Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTaking Advil With FoodHow to Take It SafelyPotential Gut-Related Side EffectsHow to Manage Side Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Taking Advil With Food
How to Take It Safely
Potential Gut-Related Side Effects
How to Manage Side Effects
Advil (ibuprofen) is a common over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain, inflammation, and fever.
Advil may irritate the gastric lining of the stomach acid due to the inhibition of prostaglandins that protect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract lining. However, for onetime, timely relief, taking it on an empty stomach should not be a problem at recommended doses.
When used in higher doses and for long periods, taking Advil with a meal may be better to prevent GI irritation. Whether you experience stomach upset while taking Advil may also depend on individual risk factors.
Do You Need to Take Advil With Food?
You do not need to take Advil with food when taking it in doses of up to 1,200 milligrams (mg) daily in three to four divided doses.
However, Advil can sometimes irritate the stomach lining when taken on an empty stomach, especially if taken in higher doses or for longer durations. If this occurs, you can take it with food or a glass of milk to prevent stomach upset.
Advil blocksprostaglandinsynthesis (the process of producing the pain-associated molecules prostaglandins) to decrease pain and inflammation. This may result in decreased mucus production, a protective lining in the GI tract that protects it from acids.Taking Advil with a light snack can help protect the stomach lining. However, the onset of the drug’s action may decrease when you take it after food.
The risk of gastric irritation with Advil can be increased with the following risk factors such as:
What Is the Safest Way to Take Advil?
A few precautionary measures can help decrease the adverse effects of Advil.
If possible, take ibuprofen in low doses (less than 1,200 mg daily in divided doses). This is milder for the GI tract and can be used longer. You can even take it on an empty stomach.
If you take Advil in higher doses for a long time, taking it with a stomach protectant such as aproton pump inhibitor (PPI)and H2 (histamine-2) receptor antagonist is an effective way to preventpeptic ulcers.
Testing forH. pylorican also help prevent ulcers in people with a history of peptic ulcer disease before starting low-dose NSAIDs. This test is not usually recommended for people without symptoms. However, it may be recommended for people with a previous ulcer history to start low-dose NSAIDs.
Is Advil or Tylenol Easier on the Stomach?Tylenol (acetaminophen)is generally a mild and safe painkiller. When used as directed, it is gentler on the stomach than Advil. It typically does not cause GI side effects. In fact, it is usually a medicine of choice for people who have certain stomach conditions or cannot take NSAIDs.
Is Advil or Tylenol Easier on the Stomach?
Tylenol (acetaminophen)is generally a mild and safe painkiller. When used as directed, it is gentler on the stomach than Advil. It typically does not cause GI side effects. In fact, it is usually a medicine of choice for people who have certain stomach conditions or cannot take NSAIDs.
Advil may cause side effects to the GI tract. The risk of these side effects is higher for people with a history of stomach ulcers or older adults. These side effects may include:
GI irritation is one of Advil’s most common side effects. It is associated with its mechanism of action. Advil blocks the synthesis of prostaglandins andCOX (cyclooxygenase) enzymes. The reduction in the mucosal levels of prostaglandins later damages the stomach and small intestine.
COX inhibition in the GI tract also inhibits the production of gastric mucus and bicarbonate. These reduce cell proliferation and promote adequate blood flow throughout the GI mucosa.
Severe GI Problems With AdvilNSAIDs like Advil can potentially cause severe GI complications, such as peptic ulcers, stomach or intestinal bleeding, or GI perforation. Tell your healthcare provider if you:Have ever had an ulcer, stomach or intestinal bleeding, or other GI issuesHave symptoms such as stomach pain, heartburn, blood in vomit or vomit with the appearance of coffee grounds, bloody stool, or black and tarry stools
Severe GI Problems With Advil
NSAIDs like Advil can potentially cause severe GI complications, such as peptic ulcers, stomach or intestinal bleeding, or GI perforation. Tell your healthcare provider if you:Have ever had an ulcer, stomach or intestinal bleeding, or other GI issuesHave symptoms such as stomach pain, heartburn, blood in vomit or vomit with the appearance of coffee grounds, bloody stool, or black and tarry stools
NSAIDs like Advil can potentially cause severe GI complications, such as peptic ulcers, stomach or intestinal bleeding, or GI perforation. Tell your healthcare provider if you:
Some precautions can be helpful to manage stomach side effects from Advil:
You should also avoid:
Advil’s side effects may go away as the body adjusts to the medicine. Call your healthcare provider if you experience constant pain and other symptoms.
Summary
In most cases, you can safely take Advil on an empty stomach within the recommended dosing amounts.
Always consult your healthcare provider if you have any severe symptoms.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Ibuprofen.Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging and Disease.2018;9(1):143. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306Moore RA, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Straube S.Effects of food on pharmacokinetics of immediate release oral formulations of aspirin, dipyrone, paracetamol and NSAIDs - a systematic review.Br J Clin Pharmacol.2015;80(3):381-388. doi:10.1111/bcp.12628Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Australian Prescriber.2017;40(3):91. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Sohail R, Mathew M, Patel KK, et al.Effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and gastroprotective NSAIDs on the gastrointestinal tract: a narrative review.Cureus. 2023;15(4):e37080.doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0039
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Ibuprofen.Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging and Disease.2018;9(1):143. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306Moore RA, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Straube S.Effects of food on pharmacokinetics of immediate release oral formulations of aspirin, dipyrone, paracetamol and NSAIDs - a systematic review.Br J Clin Pharmacol.2015;80(3):381-388. doi:10.1111/bcp.12628Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Australian Prescriber.2017;40(3):91. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Sohail R, Mathew M, Patel KK, et al.Effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and gastroprotective NSAIDs on the gastrointestinal tract: a narrative review.Cureus. 2023;15(4):e37080.doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0039
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Ibuprofen.Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging and Disease.2018;9(1):143. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306Moore RA, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Straube S.Effects of food on pharmacokinetics of immediate release oral formulations of aspirin, dipyrone, paracetamol and NSAIDs - a systematic review.Br J Clin Pharmacol.2015;80(3):381-388. doi:10.1111/bcp.12628Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Australian Prescriber.2017;40(3):91. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Sohail R, Mathew M, Patel KK, et al.Effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and gastroprotective NSAIDs on the gastrointestinal tract: a narrative review.Cureus. 2023;15(4):e37080.doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0039
MedlinePlus.Ibuprofen.
Wongrakpanich S, Wongrakpanich A, Melhado K, Rangaswami J.A comprehensive review of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in the elderly.Aging and Disease.2018;9(1):143. doi:10.14336/AD.2017.0306
Moore RA, Derry S, Wiffen PJ, Straube S.Effects of food on pharmacokinetics of immediate release oral formulations of aspirin, dipyrone, paracetamol and NSAIDs - a systematic review.Br J Clin Pharmacol.2015;80(3):381-388. doi:10.1111/bcp.12628
Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Australian Prescriber.2017;40(3):91. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037
Sohail R, Mathew M, Patel KK, et al.Effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and gastroprotective NSAIDs on the gastrointestinal tract: a narrative review.Cureus. 2023;15(4):e37080.doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0039
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