Is it ok to take a nasal decongestant with ibuprofin?

Question

I don't think it says you can't on either box.

Answer 1

Most likely you can as long as the decongestant doesn't also have ibuprofen in it.  To be sure, ask your doctor or the pharmacist  

Answer 2

You are fine taking both.

A nasal decongestant like Afrin or Sudafed opens the nasal passages. A few are stimulants.

Ibuprofen relieves pain and and reduces inflammation. It is chemically similar to aspirin.

So the two don't do the same thing, and aren't related chemically.

But as one answerer says, you have to be a bit careful. Most cold remedies contain some combination of a pain reliever, a nasal decongestant, an antihistamine, a cough suppressant, an expectorant, and whatever else they can toss in there. The reason is that even if the individual ingredients are standardized (and available in generic versions), the combinations can be copyrighted (like in "Nyquil") and they can increase the price.

The problem with that is you might end up taking a medication you don't actually need. For instance, if you have a cold, you shouldn't take an antihistamine (which really is for allergies). And you might end up taking more of a pain-reliever than you realize. That isn't horribly dangerous, but it is just something to pay attention to.

So read the box and make sure the ibuprofen you are taking is just ibuprofen, and the nasal decongestant is just nasal decongestant. (Buying single ingredient remedies like that is cheaper and more versatile anyway.)

Good luck!  

Answer 3

Yes, it would be the same as taking Ibuprofen with decongestant already mixed in.

Answer 4

as long as the nasal decongestant does not contain ibuprofen also

Answer 5

yes