Can you take ibuprofen with Augmentin?
Yes, you can take ibuprofen with Augmentin. Currently, no studies indicate a negative effect of combining ibuprofen with Augmentin.
What should you pay attention to when taking ibuprofen and Augmentin?
Although ibuprofen and Augmentin do not interact, you should know that each can cause side effects.
Before taking ibuprofen, you should ensure you have no liver or kidney disease [1]. Ibuprofen has a nephrotoxic effect, so it could worsen any present kidney disease [2]. It is also metabolized in the liver, and thus, in some liver diseases, its metabolism can be slower.
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Some factors like older age and alcohol use increase the risk of getting both stomach irritation and the ulcer creation [3, 5].
Furthermore, ibuprofen is not recommended for women after the 20th week of pregnancy. Pregnant women in advanced weeks should consult their gynecologist before taking ibuprofen [1].
Also, ibuprofen is contraindicated when you are on aspirin. Taking both medications together can lead to drug interactions [6].
You must also know that ibuprofen can cause lip swelling [7].
Among the side effects of Augmentin are particularly common gastrointestinal ones, such as abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and nausea. However, you may also experience skin rashes [8].
Before taking Augmentin at home, confirm you have no allergy to penicillin. Amoxicillin, the antibiotic in Augmentin, is a penicillin [9]. Taking it while you are allergic to penicillin can result in a severe and life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.
How does ibuprofen work?
Ibuprofen is a common pain killer. It is sold over-the-counter and belongs to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [10]. Its main mechanism inhibits prostaglandin production, reducing pain and inflammation [11].
How does Augmentin work?
Augmentin is a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium. It is a penicillin antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall production [12].
Augmentin can be used, among other things, against bacterial respiratory tract infections and infections of the skin and urinary tract [13].
Nevertheless, always remember that Augmentin is an antibiotic and works only against bacterial infections [13]. Therefore, before taking the antibiotic, you should confirm with a doctor that your infection is of bacterial origin.
Can you take Tylenol with Augmentin?
Tylenol is a common alternative when you cannot take ibuprofen or just don’t want to.
The active substance in Tylenol is acetaminophen, which does not interact with Augmentin [14, 15].
However, if you experience any adverse effects when taking Tylenol with Augmentin, report it to your doctor.
What is Tylenol?
Tylenol is a common over-the-counter drug against pain and fever [16].
The exact action mechanism of Tylenol is not known. However, scientists believe that the primary way of Tylenol's action is a limitation of prostaglandin synthesis. It is similar to ibuprofen but lacks the anti-inflammatory effect [17, 18].
Some other proposals for Tylenol's action include inhibiting the descending serotonergic pathway, making you feel less pain [17].