As cough and cold season approaches again, doctors are warning people not to mix painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications with other forms of medication.
More specifically, many medical professionals believe that taking paracetamol or ibuprofen with certain common tablets may be counterintuitive or even dangerous.
Let’s start with the former. For those who need a reminder, paracetamol is a painkiller you can buy over the counter.
Sometimes known by brand names such as Disprol, Hedex, Medinol, or Panadol, these medications are designed to treat everyday pain. These include discomforts such as toothaches, menstrual cramps, sore throats, joint pains, headaches, colds, viruses and high temperatures.
paracetamol
Although generally considered safe to consume – provided patients follow the accompanying instructions – paracetamol comes with warnings in relation to other drugs.
Paracetamol is often used to combat coughs and colds (Getty Stock Image).
According to the NHS, the drug is ‘not suitable’ for everyone, so anyone considering taking it to relieve discomfort is advised to discuss this with their GP first.
For example, people who regularly take blood thinners such as warapin will be putting themselves at risk by taking paracetamol.
But why? Health experts say that taking paracetamol (warfarin) regularly may increase the risk of bleeding.
This does not mean you should completely rule out common painkillers, NHS staff advise: “Take the lowest dose that controls your pain. Taking four or more 500 mg tablets in a 24-hour period for more than a few days may cause blood to clot more slowly.
Paracetamol should not be taken especially with blood clot medications (Getty Stock Image)
“There is a risk of bleeding if you do this.”
Taking paracetamol with other painkillers, such as cocodamol and cold and flu medications, may also pose a risk. Because these drugs are already include Paracetamol itself carries a risk of causing overdose.
Instead, it is recommended that patients take paracetamol along with ibuprofen, aspirin, codeine, etc. if they are looking for specific pain relief.
ibuprofen
Speaking of ibuprofen, like paracetamol, this analgesic anti-inflammatory drug aims to reduce pain and focuses more on reducing swelling and alleviating general discomfort.
Ibuprofen not only treats the same general aches and pains as paracetamol, but also treats sprains and strains from injuries and pain from arthritis.
However, according to NHS staff, the drug ‘does not mix well’ with many other medications, particularly other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These include aspirin, diclofenac, celecoxib, and naproxen.
Apparently, combining either of these medications with ibuprofen may increase your risk of stomach bleeding or kidney complications.
But why again?
Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug with pain-relieving properties (Getty Stock Image).
“NSAIDs are also used in over-the-counter medicines such as cough and cold medicines,” explains a health service representative. “Before taking other medications, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs.”
Doctors also say that these bloody side effects may occur if ibuprofen is mixed with blood clotting medications, high blood pressure medications, or steroid medications (such as betamethasone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, or prednisolone).
This is also true when mixing ibuprofen with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, or ofloxacin, as well as antidepressants including citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, paroxetine, or sertraline.
Diabetes medications such as gliclazide, glimepiride, glipizide, or tolbutamide are also known to carry the same risk of bleeding.
