What happens if you take motrin and drink alcohol

These include:. Taking ibuprofen and alcohol with any of these drugs can have an additive effect. For instance, ibuprofen can promote GI bleeding, which alcohol can enhance the effects of blood thinners. As such, any bleeding provoked by ibuprofen can be amplified when alcohol and anticoagulant like warfarin are both added to the mix. 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.

The answer as to whether you can drink alcohol while taking ibuprofen is, "It depends. If alcohol is consumed with moderation—no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men—you will likely be OK if take an occasional ibuprofen. The same may not apply if you take ibuprofen regularly or in high doses. If in doubt, the best rule of thumb is to play it safe and avoid taking ibuprofen and alcohol together.

Better yet, speak with your healthcare provider, and be honest about the amount of alcohol and ibuprofen you consume. Your healthcare provider can help you assess your actual risk so that you are not placed in harm's way.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. In: StatPearls. Updated May 30, Bello AE. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal damage. Arthritis Res Ther. A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men.

Food and Drug Administration. Ibuprofen drug facts label. Updated April 6, Patel V, Sanyal AJ. Common causes for ibuprofen use include joint pain, arthritis, menstrual pain, toothaches, and backaches. These forms of over-the-counter ibuprofen are usually found in the forms of pills, chewable tablets, liquids, and drops. Ibuprofen may come in combination with other medications, which are usually available by prescription only.

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While ibuprofen and alcohol each carry separate health risks, combining the two drugs can have dangerous side effects.

To avoid this, individuals should not take ibuprofen while drinking alcohol. Call now to be connected with one of our compassionate treatment specialists. Any time a drug is ingested, it can cause side effects within the body.

Typically, prescription drugs have been deemed worth the risk by a physician in order to treat the presenting medical concern. However, even taking over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can cause negative effects on your health, ranging from mild and temporary to long-term and severe.

The National Kidney Foundation say that regular heavy drinking doubles the risk of a person developing chronic kidney disease. Although the risk of kidney problems is low in healthy people who only occasionally take ibuprofen, the drug can be dangerous for people who already have reduced kidney function. People who have a history of kidney problems should ask a doctor before taking ibuprofen with alcohol.

Individually, both alcohol and ibuprofen can cause drowsiness. Combining the two may make this drowsiness worse, which can lead to excessive sleepiness or an inability to function normally.

The reason for this is that alcohol slows down reaction times and impairs coordination. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism report that older adults have a greater risk of complications relating to mixing medication and alcohol.

People are also often likely to take more medications that could interact with alcohol as they get older. The authors of a study on drug-alcohol interactions state that most older adults in the U. Drinking alcohol while taking medication puts older adults at higher risk of falls, other accidents, and adverse drug interactions. People should take ibuprofen for the shortest possible time at the lowest manageable dosage.

A doctor can provide advice on safe long-term methods of pain management. Some combination medications, such as cold medicines, headache medicines, and prescription pain relievers, contain ibuprofen. Therefore, it is important to read the labels on all medications before taking them to avoid exceeding the safe amount of ibuprofen. People should also be wary about taking ibuprofen to ease a hangover , as they may still have alcohol remaining in their system. The stomach may also be more sensitive than usual at this time.

Drinking alcohol only in moderation can prevent unwanted side effects. According to the CDC , moderate drinking means a maximum of one drink for women and two drinks for men per day. The amount of alcohol in the drink matters. For instance, some types of beer and wine have higher alcohol content than others.

Some types of liquor are also stronger than others. There is some good news: If you're relatively healthy, and have no existing problems like gastritis or ulcers, or issues with your kidneys or liver, "taking any of these if you are going out to dinner and having one drink is most likely safe," Brooks reassures.

If you have a choice, you probably want to reach for NSAIDs over acetaminophen, which is the worst for your liver. Food also buffers the effects of both alcohol and NSAIDs, so eating something at the same time can help mitigate potential side effects. But if you're drinking heavily, it might not be so safe.

In a certain way, it's Russian roulette. It's not a problem, until one day it is," Brooks says. When it comes to the morning after, it's unclear how much of a risk remains because it's dependent on so many factors including how much the person drinks in general, and how much alcohol is still in their body. If you have to take pain medication during or after imbibing, curb your drinking to be safe.

If you're popping pills in anticipation of the morning after, it's best to prevent a hangover the old-fashioned way: by chugging lots of water.