Taking Nexium With Ibuprofen

In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the safety of taking Nexium and ibuprofen together.

Question

Does esomeprazole (generic Nexium) react badly when taken with ibuprofen? For example, can I still take Advil or Tylenol if I also take esomeprazole on the same day?

Asked by Mindy On Mar 17, 2023

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Mar 17, 2023
Last updated Mar 26, 2024

Key points

  • There is no known interaction between ibuprofen (Advil), an NSAID, and esomeprazole (Nexium), a PPI. They are considered safe to take together.
  • In fact, the combination of both may reduce the risk of NSAID-related side effects.

Answer

Thanks for reaching out to us! Yes, it is safe to take Nexium (esomeprazole) and ibuprofen together. There is no interaction between them. In fact, in many cases, taking a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) like Nexium reduces the risk of some of the more serious side effects ibuprofen can cause.

Combining Nexium & Ibuprofen

Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and lower fever. It is the active ingredient in a number of over-the-counter products, including Advil and Motrin.

Although relatively well-tolerated when used for short amounts of time, long-term use of NSAIDs is associated with an increased risk of stomach bleeding and ulceration. This is where PPIs, like Nexium, can come in to provide some positive benefit.

Studies have shown that the use of PPIs, such as Nexium, can significantly reduce the risk of gastrointestinal problems caused by NSAIDs.

For example, one study reported the following:

Once-daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy also decreases the development of NSAID-associated ulcers and recurrent NSAID-related ulcer complications; it also decreases upper GI symptoms in NSAID users.
Rev Gastroenterol Disord . 2004;4 Suppl 4:S33-41

Another study found that the use of PPIs in combination with NSAIDs reduced the risk of symptomatic ulcers compared to the use of H2 receptor antagonists (drugs like Zantac and Pepcid).

Vimovo Contains An NSAID & PPI

Interestingly enough, there is a prescription drug on the market called Vimovo, which combines esomeprazole and naproxen, another NSAID in the same class as ibuprofen.

Vimovo is used to treat symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

The combination of esomeprazole and naproxen reduces the risk of stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding in individuals who require long-term NSAID therapy, just like I described above.

There is no single drug product that contains ibuprofen and esomeprazole, the drugs you are asking about in your question, but Vimovo is pretty close.

Final Words

Overall, the use of Nexium with ibuprofen is considered safe, and the combination is often prescribed to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal problems caused by NSAIDs, so yes, they can be taken the same day (as asked in your question). Tylenol is safe as well.

I hope this answer helped clear things up for you!

Thanks for again for contacting us. Please do so again anytime.

References

  • Coprescribing proton-pump inhibitors with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: risks versus benefits, PubMed
  • Proton pump inhibitor co-therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs--nice or necessary?, PubMed
  • The use of proton pump inhibitors in treating and preventing NSAID-induced mucosal damage, PubMed

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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