Can You Take Advil (Ibuprofen) With Tamiflu?

In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Advil (ibuprofen) can be taken with Tamiflu.

Question

Can you take Advil with Tamiflu?

Asked by Evee On Nov 10, 2022

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Nov 10, 2022
Last updated Mar 28, 2024

Key points

  • There is no known interaction between Tamiflu and Advil. They are considered safe to take with each other.

Answer

Advil (ibuprofen) and Tamiflu (oseltamivir) are safe to take together. There is no listed interaction between the two drugs and there have been no reports of adverse effects when combining the two.

Tamiflu (oseltamivir) has very few reported drug interactions and is safe to use with most medications.

One of the only listed drug interactions with Tamiflu is with probenecid, an agent used for the treatment of gout, and even then, the combination is generally considered okay to use as Tamiflu has a very wide safety window.

Most Pain Relievers Are Safe With Tamiflu

As flu symptoms tend to involve fever and muscle aches, Advil (ibuprofen) is a good choice to use in conjunction with Tamiflu to appropriately manage symptoms while treating the infection. It is important to note that ibuprofen is also the active ingredient in Motrin. Motrin, like Advil, is safe to take with Tamiflu.

Other over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Aleve (naproxen), are also safe with Tamiflu.

Side Effects

I do want to mention that although Tamiflu is very well tolerated, it is associated with causing mild cases of nausea and GI upset. The same is true for ibuprofen. Taking both medications with food may improve tolerability.

Final Words

Thanks for reaching out!

References

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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