In addition to its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, ibuprofen (the generic form of the drug Advil) may also have a blood-thinning effect.
This happens because it can interfere mildly with the platelets in your blood. Platelets are important in helping your blood to clot.
As a result, taking ibuprofen could cause potential side effects, especially when you take it with other blood thinners.
Ibuprofen and blood thinning
Photography by Nikola Stojadinovic/Getty Images
Ibuprofen (Advil) is a type of medication called a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It’s mostly used as a pain reliever, but it has the potential to indirectly affect blood thinning.
Medical scientists have linked the blood-thinning ability of ibuprofen to its inhibition of certain enzymes, called COX-1 cyclooxygenase enzymes, in the platelets found in your blood.
Inhibiting these enzymes affects the ability of platelets to produce prostaglandins. These molecules are responsible for gathering platelets together in your blood to form a clot.
Preventing this from happening slows down the clot formation process. By prolonging blood clot production, ibuprofen possesses blood thinning properties even though it is not a typical blood thinner.
Although gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a known side effect of ibuprofen, if you take it for less than 48 hours, it’s unlikely to cause any negative effects. But if you have a bleeding disorder like hemophilia, it may be wise to avoid ibuprofen.
What’s more, if you have a blood clotting disorder for which you take blood thinning medication, you may be at risk of side effects such as increased bleeding if you take it alongside ibuprofen. So, although ibuprofen is available without a doctor’s prescription, it may be best to seek medical advice before taking it.
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Ibuprofen can interact with different types of medications, which may increase the chances of developing side effects or organ damage. This is of particular concern in older adult patients, who often take several different medications for different conditions.
Regarding its blood thinning capacity, ibuprofen may interact with blood thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) and aspirin. This increases the chance of side effects such as severe bleeding.
Similarly, ibuprofen might interact with antithrombotic drugs, which are medications that prevent blood clots. These include:
Given these potential risks of ibuprofen’s interaction with other medications, it’s important to review your medication history with your doctor and the risks before taking ibuprofen.
Other side effects
Alongside thinning your blood, ibuprofen can cause other side effects which manifest differently for each person. One side effect that’s related to its blood-thinning capabilities is increased bruising. Minor cuts may also take longer to stop bleeding.
Here are some other common side effects of ibuprofen:
Some people may develop severe side effects such as hypersensitivity reactions, which include symptoms such as difficulty breathing and multiple skin swellings/blisters.
Individuals with these symptoms require urgent medical intervention, so speak with your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.
Other painkillers to try
Apart from NSAIDs, there are other medications you may consider for pain relief. Here are the most common non-NSAID painkillers without blood thinning effects:
Acetaminophen:Acetaminophen is popularly known as Tylenol. It’s also available OTC, but unlike ibuprofen, it does not have any effect on prostaglandin secretion and blood clotting. Therefore, it does not have any blood thinning or anti-inflammatory capacities.
Opioids: Opioids are painkillers that interact with opioid receptors in your brain and spinal cord to decrease the pain signals transferred to your brain. Opioids do not have any effect on prostaglandin secretion, so they are not blood thinners. Examples include tramadol (Ultram) and oxycodone (OxyContin).
Summary
Apart from relieving pain and reducing inflammation, ibuprofen may have blood-thinning properties. Its blood-thinning effects come from inhibiting COX-1 cyclooxygenase enzymes in platelets, which prevents the platelets from forming blood clots.
While this is unlikely to cause serious side effects in most people, if you are at high risk of increased bleeding or if you take other blood-thinning medications, ibuprofen may not be the right choice for you.
You may consider speaking with a doctor to find an appropriate alternative for pain relief.
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