Is ibuprofen (Advil) a blood thinner?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 14, 2024.
In other words, does it thin your blood?
Yes, ibuprofen (Advil) is considered a blood thinner. It doesn't actually "thin" your blood, but slows down your blood clotting time. For example, if you cut yourself or have an injury where you bleed, it may take longer for you to form a blood clot.
Risk of stomach bleeding and a stomach ulcer may also be increased if you are at risk, take prednisone or other corticosteroids, smoke or drink alcohol regularly, or take other medicines that also increase your risk of bleeding, such as: aspirin, heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta), dabigatran (Pradaxa), apixaban (Eliquis), or rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
Always have a drug interaction check performed any time you start or stop a medication. If you notice signs or symptoms of bleeding, such as red or black-colored or tarry stools, vomit that is bright red blood or looks like coffee grounds, severe stomach pain, anemia, severe headache, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, and weakness, contact your doctor immediately.
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Naproxen vs ibuprofen: What's the difference?
Ibuprofen is short acting, while naproxen is long acting and more likely to cause an upset stomach. Naproxen and ibuprofen are both NSAIDs so they are similar in many ways, but there are important differences. Continue reading
Can you take ibuprofen on an empty stomach?
Despite popular belief that you have to take ibuprofen with food, you can take ibuprofen on an empty stomach and this will give you faster pain relief than taking it with food. Food increases the time it takes for ibuprofen to be absorbed, although it won't affect how much is absorbed. There is actually no evidence that taking ibuprofen with food prevents gastric irritation – ibuprofen at OTC doses has a low incidence of gastric irritation anyway. Continue reading
What's the difference between aspirin and ibuprofen?
Even though aspirin and Ibuprofen are both NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and work similarly, there are several differences between the two drugs and they are not considered interchangeable. Continue reading
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