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Is It Dangerous to Drink Alcohol While Taking Ibuprofen?

What's the Deal With Alcohol and Ibuprofen?

March 4, 2009

If you wake up with a headache after a night of overindulging, sometimes figuring out what painkiller to take can make the headache even worse. I've heard that it's bad to take acetaminophen (aka Tylenol), because it can lead to liver damage, but take note: you're also not supposed to drink while taking ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is part of the anti-inflammatory drug family known as NSAIDs, which can cause tears in the stomach lining if taken on an empty tummy. Add alcohol to the mix, and the potential danger is heightened. If you take ibuprofen when drinking more than the recommended amount for women (about two to three drinks), you increase your risk of stomach irritation and bleeding. This is especially true for people who are prone to ulcers.

But wait! Taking Tylenol when you're hungover isn't such a good idea either. To find out why, read more.

Acetaminophen can lead to liver damage if you take it in large doses (that's 4,000 milligrams, or eight extra-strength Tylenol) for more than a couple of days. Heavy drinkers who take acetaminophen and don't eat enough can overtax their livers. However, the risks associated with taking Tylenol after recreational drinking are somewhat blurry. According to The Straight Dope:

I'll spare you the biochemistry, but basically acetaminophen and alcohol in combination overwhelm the liver's ability to remove toxins from your bloodstream. . . . It's not clear from the medical literature what happens if you take acetaminophen after a one-time bender (as opposed to chronic alcohol abuse). But don't substitute some other painkiller — aspirin and ibuprofen can have side effects too. Better to be suffering than dead.

So what's a hungover, headache-plagued gal to do — besides not drinking so much in the first place? Since the jury is still out on the exact effects of combining Advil or Tylenol with booze, probably best just to tough it out. Maybe even try a natural remedy like yoga. Got one that works for you? Share it in the comments.

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50 Comments

AshJ82 9 weeks 6 days

This is kind of scary, since basically everyone takes tylenol or ibuprofen before they go to bed after a night of drinking. Isn't that what we're taught from a young age? :) Maybe we should try aminoactiv instead? It's a natural anti-inflammatory that doesn't have the side effects with your stomach. I would hate to think we actually have to experience the hangover to stay in good health.

danakscully64 21 weeks 2 days

I know this is a very old post, but I came across it today and thought I'd contribute for future readers. Be careful when even mixing ONE alcoholic drink with Advil. I once had a drink and shortly after had a headache. I took 2 Advil and hours later, I had intestinal bleeding. I had no idea it could happen, but read online that it can. Luckily it was minor, but be aware.

JKlein725 50 weeks 6 days

If you want to avoid taking advil or any other painkillers after a long night of drinking, I suggest a cup of water whenever you get up to go to the bathroom. \u00a0Sleep as late as you can, and then once you are up for good, drink one bottle of gatorade, and have some sort of meal involving eggs. \u00a0Works for me almost every time!

Rachel2572976 1 year 5 weeks

Coconut water! Tons of potassium and electrolytes. I love the chocolate. Can hardly taste the coconut.

2 years 13 weeks

VITAMIN WATER!!! DOES THE TRICK EVERY TIME! Get the "Revive" One!!!! Promise!

2 years 14 weeks

Best remedy for a hangover is to take one aspirin and drink a big glass of water before you go to sleep. You may wake up a little "fuzzy" in the head, but you will be pain free. Its worked for me for 35 years... no acetaminophen, no ibuprofen, no MIgraine Excedrin... just aspirin... been around for over a century.

2 years 16 weeks

I think Seth Rogan says it best in the movie Knocked Up. Inhaling marijuana, (it is healthier to vaporize it rather than smoke), really is the best cure for a hangover. Though ingestion is another ROA, it is usually too slow-acting to provide the necessary relief from a hangover.

2 years 17 weeks

A hangover is dehydration - a sports drink like Gatorade is the cure. Better yet, drink a couple of glasses of Gatorade of as much water as you can before going to bed an d avoid the hangover.

2 years 24 weeks

I was doing speed for closer to a week with no sleep, so I was talking acetos, lots of them for the aches and pains. It turned out that type of speed was very toxic with alcohol as I was drinking lots and lots. kinda scary know how things work out.

2 years 24 weeks

I have had week long hangovers, 4 days of misery and couple of more feeling like a real bad hangover alcohol poisoning no doubt.

2 years 24 weeks

I usually don't believe in drinking 'lots' of water in a short time. I believe it can shock the system moreso than the hangover. Your body will let you know it is processing the water in a timely manner, getting it where it needs to go, and not being over worked with a lot of water at once. But occasionally I slam a bunch when I am really thirsty, but not to try to cure a hangover. B12 vitamins are good the before drinking. And it's good to be pleasantly drunk as apposed to walking comatose.

2 years 26 weeks

Hangover is a dual effect of dehydration and nutrient depletion. Drinking tons of water helps of course, but supplement this with the consumption of potassium and you will feel much much better. so yes, lots of water but throw in some potatoes (fried, baked) or Bananas and you will notice a big decline in recovery time. A really expensive tutor used to keep bananas for me when I showed up for Saturday lessons....

2 years 28 weeks

My question is who are all the people posting on here who don't get hangovers? They need to be studied more than ibuprofen's potential effects to the liver. I am guessing they are normal people who don't like to drink an inappropriate amount of jack and cokes and scream journey at the top of their lungs. Now that I'm reading this, I think an occasional ibuprofen is the least of my concerns. :)

2 years 30 weeks

Drink lots of water (32 oz) before you go to bed (assuming you're not vomiting). When you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom drink more water and add Advil/Motrin/Ibuprophen at this time. When you wake up in the morning, more water with a light breakfast should make you good as new. The fact is that alcohol blocks ADH (Anti-Diuretic Hormone) This causes you to lose lots of water, hence peeing a bunch when benging. So you need to restore the water balance to prevent a hangover. Works like a charm.

2 years 30 weeks

If I take an ibuprofen after a night of drinking it upsets my stomach badly. My trick is right before bed I have something to eat and at least 2 bottles of water. Even vitamin d benefits you and helps prevent hangovers. As long as you're getting proper vitamins and nutrients in your diet you can greatly reduce the side effects from drinking. Just don't go to sleep without hydrating yourself first!

2 years 42 weeks

nice one Mondaymoos, mimosas rock for hangovers! as a student well accustomed to drinking and dealing with hangovers: hits the waters before going to bed and first thing in the morning along with a square breakfast (grains, juice, a couple McDonalds burgers isn't too bad, the grease can soak any left over alcohol or bile in you're stomach) and finally exercise if you can manage it. If sweating in a yoga room don't sound appealing a walk in fresh air away from traffic is nice or just sit in the fresh air for a while. But always, always hit the waters after getting on the turps! Its the key to success!

2 years 50 weeks

Best remedy I found is to drink lots of rootbeer believe it but it work an you could take a couple of 5hr energy drinks for the fact the alcohol doesm dehydrate you an anything with sugar seems to work everytime I had a hangover which is rarly

3 years 18 weeks

H2O, sugar free sports drink, if you can't walk straight when you wake up, lay in bed and try to go back to sleep, stay hydrated, dehydration is a hangover's best friend

3 years 35 weeks

It seems I abused painkiller-alcohol combo a number of times in my youthful days. I haven't had too many hangovers in my relatively short life but back in the day I would just take painkillers without paying attention to whether they were all ibuprofen or acetaminophen based. As far as I understand the worst thing one could do is to drink alcohol and take acetaminophen based substances AFTER -these damage the liver by putting strain on the liver-the body cannot produce enough of the enzyme (something that starts with a glu) to metabolize the alcohol or the acetaminophen. with ibuprofen the main danger is to the stomach and partly to the kidneys. I have taken tylenol and/or advil and then gone out to drink and nothing ever happened but apparently especially in the case of tylenol, there can be liver damage built up over time apparently. However, most of those times that I had a headache and ended up taking something and then drinking I only took 2 pills (recommended 1 time dosage) and then drank 1-2 glasses of wine (not a hard alcoholic substance to begin with and 1-2 glasses is Ok for a woman it seems). as for cure for hangovers, I'd probably go with ibuprofen if I needed something and lots and lots of water, bed rest. Worst is that I'm prone to migraines after drinking too much and so I can't NOT have any pain medication-so the lesser of two evils I think is ibuprofen.

SF2MOGirl83 3 years 37 weeks

I have a great remedy that won't hurt any internal organs, but you apply it topically. Head On the homeopathic headache medicine. It works for me, and I like that I don't have to eat something before I take it or worry about liver issues or stomach pain. Try it, it's great for hangovers...cause sorry yoga won't cure any of my hangover headache.

3 years 40 weeks

A cup of coffee, a big sausage and eggs breakfast, a joint, and constant water will put you right. A hangover is a battle you can win if you just put your (damaged) mind to it. "Last time I was sober Man I felt bad Worst Hangover That I ever had It took six hamburgers Scotch all night Nicotine for breakfast Just to put me right 'Cause if you wanna run cool Yeah if you wanna run cool You've got to run On heavy, heavy fuel Don't care if my liver Is hangin' by a thread Don't care if my doctor Says I ought to be dead If my ugly brown car Won't climb this hill I'll write a suicide note On a hundred dollar bill... - "Heavy Heavy Fuel" by The Dire Straits

3 years 41 weeks

You can drink and take ibuprofen, you probably wont die but obviously you know it its not good for your body. Smoke some nice dank marijuana to relieve a hangover!

aimeeb 4 years 11 weeks

I always make sure to chug water before I go to bed and eat some burnt toast. It's rare I drink that much or even get hangovers so I don't have to worry about this all too often.

Advah 4 years 11 weeks

Hah I tried ibuprofen to cure a hangover for the first time on 1 Jan, and, well, it wasn't a good idea (let's avoid details). I'll stick to my sleeping-carbs-drinking water method. Haven't been able to even smell alcohol since that episode anyway, which means I should just stay away from alcohol for a little while.. :oy:

Advah 4 years 11 weeks

Hah I tried ibuprofen to cure a hangover for the first time on 1 Jan, and, well, it wasn't a good idea (let's avoid details). I'll stick to my sleeping-carbs-drinking water method.Haven't been able to even smell alcohol since that episode anyway, which means I should just stay away from alcohol for a little while.. :oy:

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