When two or more medicines are taken at the same time, the effects of one medicine can be altered by the other. This is known as a drug-drug interaction.
Ibuprofen can sometimes interact with other medicines. Some of the more common interactions are listed below. However, this is not a complete list. If you want to check that your medicines are safe to take with ibuprofen, ask your doctor or pharmacist, or read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
Ibuprofen, including ibuprofen products applied to the skin (such as gels), can interact with the following medicines:
- aspirin, sometimes taken at low doses for its antiplatelet effect
- baclofen, used to treat muscle stiffness and rigidity, for example to treat cerebral palsy (a condition that affects the brain and nervous system, causing problems with movement)
- methotrexate, used to treat some types of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis (a condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints)
- tacrolimus, used to prevent organ rejection during organ transplants
- voriconazole, used to treat fungal infections, such as aspergillosis (a range of infections that are caused by a fungal mould called aspergillus)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Ibuprofen is a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs). These have many interactions with other medicines, including:
Do not take more than one type of NSAID at a time or you will be at increased risk of developing side effects. See the Health A-Z topic about NSAIDs - interactions for more information.
