Drug & supplement interaction

Aloe + Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen brand name: Combogesic.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen falls into 2 drug categories that Aloe can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, aloe gel might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Aloe and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Aloe interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Aloe in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Aloe interacts with.

Theoretically, aloe gel might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro research shows that aloe gel can inhibit platelet aggregation. This inhibition was greater than that seen with celecoxib, but less than that seen with aspirin.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist for Combogesic, which pairs acetaminophen with ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is an NSAID, and NSAIDs already have a mild blood-thinning effect because they slow down how platelets stick together. Some lab research suggests oral aloe gel can do something similar, so taking the two together might, in theory, add up to a slightly higher chance of bruising or bleeding (think nosebleeds, an upset stomach, or stomach irritation that ibuprofen can already cause).

I want to be honest: this is based on test-tube studies, not on real patients, so the actual risk is probably small. Still, if you use oral aloe regularly or have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

References
  1. Mushtaq S, Mushtaq Z, Sarfraz J, et al. Comparison of effect of aloe vera gel with aspirin and celecoxib on platelet aggregation. Professional Med J. 2020; 27(5):973-978. DOI
Minor

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

2 of 2

Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, aloe might decrease the levels and clinical effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
In vitro research shows that aloe extract induces CYP1A2 enzymes.
Severity Minor Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the short version on combining oral aloe with Combogesic (the acetaminophen plus ibuprofen combo). Some lab studies hint that aloe may speed up an enzyme called CYP1A2, which could nudge the body to clear certain drugs a little faster. In theory, that might make a pain reliever work slightly less well. The honest truth, though, is that this is rated minor and comes only from test-tube and animal work, not from real people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Neither acetaminophen nor ibuprofen is a prodrug, so you don't have to worry about aloe boosting them into stronger effects. If you take oral aloe regularly (not just aloe gel on your skin) and feel your pain relief isn't lasting, mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Haron MH, Dale O, Martin K, et al. Evaluation of the Herb-Drug Interaction Potential of Commonly Used Botanicals on the US Market with Regard to PXR- and AhR-Mediated Influences on CYP3A4 and CYP1A2. J Diet Suppl 2022. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Aloe Also Interacts With Other Medications

Aloe has 1 major, 303 moderate, 156 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Aloe

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Aloe. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen

This page covers Aloe only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen page lists 342 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 7 major · 290 moderate · 45 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen page

“Combogesic pairs acetaminophen with ibuprofen, so it inherits the vulnerabilities of both drugs, and its supplement list deserves real attention before you add anything to it. Of the 342 ingredients on file, 7 carry a major rating, and those are the ones to understand first.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Aloe as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,978 real supplement products containing Aloe, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Aloe. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen too, on top of Aloe — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Aloe and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Aloe
Top 10%

#87 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen
Top 25%

#405 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Aloe

What is Aloe?

Aloe
  • Minor burns and skin irritation
  • Wound healing
  • Constipation
  • Skin hydration and moisturizing
  • Digestive complaints
  • Hair and scalp care

Aloe vera gel is widely used on the skin for minor burns and irritation, and some research suggests it may help. Aloe latex (the yellow part) is a strong laxative that can cause cramping and is not considered safe for regular use. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking aloe by mouth, and avoid oral aloe during pregnancy.

Read the full Aloe monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Aloe

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Aloe — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

1Major
303Moderate
156Minor
2,369No known interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

303 interactions

Showing 60 of 303 moderate interactions — see all 303 on the Aloe page.

Minor

156 interactions

Showing 60 of 156 minor interactions — see all 156 on the Aloe page.

No interaction 2,369 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Aloe and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen Together: Common Questions

Can you take Aloe with Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Aloe and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen?
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen belongs to more than one drug category, and Aloe interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Aloe and Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.