{"id":630534,"date":"2024-11-20T10:33:06","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T15:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630534"},"modified":"2025-10-06T11:18:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T15:18:03","slug":"ibuprofen-for-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ibuprofen-for-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Does ibuprofen help with allergies?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ibuprofen is a <\/span>nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug<\/span><\/a> (NSAID) sold over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription, often under brand names such as Motrin or Advil. It\u2019s designed to treat fevers and pain associated with common problems like headaches, muscle pain, toothaches, and menstrual cramps, but it goes one step further than pain relievers such as acetaminophen by <\/span>helping reduce the inflammation<\/span><\/a> that\u2019s causing your pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most people, however, may not consider taking ibuprofen when their seasonal allergies flare up\u2014after all, it\u2019s not an <\/span>antihistamine<\/span><\/a>. While ibuprofen can\u2019t prevent the immune response from causing your itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing, it can provide relief in other ways. Here\u2019s what to know about taking ibuprofen for allergies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does ibuprofen help with allergies?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cIbuprofen can reduce some of the symptoms associated with allergies, like headache and <\/span>sinus pain or pressure from congestion<\/span><\/a>,\u201d says <\/span>Kathleen Dass<\/span><\/a>, MD, allergist and immunologist based in Oak Park, Michigan.<\/span><\/p>\n

But ibuprofen won\u2019t address the cause of your allergies, whether that\u2019s pollen, pet dander, mold, dust, or something else entirely. To treat allergies, you\u2019ll need to employ a combination of strategies, according to the <\/span>Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)<\/span><\/a>. One is to limit or avoid your allergy triggers altogether. The other is to take medications that either prevent the release of histamines in your body when you\u2019re exposed to an allergen (like an antihistamine) or directly stop the symptoms (like a decongestant for a stuffy nose). Ibuprofen can\u2019t do either of those things\u2014it can only relieve pain symptoms associated with allergies.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cIn general, ibuprofen isn\u2019t known to interact with common OTC allergy medications,\u201d says <\/span>Erika Gray<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., cofounder of Toolbox Genomics. In fact, she notes that diphenhydramine (an antihistamine that\u2019s the active ingredient in Benadryl) is sometimes combined with ibuprofen or acetaminophen in certain cold and allergy medications. For example, <\/span>Advil PM<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Motrin PM<\/span><\/a> combine ibuprofen and diphenhydramine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although ibuprofen doesn\u2019t interact with allergy medications, you still have to be careful of exceeding the recommended dosage, especially with those combination medications. For example, if Motrin PM is your choice of ibuprofen, you should be aware of the fact that it contains diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl. So, taking Motrin PM and Benadryl together could put you over the recommended dosage of diphenhydramine. Similarly, Advil Allergy Sinus is an allergy medication that <\/span>contains 200 milligrams (mg) of ibuprofen<\/span><\/a>, so taking additional ibuprofen with it may put you over the maximum recommended dosage of ibuprofen, depending on your age and weight. Always consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist before combining medication. They can tell you how much is safe to take together.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Allergy Medicine Coupons & Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

Ibuprofen dosage for allergies<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you want to take ibuprofen for allergies, make sure you follow the standard dosing directions or the directions provided on the package. Because ibuprofen doesn\u2019t interact with common OTC allergy medications, you don\u2019t need to adjust your dose if you\u2019re also taking something like Benadryl, for example. The exception is if you\u2019re taking a combination drug, as mentioned earlier. For example, if you\u2019re taking ibuprofen together with <\/span>Advil Allergy Sinus<\/span><\/a>, you need to limit how much total ibuprofen you\u2019re taking to avoid too much at once.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Dass, <\/span>the right dosage of ibuprofen<\/span><\/a> is dependent primarily on age and weight. But in young children, body temperature (i.e., how high their fever is) may also determine the dose. If you need to know how much ibuprofen to give a child between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old,\u00a0 contact your child\u2019s healthcare provider, who will <\/span>calculate the right dosage<\/span><\/a> based on their age, weight, and symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In general, children under 6 months old shouldn\u2019t take ibuprofen. Children 2 years and older can take the appropriate amount based on their body weight. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a helpful <\/span>chart for calculating the correct dose<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

For adults and children 12 years and older, Dr. Dass says the usual dosage of ibuprofen is 200\u2013400 mg every 4\u20136 hours, as needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ibuprofen side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n

Even though ibuprofen is an OTC medication, it still carries risks, although Dr. Gray says that appropriate, infrequent use of ibuprofen usually doesn\u2019t cause any side effects. But if you take this medication regularly or in higher dosages, <\/span>common side effects of ibuprofen<\/span><\/a> may include:<\/span><\/p>\n