Concerns Taking Bactrim And Ibuprofen
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses concerns a reader has with combining Bactrim and ibuprofen.
Can I take ibuprofen 400mg while I’m on antibiotics? I’m taking Bactrim every 12 hours.
Apr 14, 2024- Ibuprofen and Bactrim can be taken together safely since there is no known interaction between them.
- Both medications can cause stomach upset, so taking them a few hours apart may help reduce this side effect.
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch with us!
I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with an infection and I understand your concern about taking ibuprofen with your antibiotics.
Ibuprofen (the generic for Advil and Motrin) is generally safe to take with most antibiotics, including Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim). There's no known interaction between ibuprofen and Bactrim, so taking them together is considered safe for most individuals.
However, it's important to note that there are a few antibiotics, like vancomycin and gentamicin, where ibuprofen should be used cautiously. These antibiotics are typically used in a hospital setting though, and are less common for everyday infections.
While you can take ibuprofen and Bactrim together, both medications can cause gastrointestinal issues like nausea and diarrhea. This is especially true when you first start taking Bactrim. To reduce the potential for these side effects, you may want to take ibuprofen and Bactrim a few hours apart.
Final Words
Thanks again for getting in touch with us! I hope you found this answer helpful and I encourage you to reach back out anytime.
References & sources
- Bactrim Prescribing Information — AccessFDA
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Ibuprofen
- A common over-the-counter pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medication.
- Antibiotics
- Medications that fight bacterial infections by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria.
- Bactrim
- A prescription antibiotic containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, used to treat bacterial infections.
- Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim
- Two antibacterial drugs combined together in Bactrim to work against bacteria.
- Interaction
- A reaction that occurs when two medications affect each other in a way that changes how they work.
- Vancomycin
- A powerful antibiotic typically used in hospital settings for serious bacterial infections.
- Gentamicin
- An antibiotic commonly used in hospitals that requires caution when combined with ibuprofen.
- Gastrointestinal
- Relating to the stomach and digestive system.
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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