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Medicine safety

Can I take aspirin and ibuprofen together for pain?

Taking full-dose aspirin and ibuprofen together is generally not recommended because both are NSAIDs and the combination raises the risk of stomach bleeding without added benefit.

Esta información es solo orientativa de carácter general y no constituye un consejo médico. Consulta siempre a un profesional sanitario cualificado para cualquier asunto médico personal. En caso de emergencia, llama al número de emergencias de tu zona.

Aspirin and ibuprofen are both NSAIDs, so taking them together for pain means doubling up on the same type of medicine and its risks, particularly stomach irritation, ulcers, and bleeding, while gaining little extra pain relief. For stronger relief, pairing an NSAID with paracetamol is usually safer.

This is different from the situation of low-dose aspirin taken for heart protection, where the concern is that ibuprofen can interfere with aspirin's effect and timing matters; that should be managed with a doctor's advice.

If one painkiller is not enough, ask a pharmacist about combining ibuprofen with paracetamol instead. Seek urgent care for signs of gastrointestinal bleeding such as black stools, blood in vomit, or severe stomach pain.

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