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Medicine safety

Can I take ibuprofen with low-dose aspirin?

Taking ibuprofen with low-dose aspirin can reduce aspirin's heart-protective effect and increases bleeding risk, so check with your doctor about timing or alternatives.

Deze informatie is uitsluitend bedoeld als algemene richtlijn en vormt geen medisch advies. Raadpleeg altijd een gekwalificeerde zorgprofessional voor persoonlijke medische vragen. Bel in geval van nood uw lokale alarmnummer.

Many people take low-dose aspirin daily to protect against heart attack or stroke. Ibuprofen can compete with aspirin and block its protective action on platelets if taken at the wrong time, potentially undermining why the aspirin was prescribed. Both are also NSAIDs, so combining them raises the risk of stomach irritation and bleeding.

If you must use ibuprofen occasionally while on cardioprotective aspirin, dosing advice on spacing them apart exists, but this should be guided by a doctor or pharmacist rather than self-managed. Paracetamol is often a better pain-relief choice in this situation as it does not interfere with aspirin or significantly raise bleeding risk.

Speak to your healthcare provider before regularly combining them. Seek urgent care for signs of bleeding such as black stools, blood in vomit, easy bruising, or unusual fatigue.

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