Drug Interactions with Motrin
When taking Motrin or medication with ibuprofen in it, it is very important to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medication, supplement or drug you take. This includes nutritional supplements, herbs, recreational drugs, coffee and alcohol. These substances can interact with the Motrin and alter the way it works. Your health care provider may change your dosage or suggest a different drug for you to take. Also, talk to your doctor if you plan to start or stop taking any of your medications.
The following is an incomplete list of drugs and other substances that may interact with Motrin. Consult with your doctor if your medication is on this list, and read the “IMPORTANT WARNING” on the package before taking.
- Alcohol
- Alendronate, taken to prevent bone loss
- Other NSAIDs, including aspirin. (If you use aspirin long term, your chances of stomach bleeding are increased.)
- Other anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Aleve or prednisone)
- Entecavir, for hepatitis-B infections
- Cidofovir, taken for eye infections in HIV patients
- Entecavir, for hepatitis-B infections
- Cyclosporine, given to transplant patients
- water pills (diuretics)
- Blood pressure medications, such as ACE inhibitors
- Blood thinners such as Coumadin
- Medicines that treat or prevent blood clots such as warfarin and other "blood thinners"
- Methotrexate, chemotherapy drug
- Pemetrexed, a chemotherapy drug
- Herbal products that contain feverfew, garlic, ginger, or ginkgo biloba
- Lithium medication, such as Eskolith Lithobid
Side Effects
Most people can take Motrin without experiencing side effects. But there are a few that deserve mention. Some side effects require immediate medical attention; for the others consult your doctor. If you experience serious side effects, stop taking the medication and seek the appropriate help, either immediate medical attention or a call to your doctor. Elderly people are more at risk for side effects of Motrin.
The NSAID class of drugs, of which Motrin is one, has been found to cause serious and fatal cardiovascular events. Seek immediate medical attention if you have chest pains, weakness, and shortness of breath, slurred speech or vision or balance problems.
Although Motrin may be better tolerated by the stomach than aspirin, problems in 5% to 15% of patients who take it still occur. As with any NSAID, GI side effects from ibuprofen can be serious, and even fatal. Symptoms that require immediate medical attention include: bleeding in stomach or intestines, black, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Allergy also may occur in some individuals, which would take the form of a rash, wheezing, and/or problems breathing or swallowing. These are serious – you should stop taking Motrin and call your doctor immediately.
Other symptoms that require immediate medical attention include changes in your vision, signs of infection, unexplained weight gain, bruising, cloudy or discolored urine, painful urination, yellowing of the eyes, red eyes, swelling.
If the following symptoms persist, you should talk to your doctor about them:
- upset stomach, heartburn, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea
- headache
- dizzy or lightheaded
- nervous
- ringing in the ears
- fluid retention
Storing
Safely store your Motrin by keeping it tightly closed in the container it came in, away from heat and moisture. This means not keeping it in the bathroom. Also, this drug should be kept at room temperature. Discard it if it is outdated, or you don’t need it anymore. You can ask you pharmacist the best way to do that. Keep Motrin and other ibuprofen products out of the reach of children.
What Did You Learn About Motrin for Back Pain? Take the Motrin Quiz.
Now that you have read up on taking Motrin for back or neck pain, you can test your knowledge on the subject by taking the Motrin for Back Pain Quiz. Quizzing yourself helps you to ingrain the facts and details about the medication, and may help you pick up some safety information you didn't get the first time. There is also an Aspirin for Back Pain Quiz, and a Tylenol for Back Pain Quiz, so try them all and you will go into the drugstore armed with the information you need to make the best possible choice for you.
Hersh, EV, Pinto, A, Moore, PA. Adverse drug interactions involving common prescription and over-the-counter analgesic agents. Clint her 2007.
Brunton, L., Lazo, J, Parker, K. Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 11th ed. McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division. 2006.
Ibuprofen. Medline Plus. Oct. 2007.
Hochadel, M., PhD., ed., The AARP Guide to Pills., Gold Standard Publishers. Tampa, Fl 2006.
Ibuprofen Drugs@FDA
