{"id":630067,"date":"2024-10-09T19:57:34","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T23:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630067"},"modified":"2024-10-25T09:41:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:41:57","slug":"gabapentin-and-ibuprofen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/gabapentin-and-ibuprofen\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you take ibuprofen with gabapentin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ibuprofen<\/span><\/a> is an over-the-counter (OTC) <\/span>nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory<\/span><\/a> (NSAID) that is commonly used to reduce fever and treat mild to moderate pain from headaches, toothaches, arthritis, back pain, and menstrual cramps. <\/span>Gabapentin<\/span><\/a>, generic for Neurontin, is a prescription anticonvulsant used to treat epilepsy, a brain condition that causes seizures. Gabapentin is also commonly prescribed to help manage postherpetic neuralgia, a burning pain in the nerves and skin that occurs after shingles. In addition to neuropathic pain, the drug may be used to treat restless legs syndrome. Ibuprofen and gabapentin, which are both analgesics (drugs that relieve pain), may be taken together safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take ibuprofen with gabapentin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are no known drug interactions between <\/span>ibuprofen<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>gabapentin<\/span><\/a>, making it safe to take them together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul Pavlov, MD<\/span><\/a>, a family doctor in Biloxi, Mississippi, regularly prescribes gabapentin and ibuprofen. “Gabapentin and ibuprofen together do give better pain relief,” Dr. Pavlov says. He explains that they are safe to take together because they are “two completely different pharmacological substances” with different modes of action.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ibuprofen is an NSAID, meaning that it’s not a steroid. It works by reducing inflammation through the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), or prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS), a type of enzyme. Gabapentin, on the other hand, is a neuromodulator, a kind of drug that alters the way nerves communicate with each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

“They are pain relievers, but in different ways,” says <\/span>Craig Bowron, MD<\/span><\/a>, a St. Paul, Minnesota hospitalist. Dr. Bowron explains that ibuprofen works “through suppressing excess inflammation,” whereas gabapentin works by “toning down the nerves that are either directly or partly responsible for your pain.”<\/span><\/p>\n

With gabapentin and ibuprofen, as with any medication, the drug must match the type of pain or problem, according to <\/span>Scott Nass, MD<\/span><\/a>, a family doctor in Palm Springs, California.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if a patient has pain due to inflammation, Dr. Nass would recommend ibuprofen because it decreases inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

“If that inflammation is also causing long-term chronic nerve pain, then gabapentin might be a good addition to the ibuprofen to attack the problem from two angles and hopefully have additive effects,” Dr. Nass adds. “I have patients who feel better from taking both medicines rather than just one or the other.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Bowron says that some patients have such chronic pain that they need both medications. However, if the nerve is the primary mechanism triggering the pain, it’s generally best to prescribe gabapentin, and ibuprofen may not be needed.<\/span> An animal study<\/span><\/a> found that gabapentin can inhibit hyperalgesia, a heightened sensitivity to pain. The study concluded that it can be used as a treatment for chronic muscle pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens if you take gabapentin and ibuprofen together?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Taking gabapentin and ibuprofen together is deemed to be safe and may even be beneficial for some patients. There are no known interactions between the two drugs. The patient must consult their healthcare provider about whether taking ibuprofen with gabapentin will work for their unique situation. Both gabapentin and ibuprofen carry side effects, both independently and when taken together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Potential <\/span>side effects of gabapentin<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n