Taking ibuprofen and codeine with other medicines and herbal supplements

There are some medicines that do not mix well with combined ibuprofen and codeine and can affect how well it works.

Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking, or have recently had, any other medicines, including:

• anticoagulants, such as warfarin
• other anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as aspirin (including a daily low dose of 75mg), diclofenac, mefenamic acid or naproxen
• medicines for high blood pressure
• diuretic medicines, such as furosemide or spironolactone
• steroid medicines such as prednisolone
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin or ofloxacin
• antidepressants, such as citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline or venlafaxine
• other antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• methotrexate (a medicine for psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• lithium (a medicine for mental health problems)
• ciclosporin or tacrolimus, medicines used after a transplant and for the treatment of psoriasis
• zidovudine, a medicine to treat HIV
• other medicines that can make you sleepy, such as sleeping pills, tranquillisers, or medicines for anxiety
• medicines used to treat nausea and vomiting, such as domperidone or metoclopramide
• medicines for diarrhoea, such as loperamide (Imodium)
• cimetidine, a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers
• mifepristone, a medicine used for abortion

These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with combined ibuprofen and codeine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Taking ibuprofen and codeine with other painkillers

It's safe to take combined ibuprofen and codeine with paracetamol.

Do not take combined ibuprofen and codeine with ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen.

Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). If you take them together, the ibuprofen plus aspirin or naproxen may increase the chance of you getting side effects, like stomach ache, or serious issues such as stomach bleeds.

Many medicines you can buy from pharmacies have NSAIDs as ingredients. These include cough and cold remedies such as Nurofen Cold & Flu or Beechams Powders.

Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain codeine, ibuprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs.