Drug interactions
Ibuprofen + Tolbutamide
Severity: Moderate
Ibuprofen and Tolbutamide: 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
Ibuprofen may potentiate the hypoglycemic effect of tolbutamide. Episodes of low blood glucose are more likely in elderly patients or those with reduced kidney function.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ibuprofen and Tolbutamide 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; Tolbutamide belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Possible protein binding displacement and altered sulfonylurea clearance; the mechanism is not clearly established.
What to do
Monitor blood glucose more closely when ibuprofen is started or stopped and educate the patient on hypoglycemia. Lower the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
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 Ibuprofen
- Ibuprofen + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Ibuprofen + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Acemetacin + Ibuprofen Major
- Alteplase + Ibuprofen Major
- Amiloride + Ibuprofen Major
- Apixaban + Ibuprofen Major
Other interactions of Tolbutamide
- Glyburide-metformin + Tolbutamide Major
- Insulin degludec-liraglutide + Tolbutamide Major
- Aceclofenac + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acemetacin + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Tolbutamide Moderate
- Albiglutide + Tolbutamide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ibuprofen with Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ibuprofen and Tolbutamide 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 may potentiate the hypoglycemic effect of tolbutamide. Episodes of low blood glucose are more likely in elderly patients or those with reduced kidney function.
How serious is the interaction between Ibuprofen and Tolbutamide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood glucose more closely when ibuprofen is started or stopped and educate the patient on hypoglycemia. Lower the tolbutamide dose if hypoglycemia occurs.
What other medicines interact with Ibuprofen?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ibuprofen with, for example, Ketorolac, Ketorolac intranasal, Acemetacin. The full list is on the Ibuprofen page.
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