Drinking alcohol with medication isn’t a good thing for your health. Alcohol can hinder the mechanism of some medicines, making them inefficient. Alcohol can make the side effects of some drugs worse. This is exactly what happens when your mix ibuprofen and alcohol.
Most of the time, taking a few sips of alcohol with ibuprofen isn’t bad. On the other hand, if you intake high doses of ibuprofen than the recommended amount and drink too much alcohol, it can be very harmful to your body.
Gastrointestinal bleeding
According to some studies, daily use of ibuprofen leads to a higher risk of intestinal bleeding in people who drank alcohol. People with high consumption of alcohol but occasional use of ibuprofen were far away from the risk.
When having signs and symptoms of stomach issues, see or talk to your doctor right away. These can be some:
- an upset stomach that doesn’t get better
- black stools
- blood in your vomit
Kidney damage
Using ibuprofen for a long time can harm your kidneys. And the same goes for alcohol. Mixing alcohol and ibuprofen can alleviate the chances of kidney issues.
Kidney problems can come with the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Inflammation in feet, hands
- Shortness of breath
Decreased alertness
Ibuprofen takes your pain and discomfort far away, which can bring you at ease. Alcohol also makes you relax. When these two drugs combine, they make you extra relaxed. This means you may not pay much attention while driving, your reaction times will slow down, and you may fall asleep. Drinking and driving are never good together. And if you take ibuprofen, then driving is a real bad deal.
What to do
If you’re thinking about taking ibuprofen for a long time, it’s always best to consult your doctor before you drink alcohol. The doctor can tell you accurately if it’s safe to drink occasionally, depending on your health. If you’re only taking ibuprofen from time to time, then you can say it’s safe to drink once in a while. But one thing to keep in mind is that even if you take a single drink with ibuprofen, you may have an upset stomach.
Additional side effects of ibuprofen
Ibuprofen can cause upset stomach lining, leading to gastric perforation. This condition can prove to be fatal. When taking ibuprofen, only consume minor dosages to get rid of discomforting symptoms. Also, avoid taking medicine more than you actually need. Keeping these things in mind can alleviate the possibilities of aftereffects.
Talk with your doctor
Taking ibuprofen from time to time while drinking in moderation may be safe for you. But before you decide to combine alcohol with ibuprofen, think of your health and understand your risk of problems. If you’re still concerned or unsure about drinking while taking ibuprofen, talk to your doctor.
Drinking alcohol and taking ibuprofen in a controlled way is best for your health. But before you mix the two participants, examine what it will do to your body. If you still have any questions about taking ibuprofen while drinking, see your doctor.
Schedule an appointment with the experts at San Ramon Urgent Care Clinic at 925-361-5959.