Can Gabapentin Be Taken With Acetaminophen Or Ibuprofen?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not gabapentin can safely be combined with Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen.
Is it safe to take ibuprofen or acetaminophen with gabapentin for pain?
Oct 25, 2022- Gabapentin can be safely taken together with acetaminophen or ibuprofen with no known interactions between them. Taking gabapentin with either pain reliever may actually work better for pain relief than using either drug alone. These medications work in different ways and are commonly used together, especially after surgery to help manage pain and reduce the need for opioids.
Answer
Yes, gabapentin can safely be taken with either Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen (generic for Advil and Motrin). There is no known interaction between them.
In fact, a number of studies show that combining either Tylenol or ibuprofen with gabapentin can improve pain symptoms more than either drug alone. Let's take a look at each combination.
Gabapentin With Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
Studies have shown that the combination of gabapentin and Tylenol can have two potential benefits:
- Decreased pain symptoms post-surgery
- Decreased need for opioids post-surgery
One such study reported the following:
The addition of preoperative gabapentin and acetaminophen to a VATS lobectomy [video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lung lobe removal] multimodal analgesic regimen reduces the incidence of high dose postoperative opioid consumption without observed negative side effects.
Gabapentin and Tylenol (acetaminophen) work in different ways, and are typically used for different types of pain (e.g., nerve pain vs. general musculoskeletal pain) and don't share many similar side effects (aside from general nausea, etc.,) so it's not surprising that their combined use can be more effective than either alone.
You can feel safe combining gabapentin with Tylenol.
Gabapentin With Ibuprofen
Just as with Tylenol, gabapentin is also safe to take with ibuprofen. This is a question we've answered before (which you can find here) and similar to what I wrote above, many studies have found the combined use of gabapentin and ibuprofen to be more effective than either drug alone.
One such study reported:
Gabapentin and ibuprofen independently alter the facilitated state as measured by somatomotor and autonomic response. Together these agents interact in an additive fashion if delivered concurrently. This combination may prove useful in managing postinjury pain states in humans.
Similar studies, which have evaluated the combined use of gabapentin with a different NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), naproxen (generic of Aleve), have found the same results:
These data suggest that gabapentin + naproxen and pregabalin + naproxen can interact synergistically or additively to reverse thermal hyperalgesia associated with peripheral inflammation. Therefore, the use of gabapentin or pregabalin in low-dose combinations with naproxen may afford therapeutic advantages for clinical treatment of persistent inflammatory pain.
Final Words
I hope you found this answer helpful in showing that there is no interaction between gabapentin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. Your symptoms may actually be better treated when you take gabapentin with either or those pain relievers.
References & sources
- "Protective premedication": a comparative study of acetaminophen, gabapentin and combination of acetaminophen with gabapentin for post-operative analgesia — PubMed
- Effect of preoperative gabapentin and acetaminophen on opioid consumption in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a retrospective study — PubMed
- Gabapentin and pregabalin can interact synergistically with naproxen to produce antihyperalgesia — PubMed
- Gabapentin Monograph — PubChem
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Gabapentin
- A medication used to treat nerve pain and certain types of seizures.
- Acetaminophen
- A common pain reliever and fever reducer sold under the brand name Tylenol.
- Ibuprofen
- A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation.
- Opioids
- Strong pain-relieving medications that carry a risk of dependence and are typically used for severe pain.
- VATS lobectomy
- A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove a portion of a lung using a camera and small instruments.
- Multimodal analgesic regimen
- A treatment approach using multiple types of pain-relieving medications together to manage pain more effectively.
- NSAID
- A class of anti-inflammatory medications that reduce pain and inflammation without being opioids.
- Hyperalgesia
- An increased sensitivity to pain where normally painful stimuli feel even more painful than usual.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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