Drug interactions
Hydrocortisone + Ibuprofen
Severity: Moderate
Hydrocortisone and Ibuprofen: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Taking a corticosteroid with ibuprofen increases the risk of peptic ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding over either drug alone. The risk rises with age, dose and duration.
What this interaction means in plain words
Hydrocortisone and Ibuprofen can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Hydrocortisone belongs to Endocrine; Ibuprofen belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive gastrointestinal mucosal injury from prostaglandin inhibition and impaired mucosal healing.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses for the shortest duration and consider a proton pump inhibitor in at-risk patients. Advise patients to report GI bleeding symptoms.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Hydrocortisone
- Hydrocortisone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent Contraindicated
- Hydrocortisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aldesleukin + Hydrocortisone Major
- Aspirin + Hydrocortisone Major
Other interactions of Ibuprofen
- Ibuprofen + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Ibuprofen + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Acemetacin + Ibuprofen Major
- Alteplase + Ibuprofen Major
- Amiloride + Ibuprofen Major
- Apixaban + Ibuprofen Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Hydrocortisone with Ibuprofen?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Hydrocortisone and Ibuprofen can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Taking a corticosteroid with ibuprofen increases the risk of peptic ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding over either drug alone. The risk rises with age, dose and duration.
How serious is the interaction between Hydrocortisone and Ibuprofen?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use the lowest effective doses for the shortest duration and consider a proton pump inhibitor in at-risk patients. Advise patients to report GI bleeding symptoms.
What other medicines interact with Hydrocortisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Hydrocortisone with, for example, Mifepristone, Poliovirus vaccine live oral trivalent, Smallpox vaccine live. The full list is on the Hydrocortisone page.
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