Medications containingibuprofenare associated with some potentially serious side effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and liver problems. The risk may be further increased if you mix ibuprofen and alcohol.
This article discusses the side effects associated with mixing ibuprofen and alcohol. It also covers other drug interactions associated with ibuprofen and alcohol.
Ibuprofen is sold over the counter under the generic name ibuprofen. It is also available in brand-name products, some of which require a prescription. Examples include:AddaprinAdvilCedaprinI-PrinMidolMotrinNeoProfenProfen IBProprinalUltraprin
Ibuprofen is sold over the counter under the generic name ibuprofen. It is also available in brand-name products, some of which require a prescription. Examples include:
Sally Anscombe / Getty Images
The Difference Between Motrin and Advil
Risks of Mixing Ibuprofen and Alcohol
Individuals who might otherwise tolerate ibuprofen may experience side effects or complications if alcohol is also consumed. When ibuprofen and alcohol are mixed, alcohol may worsen or increase the risk of:
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Ibuprofen can irritate the digestive tract. Especially when overused, ibuprofen is associated with the risk ofpeptic ulcer disease, which describes when acid from the digestive tract eats away at the stomach and/or part of the small intestine. This can lead to GI bleeding or perforation, which is when a hole forms in the stomach or intestines.
There is evidence that alcohol can increase the risk and/or severity of GI bleeding in ibuprofen users. According to a 2016 review of studies, alcohol potentiates the risk of GI bleeding—most especially upper GI bleeding—in users of ibuprofen and othernonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Symptoms of severe GI bleeding include:
People over 60 who take high doses of ibuprofen or have taken ibuprofen over a long period of time are especially vulnerable. The use ofblood thinnersorsteroidsfurther increases the risk.
Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Liver Injury
Ibuprofen is associated with the development offatty liver disease. The drug directly impairsmitochondria(the “powerhouses” of a cell) and makes cells less able to regulate the metabolism of lipids, or fats, in the blood. Alcohol, a major contributor to fatty liver disease, not only adds to this effect but may increase the risk ofcirrhosis, or extensive liver scarring, over time.
Symptoms of drug-induced liver injury can include:
Kidney Damage
Signs and symptoms of AKI include:
Mixing ibuprofen and alcohol increases the risk of nephrosclerosis and a condition called acute tubular necrosis, where the tiny ducts within the kidneys begin to collapse due to tissue death.
The risk of ibuprofen-induced kidney injury is highest in:Older individualsPeople with preexisting kidney diseaseExtreme athletes who are prone to kidney impairment due to therapid breakdown of muscle tissues
The risk of ibuprofen-induced kidney injury is highest in:
Other Drug Interactions
There are drug interactions associated with ibuprofen and alcohol, some of which overlap and affect both drugs. Taking ibuprofen and alcohol with any of these drugs can have an additive effect:
Ibuprofen can also cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision in some people. In these individuals, ibuprofen may amplify the effects of alcohol, leading to increased sleepiness, loss of coordination, and slowed reaction times.
Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Mucinex?
Summary
Mixing ibuprofen and alcohol can lead to serious side effects, including GI bleeding, kidney damage, and liver problems. There are also drug interactions associated with ibuprofen and alcohol that can cause an additive effect.
A Word From Verywell
Whether you can drink alcohol while taking ibuprofen depends on various factors like your age, general health, and your medical history.
If alcohol is consumed in moderation—no more than one drink per day for assigned females and two drinks per day for assigned males—you will likely be OK if you take an occasional ibuprofen. The same may not apply if you take ibuprofen regularly or in high doses.
If in doubt, it’s best to avoid mixing ibuprofen and alcohol together. Better yet, speak with your healthcare provider about the amount of ibuprofen and alcohol you consume. Your healthcare provider can help you assess your actual risk so that you are not placed in harm’s way.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThis depends on how fast your body processes alcohol, and this varies. In general, alcohol can stay in your system for 24 hours, so it’s best to wait at least that long after your last drink before taking ibuprofen.The half-life of ibuprofen is 1.8 to 2 hours, and it takes approximately five half-lives for the body to clear a drug. That said, it would take about 10 hours for ibuprofen to clear your system.According to the drug label, it should be completely eliminated from the body 24 hours after the last dose.A standard drink in the United States is about .6 ounces of alcohol, which can translate to one shot, 12 ounces of beer, or five ounces of wine. Moderate drinking in assigned males is two drinks or less a day, and for assigned females is one drink or less per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on how fast your body processes alcohol, and this varies. In general, alcohol can stay in your system for 24 hours, so it’s best to wait at least that long after your last drink before taking ibuprofen.
The half-life of ibuprofen is 1.8 to 2 hours, and it takes approximately five half-lives for the body to clear a drug. That said, it would take about 10 hours for ibuprofen to clear your system.According to the drug label, it should be completely eliminated from the body 24 hours after the last dose.
The half-life of ibuprofen is 1.8 to 2 hours, and it takes approximately five half-lives for the body to clear a drug. That said, it would take about 10 hours for ibuprofen to clear your system.
According to the drug label, it should be completely eliminated from the body 24 hours after the last dose.
A standard drink in the United States is about .6 ounces of alcohol, which can translate to one shot, 12 ounces of beer, or five ounces of wine. Moderate drinking in assigned males is two drinks or less a day, and for assigned females is one drink or less per day.
13 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.Bello AE.DUEXIS (ibuprofen 800 mg, famotidine 26.6 mg): A new approach to gastroprotection for patients with chronic pain and inflammation who require treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2012;4(5):327-39. doi:10.1177/1759720X12444710Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165278Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3:S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ibuprofen drug facts label.Ding WX, Yang L.Alcohol and drug-induced liver injury: Metabolism, mechanisms, pathogenesis and potential therapies.Liver Res. 2019;3(3-4):129-31. doi:10.1016/j.livres.2019.11.006Patel V, Sanyal AJ.Drug-induced steatohepatitis.Clin Liver Dis. 2013;17(4):533-46, vii. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2013.07.012Lipman GS, Shea K, Christensen M, et al.Ibuprofen versus placebo effect on acute kidney injury in ultramarathons: a randomised controlled trial.Emerg Med J. 2017;34(10):637-42. doi10.1136/emermed-2016-206353Goyal A, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Hashmi MF, Bashir K.Acute kidney injury (acute renal failure).Fan Z, Yun J, Yu S, Yang Q, Song L.Alcohol consumption can be a “double-edged sword” for chronic kidney disease patients.Med Sci Monit. 2019;25:7059-72. doi:10.12659/MSM.916121Auriel E, Regev K, Korczyn AD.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exposure and the central nervous system.Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;119:577-84. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-4086-3.00038-2Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.IBUPROFEN- ibuprofen tablet, film coated.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alcohol.
13 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.Bello AE.DUEXIS (ibuprofen 800 mg, famotidine 26.6 mg): A new approach to gastroprotection for patients with chronic pain and inflammation who require treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2012;4(5):327-39. doi:10.1177/1759720X12444710Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165278Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3:S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ibuprofen drug facts label.Ding WX, Yang L.Alcohol and drug-induced liver injury: Metabolism, mechanisms, pathogenesis and potential therapies.Liver Res. 2019;3(3-4):129-31. doi:10.1016/j.livres.2019.11.006Patel V, Sanyal AJ.Drug-induced steatohepatitis.Clin Liver Dis. 2013;17(4):533-46, vii. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2013.07.012Lipman GS, Shea K, Christensen M, et al.Ibuprofen versus placebo effect on acute kidney injury in ultramarathons: a randomised controlled trial.Emerg Med J. 2017;34(10):637-42. doi10.1136/emermed-2016-206353Goyal A, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Hashmi MF, Bashir K.Acute kidney injury (acute renal failure).Fan Z, Yun J, Yu S, Yang Q, Song L.Alcohol consumption can be a “double-edged sword” for chronic kidney disease patients.Med Sci Monit. 2019;25:7059-72. doi:10.12659/MSM.916121Auriel E, Regev K, Korczyn AD.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exposure and the central nervous system.Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;119:577-84. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-4086-3.00038-2Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.IBUPROFEN- ibuprofen tablet, film coated.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alcohol.
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.
Bello AE.DUEXIS (ibuprofen 800 mg, famotidine 26.6 mg): A new approach to gastroprotection for patients with chronic pain and inflammation who require treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2012;4(5):327-39. doi:10.1177/1759720X12444710Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165278Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3:S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ibuprofen drug facts label.Ding WX, Yang L.Alcohol and drug-induced liver injury: Metabolism, mechanisms, pathogenesis and potential therapies.Liver Res. 2019;3(3-4):129-31. doi:10.1016/j.livres.2019.11.006Patel V, Sanyal AJ.Drug-induced steatohepatitis.Clin Liver Dis. 2013;17(4):533-46, vii. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2013.07.012Lipman GS, Shea K, Christensen M, et al.Ibuprofen versus placebo effect on acute kidney injury in ultramarathons: a randomised controlled trial.Emerg Med J. 2017;34(10):637-42. doi10.1136/emermed-2016-206353Goyal A, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Hashmi MF, Bashir K.Acute kidney injury (acute renal failure).Fan Z, Yun J, Yu S, Yang Q, Song L.Alcohol consumption can be a “double-edged sword” for chronic kidney disease patients.Med Sci Monit. 2019;25:7059-72. doi:10.12659/MSM.916121Auriel E, Regev K, Korczyn AD.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exposure and the central nervous system.Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;119:577-84. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-4086-3.00038-2Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.IBUPROFEN- ibuprofen tablet, film coated.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alcohol.
Bello AE.DUEXIS (ibuprofen 800 mg, famotidine 26.6 mg): A new approach to gastroprotection for patients with chronic pain and inflammation who require treatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2012;4(5):327-39. doi:10.1177/1759720X12444710
Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165278
Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Lanas A.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage.Arthritis Res Ther. 2013;15 Suppl 3:S3. doi:10.1186/ar4175
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Ibuprofen drug facts label.
Ding WX, Yang L.Alcohol and drug-induced liver injury: Metabolism, mechanisms, pathogenesis and potential therapies.Liver Res. 2019;3(3-4):129-31. doi:10.1016/j.livres.2019.11.006
Patel V, Sanyal AJ.Drug-induced steatohepatitis.Clin Liver Dis. 2013;17(4):533-46, vii. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2013.07.012
Lipman GS, Shea K, Christensen M, et al.Ibuprofen versus placebo effect on acute kidney injury in ultramarathons: a randomised controlled trial.Emerg Med J. 2017;34(10):637-42. doi10.1136/emermed-2016-206353
Goyal A, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Hashmi MF, Bashir K.Acute kidney injury (acute renal failure).
Fan Z, Yun J, Yu S, Yang Q, Song L.Alcohol consumption can be a “double-edged sword” for chronic kidney disease patients.Med Sci Monit. 2019;25:7059-72. doi:10.12659/MSM.916121
Auriel E, Regev K, Korczyn AD.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exposure and the central nervous system.Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;119:577-84. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-4086-3.00038-2
Tasnim S, Tang C, Musini VM, Wright JM.Effect of alcohol on blood pressure.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;7(7):CD012787. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012787.pub2
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.IBUPROFEN- ibuprofen tablet, film coated.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alcohol.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
