Don't Take Ibuprofen With This Decongestant Without Talking To Your Doctor

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by blocking certain chemicals in the body that cause pain, inflammation, and fever. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, SudoGest), on the other hand, is a nasal decongestant that works by narrowing blood vessels and shrinking swollen nasal tissue, opening up blocked sinuses. When used together, they provide effective relief for people with cold and flu by treating symptoms like stuffy nose, sinus congestion, pain, and fever.

Just like with any medications, however, this combination of drugs may not be appropriate for all people. You should read the warnings on the package before using medications containing these two drugs and consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. However, the following are some of the medical reasons that you would want to avoid taking medications containing ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine.

Cigna discusses some of the reasons you would want to consult your healthcare provider before taking medications containing both ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine. They advise not taking them before or after heart bypass surgery since this can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Additionally, these medications can cause serious stomach or intestinal bleeding which older people especially will want to be cautious about. If you are allergic to ibuprofen or pseudoephedrine or have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking another NSAID, you should avoid taking them as well. Further, anyone who has taken an MAOI within the past 14 days should not take these medications as this could lead to dangerously high blood pressure. It is also not advised for children under 12 to take them. Pregnant people should avoid taking them unless it is recommended by a physician since NSAIDs can cause serious heart or kidney problems for the baby and pregnancy complications if taken later in pregnancy. It is also wise to check with your doctor before breastfeeding if you are taking ibuprofen with pseudoephedrine.

MedicineNet adds that people with the following conditions should be cautious when taking medications containing ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine: high blood pressure, heart disease, liver or kidney problems, thyroid disease, high blood sugar, diabetes, enlarged prostate, peptic ulcer, or glaucoma.

As the Mayo Clinic points out, remedies like ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine don't cure a cold or the flu; they are really about finding relief from the symptoms. With that in mind, there are safer ways to seek relief.

They suggest drinking plenty of fluids like water, juice, broth, chicken soup, tea, warm apple juice, or warm water with lemon and honey to help loosen congestion and prevent dehydration. Getting lots of rest will help too.

Honey is a great remedy for coughs in adults and children over the age of 1, according to the Mayo Clinic. You can add it to warm tea or lemon water.

Finally, they recommend using a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to help with congestion. Adding a few drops of essential oils like chamomile, tea tree, eucalyptus, or peppermint to a pot of boiling water and inhaling it may be helpful as well, according to Healthline.