Can You Mix Ibuprofen and Alcohol

The most popular substance that people use recreationally is alcohol. In fact, it’s quite common for people to partake in an alcoholic beverage when socializing with family and friends or after a long day at work. Prior to drinking alcohol though, it’s important that people are conscious of whether or not it’s safe to do so while under whatever medication that they are taking, as even mixing ibuprofen and alcohol can lead to health issues. If you are unable to stop the use of alcohol, it may be a good time to consider our inpatient rehab in Kokomo, Indiana.

What is Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, that people take to help relieve themselves of pain. Ibuprofen helps relieve people’s pain by blocking the prostaglandins in the body.

Prostaglandins are hormone-like lipids that the human body makes at sites of tissue damage or infection. As a result, prostaglandins often cause inflammation in the body while it is healing itself. Prostaglandins also help the body form blood clots to stop excessive blood loss and protect itself from infection where there is a cut or injury.

On top of helping the body repair damaged tissue and protect itself from infections, prostaglandins help the human body perform many of its natural physiological functions. For example, prostaglandins help the female body create uterine contractions so that the uterus can push out blood from the uterine lining when a woman is menstruating.

Prostaglandins also help the female body create contractions when it needs to give birth to a baby. Thus, in many ways, prostaglandins cause the body to feel pain. Because prostaglandins often cause the human body to experience pain and inflammation, taking ibuprofen to block prostaglandins in the body, helps relieve people of pain and inflammation.

What Does Ibuprofen Help Treat?

As previously mentioned, ibuprofen helps relieve people of pain and inflammation. The forms of pain and inflammation that people often take ibuprofen to help treat include:

• Fever
• Swelling
• Body and muscle stiffness
• Joint pain
• Body aches
• Menstrual cramp pain
• General bodily Inflammation
• Stiffness, pain, and inflammation due to arthritis
• Headaches and migraines

Common Ibuprofen Medications

People can receive prescription forms of ibuprofen from a doctor or purchase over-the-counter (OTC) forms of ibuprofen at their local pharmacy. Even when taking OTC forms of ibuprofen, one can take brand name or generic forms of the medication.

Common brand name forms of ibuprofen include:

• Advil
• Midol
• Motrin

Ways That People Take Ibuprofen

People usually take ibuprofen medication orally. There are certain types of ibuprofen though that people take through the rectum due to them being suppositories.

When taking ibuprofen orally, they usually come in the following forms:

• Tablets
• Chewable tablets
• Capsules
• Soluble powders
• Liquids

How to Take Ibuprofen?

When taking ibuprofen, follow the directions on the label of the bottle or box that the medication comes in. Most forms of ibuprofen suggest that only people of age 12 or older take the medication. Take note though that people over the age of 65 may have a stronger reaction to the medication and thus, may need to take a smaller dose. To avoid stomach issues, take ibuprofen with food.

When taking prescription forms of ibuprofen, follow the directions that the doctor who prescribed the medication gave. Just in case though, a special MedGuide should come with the ibuprofen prescription and every refill.

Do not share prescription ibuprofen medication with others. If an overdose of ibuprofen occurs, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Conditions to Be Aware of When Considering Taking Ibuprofen

It may be dangerous for people with certain health conditions to take ibuprofen. People who are dehydrated or have been vomiting recently should beware of taking ibuprofen.

If you suffer from the following conditions, ask a doctor if it’s safe to use ibuprofen before taking it:

• A bleeding disorder
• Diarrhea
• Heart disease or other heart issues
• A recent heart attack
• Heart failure
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Asthma
• Lung health issues
• Stomach bleeding or other stomach issues
• Stomach ulcers
• Intestinal issues
• A recent stroke

People who smoke tobacco cigarettes, receive steroids such as dexamethasone or prednisone, have received a coronary artery bypass graft within the past two weeks, or take blood thinning medication or any sort of medication that prevents blood clotting should also ask their doctors if it’s safe to take ibuprofen prior to doing so. The same goes for people who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, are breastfeeding, or who suffer from allergic reactions when taking ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen and Alcohol

While drinking a small amount of alcohol shouldn’t have any effect on someone who’s taking ibuprofen, people who’ve recently taken ibuprofen should be aware of their alcohol intake. This is because ibuprofen and alcohol typically don’t mix well together.

Risks of Taking Ibuprofen and Alcohol

Taking ibuprofen and alcohol can make the ibuprofen less effective while simultaneously making the negative side effects of both substances worse. Other risks of taking ibuprofen and alcohol include the following: