What Happens To Your Body When Hydrocodone And Ibuprofen Are Taken Together

Everyday aches and pains are a part of life. Your muscles feel tender after a tough workout. Your temples throb after a night overindulging in too many TikTok-inspired cocktails. (Better to stick with mocktails; Health Digest tried the Sleepy Girl mocktail and was surprised.) That's when you may rely on over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers for relief.

But what happens when you need a stronger painkiller? In that case, your doctor may prescribe a medication that contains both ibuprofen and hydrocodone since the pain-dulling mechanisms of OTC products just aren't cutting it.

If you've never taken this kind of painkiller before, you might want to know how your body will react. A good way to find out is by understanding how ibuprofen and hydrocodone work, as well as reviewing each medicine's most common side effects.

Let's begin by examining ibuprofen, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (often referred to as an NSAID). Among other capabilities, ibuprofen alleviates pain by blocking the production of prostaglandins — hormone-like substances that promote inflammation, pain, and fever. Put simply, ibuprofen acts like a roadblock that can stop pain from ruining your day.

There's just one issue: Ibuprofen generally only works on lower-level pain (e.g., those nagging but mild everyday pains). If your pain exceeds moderate ranges, ibuprofen alone can't always serve as a fix. That's when hydrocodone may be needed as a secondary pain-fighting solution.

You may have heard of hydrocodone; it's an opioid that can become habit-forming and has been associated with addiction. That's one reason it's usually only prescribed for short periods; plus, the CDC has issued guidelines for doctors who prescribe opioids. Nonetheless, it's prescribed frequently enough: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around one-fifth of people who have pain that's unrelated to cancer are given opioids.

Like ibuprofen, hydrocodone helps relieve pain, but it works differently. Hydrocodone alters how your brain and nervous system respond to pain. Instead of targeting inflammation, it binds to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocking the transmission of pain signals. Consequently, you get relief.

When ibuprofen and hydrocodone are combined into a single drug, your body's ability to feel pain is dulled in two ways. This makes it possible for you to function during times when you might otherwise be overwhelmed by discomfort.

According to research, the dual pain-fighting action of ibuprofen and hydrocodone is dependable. In fact, the presence of ibuprofen might enhance hydrocodone's performance.

For example, a 2019 article in Neuropharmacology argues that combining a non-opioid with an opioid can improve the opioid's effectiveness. This makes it easier to get the same or better results from the opioid without continuously upping the opioid dosage, which may reduce the chance of overuse.

A study from 2003 in Anesthesia and Analgesia supports this idea. During the study, mice who received ibuprofen and hydrocodone required less hydrocodone to produce the same effect as a single higher dose of hydrocodone.

As with all medications, hydrocodone and ibuprofen can be beneficial as well as problematic. Under best-case scenarios, a medication containing both substances should take away all or most of your pain. Yet some of the side effects related to using an ibuprofen-hydrocodone drug can range from annoying to serious.

For instance, ibuprofen and hydrocodone may cause you to sleep too much or too little. Plus, you might go through bouts of constipation. In fact, constipation frequently accompanies the use of this type of drug. However, your doctor may suggest taking measures to minimize this uncomfortable symptom, such as increasing your intake of fiber to improve digestive health or taking a laxative. (Alternatively, you can try these genius ways to get yourself to poop.) That way, constipation will be less likely to derail your everyday routines.

Since ibuprofen can interfere with drugs like blood thinners and lithium, it's essential to be upfront with your doctor about all medicines you're taking before adding ibuprofen and hydrocodone into the mix. There's an upside, though: If you and your doctor decide it's worth proceeding with this kind of drug, you shouldn't have to deal with unwanted side effects for long. Medications that contain both ibuprofen and hydrocodone are typically prescribed for 10 or fewer days (via Mayo Clinic).