NutriStack
Alcohol and Ibuprofen, a caution.
Alcohol increases the chance of stomach bleeding while taking ibuprofen. The combination is most concerning with repeated ibuprofen dosing, binge drinking, older age, prior ulcers, or other medicines that affect bleeding. Symptoms can appear as severe stomach pain, black stools, vomiting blood, dizziness, or weakness.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
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What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Strong
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Strong evidence
Caution
What is happening. Alcohol increases the chance of stomach bleeding while taking ibuprofen. The combination is most concerning with repeated ibuprofen dosing, binge drinking, older age, prior ulcers, or other medicines that affect bleeding. Symptoms can appear as severe stomach pain, black stools, vomiting blood, dizziness, or weakness.
Mechanism. Ibuprofen reversibly inhibits COX-1 and COX-2, lowering gastric prostaglandin synthesis and weakening mucosal protection. Alcohol adds direct mucosal irritation and can amplify NSAID-related erosions and bleeding.
Recommendation. Avoid heavy drinking while using ibuprofen, and do not use ibuprofen to treat hangover symptoms after substantial alcohol intake. Use the lowest effective ibuprofen dose for the shortest time and stop the combination if any bleeding symptoms occur.
Sources (2)
- Kaufman DW, Kelly JP, Wiholm BE, Laszlo A, Sheehan JE, Koff RS, et al. The risk of acute major upper gastrointestinal bleeding among users of aspirin and ibuprofen at various levels of alcohol consumption. Am J Gastroenterol. 1999;94(11):3189-3196. PMID 10566713
- Sostres C, Gargallo CJ, Arroyo MT, Lanas A. Adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, aspirin and coxibs) on upper gastrointestinal tract. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2010;24(2):121-132. PMID 20227026
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Alcohol and Ibuprofen are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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