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Medicine safety

Can I take heartburn medicine together with painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen?

Paracetamol is generally fine to take with common heartburn medicines, but ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory painkillers can irritate the stomach and worsen reflux or ulcers. Always check with a pharmacist or doctor before combining medicines.

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.

For pain relief when you have heartburn or indigestion, paracetamol is usually the gentler choice on the stomach and does not typically clash with antacids or acid-reducing medicines. Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin can increase stomach acid irritation and raise the risk of ulcers and bleeding, so they are best avoided or used with care if you have reflux or ulcer problems.

Doses, timing and suitability depend on your other medicines and health conditions, so this is informational rather than a personal recommendation. A pharmacist can check for interactions, for example with blood thinners, and advise the safest option for you.

Seek urgent care or call your local emergency number if you develop severe stomach pain, vomit blood, or pass black tarry stools while taking anti-inflammatory painkillers, as these can be signs of a serious stomach bleed.

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