
Ibuprofen and alcohol interaction is said to be harmful to health and can damage organs such as the kidneys and the liver.
Ibuprofen is an over the counter anti-inflammatory painkiller used to relieve discomfort arising from a muscle injury, sprains or a back pain. It is observed that some people have a tendency to take ibuprofen with alcoholic beverages like cocktail. Usually, pain medications are taken with a glass of water. However, few people are replacing water with alcohol, when it comes to swallowing these painkillers. We all know about the side effects of alcohol on the human body. So, is it safe to take alcohol when following ibuprofen treatment? Can this combination have a negative impact on health. The answer to these questions are discussed below:
Side Effects
People put on this medication are asked to stay away from alcoholic drinks. It is a known fact that ibuprofen and alcohol do not go well together. Taking these painkillers with alcohol, instead of water can be detrimental to health. Both alcohol and the painkiller have their own side effects and so mixing them will do, no good. Ibuprofen acts as a painkiller but when the person does the mistake of swallowing the tablet along with alcohol, its pain-relieving effects are no longer effective. For the painkiller to work, it is necessary that one avoids alcohol consumption.
The symptoms of taking the painkiller and alcohol together may not appear immediately but when this combination is consumed on a daily basis or occasionally in large doses, health issues are bound to occur. Some of them are mentioned below:
Headache
Taking this painkiller in the morning and then drinking a few pints in the evening after a stressful day at work can lead to a headache.
Stomach Problems
As we all know, stomach problems are associated with ibuprofen dosage. Those taking it on a daily basis complain about stomach upset and pain. Also, the painkiller can never be tolerated on an empty stomach, as it damages the stomach lining. All these side effects can worsen if the pain reliever and alcohol are taken together. Damage to the stomach lining may occur when the medication is combined with alcohol. Too much consumption of alcohol with this medication can predispose a person to ulceration in the stomach. The weakened lining of the stomach can also bleed profusely. On the whole, research has proved that this combination puts a person in the risk zone of gastritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the stomach lining.
Liver Problems
It is a known fact that alcohol consumption can cause progressive damage to the liver and so ibuprofen treatment coupled with intake of alcoholic beverages amplifies the chances of suffering from liver problems. Processing alcohol along with the medication is a difficult task for the liver and this overburden will only cause a decline in liver function.
Kidney Problems
Dehydration is one of the most common side effects of drinking alcoholic beverages. Ibuprofen overdose can also give rise to kidney damage. However, dehydration can make the person more susceptible to kidney problems resulting from intake of this medication. In other words, the kidneys are not able to handle ibuprofen dose, when the body becomes dehydrated. As a result, the person may soon experience symptoms of malfunctioning of the kidneys.
On the whole, abstinence from alcohol is necessary for patients following a treatment plan that involves intake of ibuprofen dosage. So, those who do not want to spend money on hospitalization charges, should stop the habit of taking this medication with alcohol.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.