications can be consumed at the same time and if this will not alter their effect or produce some secondary symptoms, being very common that many people question themselves if I can take Ibuprofen and drink alcohol. If you are one of them, we invite you to read the following FastlyHealarticle in which this topic is addressed with the best information.

What is Ibuprofen for?

Ibuprofen has analgesic, antipyretic, and antiinflammatory, i.e., it helps reduce mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation, which may take many conditions. This is why it is one of the most used drugs for its effectiveness in treating:

  • Headaches.
  • Dental
  • Muscle or joint pain
  • Menstrual discomfort
  • Treatment for pain after surgery.
  • Kidney stones
  • Soothe the symptoms of pain and inflammation of arthritis.
  • Pericarditis, among many others.

Being an analgesic, it is not uncommon for people after having drunk alcohol and having a hangover headache to want to reduce it by taking Ibuprofen, but this could give the opposite effect since the presence of even alcohol in the blood can alter the action of the medication and possibly worsen the symptoms of this condition, increasing nausea and gastric discomfort. For this reason, it is not recommended to drink alcohol and take Ibuprofen.

Can you take Ibuprofen and drink alcohol?

The first answer to this question is no. As with any other medicine, as a precaution, it is advisable not to mix alcoholic beverages with Ibuprofen. However, it is necessary to consider certain essential aspects that influence the risk of presenting or not presenting an adverse effect, which can sometimes be a severe consequence.

One of the primary considerations is that drinking alcohol when taking Ibuprofen can alter the effect of the drug, so it can be increased by increasing the risk of secondary symptoms or, on the contrary, reduce its action and lose its effectiveness. Against the condition for which it is being consumed, for example, if it is to relieve pain, it will not decrease.

Also, the amount of alcohol and Ibuprofen consumed is a relevant factor. There is often no risk of significant side effects if you drink minor or moderate alcohol when Ibuprofen is also taken in a small dose. While the probability of suffering severe complications is increased by:

  • Drink alcoholic beverages in high amounts with Ibuprofen in a small quantity.
  • Drinking alcohol in small amounts at the same time as taking high-dose Ibuprofen.

For this reason, in other words, if Ibuprofen is taken on certain occasions and alcohol is not drunk regularly, it does not usually represent a severe problem in the health of the person, but if this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory is taken as part of the treatment of a disease or in Important doses under the recommendation of a specialist, alcohol should not be ingested.

On the other hand, the person’s predisposition and how their metabolism works is another aspect to take into account when wanting to take Ibuprofen and drink alcohol. The rate of metabolism of alcohol in women is slower than that of men, so alcohol in the blood is present in a higher concentration for a longer time, and they are more likely to suffer side effects from drinking anti-inflammatory saying. Also, as you get older, your metabolism slows down, and both men and women are at risk of adverse symptoms from combining alcohol and Ibuprofen.

The organ in charge of metabolizing alcohol, as well as the Ibuprofen that is consumed, is the liver, which cannot process both substances at the same time and has to do it one after the other, causing the concentration of the one to be metabolized in seconds. The place is elevated in the blood and enhances its effect, which can also cause the metabolism of the first substance to slow down or speed up.

What are the effects of ingesting alcohol and Ibuprofen?

It is well known that consuming alcoholic beverages is not the most appropriate when taking any medication, and the case of Ibuprofen is no exception. Whether the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is taken a few hours in advance or after drinking alcohol, for example, to try to reduce a hangover, it is possible that adverse effects such as:

  • Confusion.
  • Lethargy.
  • Decreased reflexes and coordination.
  • Reduction of concentration.
  • Drowsiness.

On the other hand, if the combination of alcohol and Ibuprofen is chronic or if both or either of them is consumed in high amounts at the same time, you can develop:

  • Gastritis.
  • Digestive bleeding
  • Gastric perforations and tears.
  • Renal problems.
  • Cardiovascular impairment can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Can, I Take Ibuprofen and drink alcohol? We recommend that you enter our category of Medication and medical tests .

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