Alcohol And Ibuprofen Don’t Mix

alcohol and ibuprofen

Alcohol and Ibuprofen: What Could Go Wrong?

Ibuprofen is a painkiller that you can buy over the counter without a prescription. It is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can help ease mild to moderate pain such as toothache, menstrual cramps, migraine, or muscle pain. The NSAID drug works by blocking the release of certain natural substances in your body that cause inflammation. How does ibuprofen interact with alcohol.

You probably already know that drinking alcohol with any medication can be dangerous. Taking Ibuprofen regularly and drinking alcohol regularly can pose risks to your health with several serious medical problems. To stay healthy and safe, know all the possible risks. What about your kidney?

Kidney Damage

The kidney is an integral part of the body. It cleanses the blood from toxins and transforms your waste into urine. It also ensures that your body maintains a healthy balance of fluids, water, minerals, and essential chemicals that are electrolytes. Even without drinking alcohol, taking too much Ibuprofen can result in liver damage.

When your kidney fails, you may experience symptoms like muscle cramps, constant feeling of nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and swelling in your ankles. Long-term regular use of Ibuprofen can result in kidney damage, and long-term alcohol consumption can cause the same kidney damage. Now imagine what will happen if you take the two together. The severity would worsen, and the risk would include complete organ failure.

Drowsiness Alert

Taking Ibuprofen and drinking alcohol separately can make you feel relaxed and at ease. However, combining the two substances increase your drowsiness and pose risks of slowed reaction times.

Never mix the two and go for a drive. Drinking and taking meds put your life at risk and also endanger other people’s safety. You can also be fined somewhere around $500 to $2000 if you are convicted of driving under the influence. The penalty varies depending on your intoxication and where you live.

Stomach Ulcer And Gastrointestinal Bleeding

One of the primary causes of stomach ulcers is NSAIDs, where Ibuprofen is classified as one. That is why doctors recommend people take Ibuprofen with food. However, regular intake of this medication with a higher dosage can damage the stomach lining, which causes an ulcer to appear. Additionally, alcohol can also damage the stomach, especially the digestive tract.

What’s more, the Ibuprofen can interact with the alcohol in the body, resulting in worsening of the usual side effects of Ibuprofen. Thus, this leads to stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding in the digestive tract and intestines. You may also experience vomiting of red or almost dark brown blood and release tarry stool which is also accompanied by bleeding from your rectal area.

Can Become An Ineffective Medication

Consuming your medication with alcohol will only increase the side effects you will experience while you are at risk of drinking less effective Ibuprofen. This means that alcohol can make the painkiller less effective when you intake the two together. So, despite feeling drowsy, you are not getting better at all. Instead, you are at risk of experiencing all the harmful effects.

Mixing Ibuprofen and Alcohol Poses Risk For Older People

Older adults can experience double the side effects of drinking the two together. As you age, your body can have a hard time breaking down other elements that enter your body, such as alcohol. As a result, it also heightens the likelihood of the Ibuprofen and alcohol interacting with each other. Thus, it can put them at higher risk of side effects and more severe damage.

What You Can Do

If you are taking Ibuprofen as a long-term treatment prescribed by your doctor, it would be best to check with them first before getting a drink. They will inform you when would be the best time to drink alcohol and let you know the possible adjustments in medications that they find essential.

However, if you are only taking Ibuprofen as a painkiller, it would be safer for you to take it in moderation to prevent any damage to your body. It should also be the same with alcohol. Drink an amount that you can handle and drink responsibly.

Also, reading about magazines or journals that concerns your health would make you aware of the consequences. Blogs like the Buzzrx Blog contain various articles about certain medications and their effects on your body.

Final Thoughts

Being aware is an act of responsibility that you must possess to keep your body healthy and safe. It is also your responsibility to keep your body away from harm and protect it from possible dangers. Although medications can help ease problems in your body, there are still other things that you must keep in mind when drinking. So, do not forget to read the instructions on taking them properly and remember your doctor’s precautions.

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