How long after taking ibuprofen can you drink alcohol

Ibuprofen is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a class of drugs designed to alleviate inflammation, relieve pain, and reduce fevers. The medication is sold over the counter under various brand names, including Advil, Motrin, and Midol. When experiencing aches and pain while drunk or during a hangover, reaching for the ibuprofen may come with the risk of harmful side effects if not taken correctly.

Is it Safe to Mix Ibuprofen and Alcohol?

Mixing alcohol with prescription drugs such as the occasional ibuprofen can be dangerous because alcohol is a digestive irritant, and even one drink can accelerate acid production. When you have more significant amounts of acid in your digestive tract with less protection, you risk damaging the tissue, leading to internal bleeding, especially in older adults. Most of the time, drinking a small amount of alcohol is not harmful, but drinking too much alcohol while taking the pain medication can significantly increase the risk of severe side effects such as kidney problems.

The Risks of Consuming Ibuprofen and Drinking

When alcohol and ibuprofen are taken around the same time, even to ease a hangover, the usual risks of consuming the common pain reliever are increased significantly. Drinking moderate alcohol may lower the risks, but they are always present. If you are concerned that you may be developing an addiction to alcohol, try taking our free quiz to compare your drinking patterns to alcohol use disorder.

Below are a few of the most severe side effects of consuming painkillers like ibuprofen and alcoholic drinks:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding: This is a possible side effect that stems from long-term use of ibuprofen or overusing and taking high doses of the medication, which involves an upset stomach and bleeding inside the stomach or intestines. Symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding may include vomiting or defecating blood.
• Impaired responsiveness or decreased alertness: Ibuprofen and alcohol are both used to make you relax, which can affect your attention and alertness. This can increase the risk of slower reaction times, driving distractions, and falling asleep in dangerous situations.
• Kidney damage or liver damage: Using ibuprofen cause added stress to the kidneys or liver but will not cause long-term damage when used alone. Adding alcohol to the mix, however, can increase the adverse effects that the drug has on the kidneys. Over time, mixing the two can lead to more severe liver problems and kidney function issues, causing other significant health conditions like kidney disease or liver disease.
• Cardiovascular problems or stroke: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are linked to cardiovascular problems like issues with blood flow and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Drinking alcohol adds to these risks and makes it more difficult for the body to maintain healthy blood pressure levels, which can be lethal. Seek medical care immediately if you or a loved one begins experiencing harmful drug interactions like slurred speech, chest pains, weakness on one side of the body, and chest pains after mixing ibuprofen and an alcoholic drink.

If you have taken ibuprofen and are experiencing symptoms such as blood in vomit or stool, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, persistent stomach pains, dizziness, or fainting, seek medical care immediately. For those who struggle with alcohol addiction, plenty of treatment options may be able to help.

How to Take Medication Safely

Drugs like ibuprofen are the safest when taken for a short period since long-term ibuprofen use isn’t as safe or beneficial as other more vital medicines for pain management. For long time treatment, doctors will usually offer alternatives that are safer to take often. It is also essential to carefully read medication labels as ibuprofen is common in many headaches, colds, and prescription medicines. It is also best to avoid taking the drug for a hangover as alcohol is still present in the system, and the stomach is typically more vulnerable, which can put you at a high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers. Remember to follow directions on the bottle carefully and seek professional medical advice before ever attempting to combine the two, even with small amounts of alcohol.

How Long After Taking Ibuprofen Can You Drink?

On average, alcohol stays in our system for about 1-3 hours, but plenty of factors play a role in how long the substance will remain in your system. For example, the more you drink, the longer the alcohol will stay in your system. An individual’s body size can also affect the period alcohol remains inside the body. It is recommended to wait at least one day after consuming alcohol to take ibuprofen. If you have consumed more significant amounts, however, you may want to stay up to 2-3 days before taking the pain reliever.