Can you take ibuprofen while pregnant?
No, you should not take ibuprofen during the first 20 weeks of your pregnancy unless advised to do so by your doctor. You should not take ibuprofen at all from week 20 of pregnancy (the last half of your pregnancy).
The reasons you should not take ibuprofen during pregnancy are:
- Ibuprofen is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage if used early in pregnancy
- Ibuprofen inhibits prostaglandins, which are hormone-like compounds that have several different effects in the body, including stimulating the uterus to contract, narrowing or opening up blood vessels, or influencing blood clotting to prevent bleeding
- Ibuprofen that has been taken in the last half of pregnancy (from week 20 onwards) has been associated with kidney problems in the fetus or newly born baby, and premature constriction or closure of the ductus arteriosus (this is an opening in an unborn baby's heart that allows blood to detour away from the lungs before birth. At birth it is supposed to close).
Do not take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs (examples include diclofenac or naproxen) in the last half of your pregnancy (from week 20 onwards). If you have mistakenly or inadvertently taken these medications, see your doctor, obstetrician, or midwife immediately because your unborn baby requires close monitoring to look for any narrowing of the ductus arteriosus, or kidney problems. There have been reports of these problems also occurring in pregnant women who have used topical NSAIDs (like diclofenac gel) in their last trimester of pregnancy.
As a treatment for mild-to-moderate pain during pregnancy, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is considered the drug of choice.
Read next
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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Drug information
- Ibuprofen Information for Consumers
- Ibuprofen prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Ibuprofen (detailed)
Related support groups
- Ibuprofen (263 questions, 235 members)