Mixing Alcohol and Advil: Stomach Ulcers and Bleeding – Advil irritates your digestive tract. For this reason, doctors tell you to take Advil with food. When you take Advil for a long time or in high doses, it increases your risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding.
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Can you drink alcohol while taking Advil?
Combining ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and alcohol can be harmful, especially for older adults and those with certain health conditions. The risk of complications is higher for people who take ibuprofen regularly and people who drink heavily.
Is it bad to take Advil right after drinking?
Ibuprofen is a medication for relieving pain, fever, and swelling (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID). The medication is sold over the counter under several brand names like Motrin, Midol, and Advil. But mixing ibuprofen and alcohol is a dangerous game.
- While a prescription isn’t needed for over the counter drugs like ibuprofen, the drug is still strong with serious side effects when misused.
- This can include overdosing on anti-inflammatories or combining them with other medications or substances such as alcohol.
- In this post, we will discuss the reasons why combining alcohol & ibuprofen is dangerous.
According to the NHS, it is safe to take pain relievers when drinking small amounts of alcohol, However, there are risks of experiencing mild to serious side effects from taking ibuprofen regularly alongside moderate amounts of alcohol (a drink for women and two drinks for men ).
- The chances of experiencing side effects are even higher with long-term ibuprofen use alongside alcohol use.
- Habitual ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen consumption alongside alcohol are potentially dangerous.
- To be safe, medication (including ibuprofen) shouldn’t be taken alongside alcohol.
- Ibuprofen is a pain reducer.
The medication also reduces inflammation. However, ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining resulting in ulcers and bleeding. Alcohol does the same thing on its own. When the two are mixed together, the risk of ulcers and bleeding is compounded. Ibuprofen can also alter blood clotting (make it harder or easier to clot/bleed).
Gastrointestinal bleeding: Ibuprofen, among other NSAIDs, is known to irritate the digestive system and increase the risk of getting ulcers. This is precisely why they are supposed to be taken after eating. Ibuprofen can cause perforation in the stomach/intestines or gastrointestinal bleeding. These symptoms can be abrupt without warning signs resulting in sudden death if the bleeding or perforation isn’t detected and treated immediately Kidney damage: Studies have linked long term ibuprofen use to kidney damage. Kidneys filter toxins in the body. Alcohol, which is also a toxin makes it hard for the kidneys to do their job. Consuming alcohol alongside ibuprofen increases the risk of kidney damage, given both exert a lot of stress on the kidneys. Common signs of kidney damage include shortness of breath, tiredness, and swelling in the feet, hands, and ankles Cardiovascular problems or stroke: There is a link between NSAIDs and cardiovascular problems like heart attack and stroke. People who take NSAIDs apart from aspirin increase their risk of suffering from stroke or heart attack when compared to those who don’t take NSAIDs. The risk increases further for individuals who have taken NSAIDs for a long time. Cardiovascular problems or stroke can also be sudden and fatal, as is the case with gastrointestinal bleeding. Alcohol makes it hard to maintain healthy blood pressure levels among individuals with high blood pressure. Combining alcohol and ibuprofen is, therefore lethal. Individuals who take ibuprofen alongside alcohol and start experiencing chest pain, slurred speech, shortness of breath, or weakness in one side of their body should seek emergency medical care immediately Poor concentration: Ibuprofen can also cause drowsiness, decreased alertness, among other cognitive problems. Alcohol has the same effects. Mixing alcohol and ibuprofen makes these symptoms worse, making driving or operating other machinery exceedingly dangerous. Habitual long-term use of ibuprofen alongside alcohol can heighten the body’s sensitivity to both alcohol and ibuprofen. It can also increase physical dependency to alcohol, increase addiction, and overdose risk
Ibuprofen is safest when taken for a short period. Doctors should offer other alternatives for safe long-term pain management. Individuals taking ibuprofen should stick to the recommended dosage. It’s also recommendable to read medication labels carefully since ibuprofen is common in combination medication i.e., some headache medicines, cold medicines, and prescription pain relievers.
Reading medication labels will prevent ibuprofen overdose or long-term use. Also, ibuprofen shouldn’t be taken to relieve a hangover since alcohol is usually present in the system of a person with a hangover. The stomach also tends to be more vulnerable at this time, increasing the risks of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
It also helps to drink in moderation. The CDC defines moderate drinking as a drink and two drinks for women and men, respectively. The CDC also defines what one drink means in regards to the type of alcohol and alcohol percentage per drink, If you take ibuprofen and experience any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.
Persistent stomach pain/cramps Blood in your stool Blood in your vomit Rapid pulse Fainting Dizziness Black/tarry stool Vomit resembling coffee grounds
Individuals who consume alcohol on a daily basis and have problems quitting should seek medical attention. According to the NIAAA, risks associated with mixing alcohol and medication increase with age. Older individuals have a harder time breaking down alcohol.
They are also more likely to be on medication, which compounds the risks. The absorption rate and efficiency of alcohol and medications in the bodies of older adults are also inhibited. This is due to metabolic slowdown, where an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is at lower levels than in the stomachs of younger people.
Ageing also adapts chemicals in the brain and body, including those responsible for alertness and energy. Older people are more prone to feeling more sedated by certain medications which, when combined with alcohol, pose a variety of health risks. Alcohol stays in the system for 1 to 3 hours.
- However, a urine test and breathalysers can detect alcohol taken 24 hours ago.
- A hair test can detect if you have taken alcohol in the past three months.
- There are several factors that dictate how long alcohol will take in your system.
- For instance, individuals who are addicts eliminate alcohol faster from their bodies.
The amount of time it takes for alcohol to leave your body will also increase as you drink more. A standard drink (12 ounces of a typical beer) will increase the blood alcohol level to 0.02 – 0.03. A person’s body size will also dictate how long alcohol stays in their system.
- Ideally, you should allow at least a day before you take ibuprofen.
- If you have taken a lot of alcohol, allow more time (two days or more).
- While taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and drinking alcohol can help reduce inflammation in the body, be careful of the dosage.
- Excessive consumption of both alcohol and NSAIDs (aspirin, indomethacin, mefenamic acid, and celecoxib) can result in bleeding of the stomach.
Taking Tylenol while drunk or hungover can also cause liver damage as its components restrict the body’s ability to process alcohol. While it’s safe to take low doses of naproxen, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen with small amounts of alcohol, it’s not advisable to do so give the long-term consequences of this turning into a habit. Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process, Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline.
Can Advil and alcohol damage your liver?
Is Ibuprofen Bad for Your Liver When Drinking? – The liver is designed to remove toxins from your system and processes substances and medications like ibuprofen. These processes can damage the liver. The liver also has tremendous capability to regenerate.
How much Advil can I take with alcohol?
Can you drink alcohol with ibuprofen? One glass of wine, beer, or spirits, while you are taking, is usually okay for most people, but moderate to excessive quantities of alcohol can increase the side effects of ibuprofen, such as stomach and digestive tract irritation and kidney disease.
People with underlying medical conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure or heart failure, are most at risk. This is because both alcohol and ibuprofen irritate the stomach and digestive tract, so combining them further increases the risk of ulcers and bleeding from the digestive tract.
In addition, ibuprofen can affect the kidneys in some people with additional health issues, and alcohol, which can cause dehydration and make it hard for the kidneys to filter toxins, can potentiate this risk.
Does Advil help a hangover?
Since inflammation plays a role in why people feel so rough when they have a hangover, it would make sense that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) could help.
Can I take 2 Advil before drinking?
A Risky Combination – Alcohol can irritate your intestinal tract and stomach, and taking any NSAID, such as ibuprofen, can make that worse. Even a small amount of alcohol after taking ibuprofen is risky, and the more your drink the higher the risks are.
Is Advil the same as ibuprofen?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com, Last updated on March 20, 2023. Both Motrin and Advil are NSAIDs but is one stronger or more likely to cause side effects compared to the other? There is no real difference. Motrin and Advil are both brands of ibuprofen and are equally effective.
- Motrin, Motrin IB and Advil are brand names for the drug ibuprofen.
- Ibuprofen belongs to a group of medicines called NSAIDs,
- Other brands of ibuprofen available in the U.S.
- Include Genpril, Midol IB, and Proprinal.
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil) is a Nonselective NSAID Ibuprofen is called a nonselective NSAID, because it blocks COX-2 enzymes (involved in pain signalling and inflammation) and also COX-1 enzymes (associated with a protective effect on stomach lining).
This makes it effective at relieving pain and reducing inflammation, but there is a risk of stomach-related side effects. Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil) is a Short-Acting NSAID Ibuprofen is a short-acting NSAID, with a relatively quick onset of action.
It is better suited for the treatment of acute pain, and is the most appropriate NSAID for children. Ibuprofen tablets/capsules need to be given every four to six hours. Risk of Gastrointestinal Side Effects with Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil) is Low Compared With Some Other NSAIDs Research has discovered that the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects such as stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding increases the longer somebody takes NSAIDS.
Ibuprofen is less likely to cause GI side effects because it is short-acting. To reduce the risk of GI side effects, NSAIDS should only be taken at their lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible time. Doubling up on NSAIDs (for example taking both Aleve and Motrin at the same time or adding in a different type of NSAID such as Aleve) is unnecessary, and to be avoided as it increases the risk of both GI and cardiovascular side effects.
If you are prescribed low-dose aspirin to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, then talk to your doctor BEFORE taking NSAIDs, as these may negate the protective effects of aspirin. NSAIDs Increase the Risk Of Cardiovascular Side Effects Another worrying side effect of some NSAIDs is an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as a heart attack.
Research has identified that those NSAIDs that have more of a tendency to block COX-2 compared to COX-1 have an increased risk of thrombosis (blood clotting). Low-dose ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin in dosages up to 1200mg per day) has a low risk of causing adverse cardiovascular events.
- However, higher dosages of ibuprofen (up to the recommended maximum of 2400mg/day) are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events.
- People who have already had a heart attack or stroke should talk to their doctor before using NSAIDs.
- One study showed that even one or two doses of ibuprofen or diclofenac (another NSAID) increased the risk of another cardiovascular event.
NSAIDS should also not be used after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and all NSAIDS carry a warning that they can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, so should only be used under a doctor’s supervision, particularly in people with a history of heart disease.
Reassuringly, the risk of a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, stroke, or death is extremely small when NSAIDs are prescribed for short periods of time – such as for a musculoskeletal injury – in people at low cardiovascular risk. Other Side Effects Common to all NSAIDs All NSAIDs have been associated with kidney toxicity and allergic-type reactions.
NSAIDs also interact with other medications including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics, clopidogrel, warfarin, dabigatran and aspirin. Bottom Line In summary, Motrin, Motrin IB and Advil are all brands of ibuprofen so are equally effective.
- Because they are the same drug, Motrin, Motrin IB and Advil should NOT be taken together as this increases the risk of side effects such as stomach ulcers and bleeding.
- Motrin and Advil should also not be taken together with other NSAIDs such as Aleve (naproxen).
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Aleve) is less likely to adversely effect the heart if taken in dosages less than 1200mg/day.
Important Guidance When taking any NSAID, the following guidance is given:
- Acetaminophen is preferred over NSAIDs, when appropriate
- If a NSAID is deemed necessary, take only the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time
- Naproxen (in dosages up to 1000mg/day) and ibuprofen (in dosages up to 1200mg/day) are the preferred NSAIDs. Ibuprofen is the most appropriate NSAID for children
- Avoid using long-acting formulations of NSAIDs as these have a higher risk of GI side effects
- Do not take any other NSAID-containing products while being treated with an NSAID
- Doctors should review the need for continued NSAID administration at each consultation
- In people with pre-existing heart disease or who have suffered a heart attack or stroke, NSAIDS should only be used with caution and only under a doctor’s supervision
- Older patients, patients with type 2 diabetes or with a history of stomach ulcers, kidney problems or at risk for heart disease are more likely to suffer from NSAID-related complications such as GI side effects, cardiovascular events, and kidney toxicity. NSAIDS should be avoided, but if deemed necessary, their usage should be monitored by a doctor.
See also: Drugs.com Compare Tool – Advil vs Motrin References
- Laura Dean, MD. Comparing NSAIDs. Pubmed Clinical Q & A. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45590/
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Making safer treatment choices BPAC NZ http://www.bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2013/October/nsaids.aspx
- Coxib and traditional NSAID Trialists’ (CNT) Collaboration, Bhala N, Emberson J, Merhi A, et al. Vascular and upper gastrointestinal effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: meta-analyses of individual participant data from randomised trials. Lancet.2013 Aug 31;382(9894):769-79. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60900-9. Epub 2013 May 30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23726390
- Advil (ibuprofen), Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Revised 06/2010 https://www.drugs.com/pro/advil.html
- Ibuprofen Revised 07/2015 Alivio Medical Products, LLC https://www.drugs.com/pro/alivio.html
- Ong CKS, Lirk P, Tan CH, Seymour RA. An Evidence-Based Update on Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Clin Med Res.2007 Mar; 5(1): 19–34. doi: 10.3121/cmr.2007.698. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1855338/#
Can I take paracetamol with alcohol?
Can I drink alcohol while taking paracetamol? Drinking a small amount of alcohol while taking paracetamol is usually safe. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units.
How long after drinking can I take ibuprofen?
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.
Do pain killers work if you drink alcohol?
Prescription painkillers – Alcohol must be avoided while on a course of prescription-only painkillers, such as tramadol, gabapentin and codeine and other morphine-like drugs. Consuming alcohol alongside these medications can be dangerous – leading to severe drowsiness and other side effects, such as nausea.4 Visit the NHS website for more information about how different types of painkillers can interact with alcohol.
Is Advil easier on the liver?
Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) are two of the most commonly used pain relievers. They share some similar features, but have several key differences. Advil is harder on the stomach and the kidneys, while Tylenol is harder on the liver.
How long does Advil last?
Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) gets absorbed quickly and begins working within about 30 minutes. You may start feeling ibuprofen’s full effectiveness within 1 to 2 hours. Ibuprofen’s effects generally last for six to eight hours. However, its onset of action and how long it lasts can vary from person to person.
How quickly can ibuprofen cause liver damage?
Clinically apparent hepatic injury from ibuprofen is very rare, but it can be severe, and several cases of ibuprofen related acute liver failure leading to death or need for liver transplantation have been described. Typical in this case was the abrupt onset of injury within a week of starting ibuprofen.
Is it better to take Advil or Tylenol with alcohol?
After a night of drinking, make sure you don’t take Tylenol, Excedrin, or other pain relievers with acetaminophen. The combination of alcohol and acetaminophen can seriously hurt your liver. If you want some pain relief, take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve).
Can you take 1000 mg of ibuprofen with alcohol?
Summary – Mixing ibuprofen and alcohol can lead to serious side effects, including GI bleeding, kidney damage, and liver problems. There are also drug interactions associated with ibuprofen and alcohol that can cause an additive effect.
Does Coke help with hangovers?
There is no all-consuming black hole of despair quite like a hangover. That incessant pounding on your temples, as if some malign goblin has taken up residence inside your brain and is hammering its way out. Spinning room, sandy mouth, bloodshot eyes glued shut.
- Ears still ringing with fragments of music from the night before.
- An overwhelming sense of self-loathing, paranoia – and pain.
- Ingsley Amis famously described the sensation in his 1954 novel Lucky Jim : “Consciousness was upon him before he could get out of the way,” he wrote.
- He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider-crab on the tarry shingle of the morning.
The light did him harm he resolved never to move his eyeballs again. A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum. During the night, too, he’d somehow been on a cross-country run and then been expertly beaten up by secret police.
- He felt bad.” We’ve all been there.
- According to research by Macmillan Cancer Support, the average Briton spends 315 days of their life hungover; for one in 14 of us, it’s a head-pounding 3,024.
- And each of us has our own failsafe way to climb out of that black hole and claw our way back towards feeling human again – be it a bottle of Lucozade, popping a couple of Alka-Seltzer, a greasy fry-up or hair of the dog.
According to a raft of celebrities, however, there’s only one cure that truly takes the edge off after a big night out: Coca-Cola. The “Black Doctor”, as it’s been dubbed, has become the A-list hangover fix of choice. Justin Bieber, Kate Moss, Pixie Geldof, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Tom Cruise have all been spotted glugging the black stuff while looking worse-for-wear in recent months.
According to a feature in December’s Vogue magazine, Coca-Cola has “the perfect sugar-to-caffeine ratio when you’re exhausted and veering dangerously towards hypoglycaemia after a night on the fruit punch.” A-list fans say the fizziness settles the stomach, the caffeine boosts your energy – and the sugary goodness in one 330ml can make you feel a whole world of better Though Coke is not marketed as a hangover cure, its pick-me-up properties are nothing new.
Lt Col John Pemberton, a trained pharmacist, invented the fizzy drink in Atlanta, Georgia, in May 1886, in a bid to wean himself off morphine, to which he had become addicted after becoming wounded during the American Civil War. Pemberton tried his new invention out on customers at his local chemist, Jacobs’ Pharmacy, where he sold it as a “valuable brain tonic” that was “delicious, refreshing, pure joy, exhiliarating” and “a most wonderful invigorator of sexual organs”. Pemberton’s advertisement for his new carbonated drink Over a century later, Coca-Cola has cemented itself in our psyche as so much more than a medicinal beverage: as a cult-brand, advertising behemoth and most of America’s carbonated drink of choice.
- Though its curative qualities are long-forgotten, the company’s mission statement still references its roots: “to inspire moments of optimism”.
- And some fans have continued to extol its hangover-curing properties.
- Indeed, in 1938, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel started serving its international guests a mixture of Coca-Cola and milk after a heavy night out.
But it’s the new legion of A-list fans raving about the “Black Doctor” that has led to Coca-Cola being dubbed the best hangover cure. So is there any truth to their claims? Nutritionist Claire Baseley says there is – to a certain extent. “When you’re hungover, you need to hydrate your body.
The way you feel – that headache – it’s mostly caused by dehydration. Something like Coca-Cola has lots of sugar and fluids and will put those back into your body to get your energy levels up. The caffeine will also give you an energy boost.” But, she adds, “there are better options from a hydration perspective.
Obviously it would be better if you had something like water or a sports energy drink. My recommendation would be to drink lots of water and have something that’s easy on your stomach like a dry piece of toast. The negative side of Coca-Cola is its high sugar content and, after a big night out, you’re probably not going to be doing lots of exercise to counteract that. We all have our own remedies for beating a hangover Melanie Brown, a London-based nutritionist, is less convinced. “The combination of sugar, caffeine, fluid, fizz and cold gives people the impression that their hangover is better,” she explains. “It is a fluid so will solve your thirst to a certain extent, but it does not contain much in the way of electrolytes; minerals that aid rehydration.
And some people claim that the fizzy bit settles your stomach – but apart from possibly relieving gas build up, there’s no evidence for that.” Still, Coke converts won’t be convinced. As one celebrity aficionado tells Vogue : “One of my more hardcore partying friends adds vodka to her Black Doctor, at breakfast.” Each to their own.
But definitely something to bear in mind next time you’re clawing your way back from the bottom of a bottle.
Can I take Advil on an empty stomach?
Should I take Advil with food? You do not have to take Advil with food. However, if you experience an upset stomach, you can take it with food or milk. If you have a history of serious stomach problems like ulcers, be sure that you talk to your doctor before taking Advil or any NSAID.
Is Advil or ibuprofen better for hangovers?
We’re not sure anyone with a hangover ever said this: Where’s the nearest bus that can hook me up to an IV ? But apparently an anesthesiologist in Las Vegas did. The entrepreneur created Hangover Heaven —a bus that recently rolled onto the strip to treat you with intravenous saline solution mixed with vitamins and pain medications.
If the idea of jumping on a bus and paying $90 to $200 to cure a hangover in about 45 sounds a tad sketchy, we don’t blame you. Experts say it does work, though—you want to hydrate to counteract the diuretic effect of alcohol on your body. But hey, men do stupid things to cure hangovers every day. Here are three common “remedies” you shouldn’t attempt.
More from MensHealth.com: 11 Ways to Ease a Hangover Tylenol Be careful of what pain medication you take for that jackhammer in your head, says Robert Swift, M.D., a professor at Brown University’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. Acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol—needs to be metabolized by the liver just like alcohol.
- A night of drinking disrupts your liver from fully breaking down the toxins in acetaminophen, risking liver damage even at lower doses.
- Stick with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.
- Avoid aspirin, too, since it could upset your stomach).
- Hangover Pills This is more to protect your wallet.
But most of the stuff marketed as hangover remedies contains natural vitamins and ingredients in your foods or medicine cabinet already. “Taking these special hangover pills is not essential because you don’t lose that many vitamins on a single hangover,” says Samir Zakhari, Ph.D., director of the Division of Metabolism and Health Effects at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
- If you already take a multivitamin, go ahead and pop one in the morning, says Zakhari,.
- Drinking coffee will make you feel just as alert.
- Most over-the-counter hangover remedies already have caffeine in them, and at least coffee also hydrates you.
- An athlete with a hangover, or any injury, must be ready to recover.
Find ways to get moving in The Athlete’s Book of Home Remedies,) Hair of the Dog You’re just delaying the inevitable. Drinking again never lets the body recover, and your brain cells stay dehydrated and your blood vessels remain dilated—making that headache return again later, says Swift,Giving some alcohol back terminates the mini-withdrawal briefly.
- Eventually you’ll just have the same symptoms like headache and nausea,” he says.
- Instead, replace those lost fluids (think about how much you pee) by downing 8 ounces of water every hour you’re awake after drinking.
- If you drink too much water too quickly, you fill up and stretch an already irritated stomach, and that can produce nausea and even more vomiting, says Swift.
A bottle of sports drink will also help replace lost electrolytes. Today’s Free PDF Download: Discover the Power of P90X Director of Content Operations, Runner’s World & Bicycling Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
Can you have alcohol with Tylenol or Advil?
Alcohol and Tylenol (or other pain relievers) Don’t Mix Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is an antipyretic (fever reducer) and analgesic (pain reliever). Large doses or long-term usage can cause liver damage. Alcoholic beverages increase the chance of liver toxicity from acetaminophen, or will worsen the liver damage that acetaminophen can cause.
Ibuprofen (Advil) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers and stomach perforations in people who take chronic ibuprofen treatment. Ibuprofen can cause severe toxic effects to the kidneys. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin) is an analgesic.
Aspirin can cause severe stomach upset. People with liver damage should avoid taking aspirin. Alcoholic beverages can aggravate the stomach irritation caused by aspirin. The risk of aspirin-related ulcers is increased by alcohol. Overdose symptoms of these drugs include upset stomach, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, liver or kidney damage, liver or kidney failure, and even coma.
Non-narcotic analgesics like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, when mixed with alcohol, increase possible irritation and bleeding in the stomach and intestines. Some analgesics may also contribute to liver damage that heavy alcohol consumption causes. |
Alcohol and Tylenol (or other pain relievers) Don’t Mix
Is Advil the same as ibuprofen?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com, Last updated on March 20, 2023. Both Motrin and Advil are NSAIDs but is one stronger or more likely to cause side effects compared to the other? There is no real difference. Motrin and Advil are both brands of ibuprofen and are equally effective.
- Motrin, Motrin IB and Advil are brand names for the drug ibuprofen.
- Ibuprofen belongs to a group of medicines called NSAIDs,
- Other brands of ibuprofen available in the U.S.
- Include Genpril, Midol IB, and Proprinal.
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil) is a Nonselective NSAID Ibuprofen is called a nonselective NSAID, because it blocks COX-2 enzymes (involved in pain signalling and inflammation) and also COX-1 enzymes (associated with a protective effect on stomach lining).
This makes it effective at relieving pain and reducing inflammation, but there is a risk of stomach-related side effects. Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil) is a Short-Acting NSAID Ibuprofen is a short-acting NSAID, with a relatively quick onset of action.
It is better suited for the treatment of acute pain, and is the most appropriate NSAID for children. Ibuprofen tablets/capsules need to be given every four to six hours. Risk of Gastrointestinal Side Effects with Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil) is Low Compared With Some Other NSAIDs Research has discovered that the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects such as stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding increases the longer somebody takes NSAIDS.
Ibuprofen is less likely to cause GI side effects because it is short-acting. To reduce the risk of GI side effects, NSAIDS should only be taken at their lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible time. Doubling up on NSAIDs (for example taking both Aleve and Motrin at the same time or adding in a different type of NSAID such as Aleve) is unnecessary, and to be avoided as it increases the risk of both GI and cardiovascular side effects.
- If you are prescribed low-dose aspirin to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, then talk to your doctor BEFORE taking NSAIDs, as these may negate the protective effects of aspirin.
- NSAIDs Increase the Risk Of Cardiovascular Side Effects Another worrying side effect of some NSAIDs is an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as a heart attack.
Research has identified that those NSAIDs that have more of a tendency to block COX-2 compared to COX-1 have an increased risk of thrombosis (blood clotting). Low-dose ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin in dosages up to 1200mg per day) has a low risk of causing adverse cardiovascular events.
- However, higher dosages of ibuprofen (up to the recommended maximum of 2400mg/day) are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events.
- People who have already had a heart attack or stroke should talk to their doctor before using NSAIDs.
- One study showed that even one or two doses of ibuprofen or diclofenac (another NSAID) increased the risk of another cardiovascular event.
NSAIDS should also not be used after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and all NSAIDS carry a warning that they can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, so should only be used under a doctor’s supervision, particularly in people with a history of heart disease.
- Reassuringly, the risk of a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, stroke, or death is extremely small when NSAIDs are prescribed for short periods of time – such as for a musculoskeletal injury – in people at low cardiovascular risk.
- Other Side Effects Common to all NSAIDs All NSAIDs have been associated with kidney toxicity and allergic-type reactions.
NSAIDs also interact with other medications including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics, clopidogrel, warfarin, dabigatran and aspirin. Bottom Line In summary, Motrin, Motrin IB and Advil are all brands of ibuprofen so are equally effective.
Because they are the same drug, Motrin, Motrin IB and Advil should NOT be taken together as this increases the risk of side effects such as stomach ulcers and bleeding. Motrin and Advil should also not be taken together with other NSAIDs such as Aleve (naproxen). Ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Aleve) is less likely to adversely effect the heart if taken in dosages less than 1200mg/day.
Important Guidance When taking any NSAID, the following guidance is given:
- Acetaminophen is preferred over NSAIDs, when appropriate
- If a NSAID is deemed necessary, take only the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time
- Naproxen (in dosages up to 1000mg/day) and ibuprofen (in dosages up to 1200mg/day) are the preferred NSAIDs. Ibuprofen is the most appropriate NSAID for children
- Avoid using long-acting formulations of NSAIDs as these have a higher risk of GI side effects
- Do not take any other NSAID-containing products while being treated with an NSAID
- Doctors should review the need for continued NSAID administration at each consultation
- In people with pre-existing heart disease or who have suffered a heart attack or stroke, NSAIDS should only be used with caution and only under a doctor’s supervision
- Older patients, patients with type 2 diabetes or with a history of stomach ulcers, kidney problems or at risk for heart disease are more likely to suffer from NSAID-related complications such as GI side effects, cardiovascular events, and kidney toxicity. NSAIDS should be avoided, but if deemed necessary, their usage should be monitored by a doctor.
See also: Drugs.com Compare Tool – Advil vs Motrin References
- Laura Dean, MD. Comparing NSAIDs. Pubmed Clinical Q & A. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45590/
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Making safer treatment choices BPAC NZ http://www.bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2013/October/nsaids.aspx
- Coxib and traditional NSAID Trialists’ (CNT) Collaboration, Bhala N, Emberson J, Merhi A, et al. Vascular and upper gastrointestinal effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: meta-analyses of individual participant data from randomised trials. Lancet.2013 Aug 31;382(9894):769-79. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60900-9. Epub 2013 May 30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23726390
- Advil (ibuprofen), Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Revised 06/2010 https://www.drugs.com/pro/advil.html
- Ibuprofen Revised 07/2015 Alivio Medical Products, LLC https://www.drugs.com/pro/alivio.html
- Ong CKS, Lirk P, Tan CH, Seymour RA. An Evidence-Based Update on Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. Clin Med Res.2007 Mar; 5(1): 19–34. doi: 10.3121/cmr.2007.698. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1855338/#