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Can you take ibuprofen on an empty stomach?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 7, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Despite the common belief that you must take ibuprofen with food, you can safely take low-dose ibuprofen (up to 1200 mg daily in divided doses for 1 to 7 days) on an empty stomach, and this provides faster pain relief than taking ibuprofen with food. Food slows ibuprofen absorption time, although it doesn't affect the total amount absorbed.

There is actually no scientific evidence that taking ibuprofen with food prevents stomach irritation. Short-term, over-the-counter ibuprofen doses have a low incidence of gastric problems anyway.

This advice does not extend to high dose ibuprofen (more than 1200mg/day), including prescription dosages. High does ibuprofen is associated with a 2 to 3 times higher risk of stomach irritation. And the longer you take ibuprofen for, the more likely your stomach is to become irritated.

Ibuprofen stomach irritation risk factors

The risk of stomach irritation from ibuprofen depends more on individual risk factors than food intake, such as:

Stomach protection with NSAIDs

The risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and stomach irritation can be reduced by using COX-2 selective NSAIDs, such as celecoxib, or by combining ibuprofen with a stomach protective agent such as misoprostol or omeprazole.

Related questions

Why do different sources advise taking ibuprofen with food? Stomach protection & NSAID safety

This medical advice stems from a desire to protect patients from gastrointestinal side effects, such as indigestion (dyspepsia), or more serious complications, such as stomach bleeding.

Although research has demonstrated aspirin to be associated with high rates of adverse reactions and gastric irritation, there is no evidence that occasional, low-dose, over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, cause gastrointestinal side effects. There is also no good quality study that taking NSAIDs with food prevents stomach side effects.

How NSAIDs cause stomach problems

The primary mechanism NSAIDs irritate the stomach lining is through inhibition of COX-1-dependent prostaglandins, which naturally protect the gastric mucosa from injury caused by stomach acid, although some medications also have a direct irritant effect on stomach tissue. Superficial stomach irritation is more common than peptic ulceration, and it is estimated that 1%–2% of people who take NSAIDs daily experience a significant gastrointestinal event annually.

How can I reduce the risk of GI side effects with ibuprofen or other NSAIDs?

You can reduce the risk of NSAID-induced GI complications by:

Safer pain relief alternatives

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) carries the lowest risk for GI adverse events and should be considered for people at high risk for stomach problems. Other safer alternatives with reduced risk include topical NSAIDs (creams and gels), although they still carry some gastrointestinal risk. Healthcare providers encourage the use of non-drug treatments like heat therapy, massage therapy, physical exercise, or physiotherapy for pain management.

People with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, hypertension, or other chronic health conditions, should consult their healthcare provider about using ibuprofen before taking it.

References

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