Drug interactions
Ibuprofen + Methylprednisolone
Severity: Moderate
Ibuprofen and Methylprednisolone: 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
Combining a corticosteroid with an NSAID increases the risk of gastric irritation, ulceration and gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk is higher in older patients, those with prior ulcers, and with prolonged use.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ibuprofen and Methylprednisolone 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.
Ibuprofen belongs to Musculoskeletal; Methylprednisolone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive gastrointestinal mucosal injury: NSAID prostaglandin inhibition plus corticosteroid impairment of mucosal healing.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses for the shortest time and consider a proton pump inhibitor for gastroprotection in at-risk patients; counsel on bleeding signs.
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 Methylprednisolone
- Bcg vaccine live + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Methylprednisolone Contraindicated
- Methylprednisolone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Methylprednisolone + Rubella vaccine Contraindicated
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 Ibuprofen with Methylprednisolone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ibuprofen and Methylprednisolone 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. Combining a corticosteroid with an NSAID increases the risk of gastric irritation, ulceration and gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk is higher in older patients, those with prior ulcers, and with prolonged use.
How serious is the interaction between Ibuprofen and Methylprednisolone?
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 time and consider a proton pump inhibitor for gastroprotection in at-risk patients; counsel on bleeding signs.
What other medicines interact with Methylprednisolone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Methylprednisolone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles mumps and rubella vaccine live, Measles mumps rubella and varicella vaccine live. The full list is on the Methylprednisolone page.
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