Meg asked
How long after taking Norco can I take the ibuprofen?
Answer
Norco is a controlled substance pain medication that contains the ingredients hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol). There is no drug interaction between Norco and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), however, it would make sense to allow the Norco time to work prior to taking ibuprofen.
In order to avoid untoward effects like addiction, constipation, and respiratory depression, the lowest dose for the shortest duration is generally recommended when taking Norco and other opioids. If the pain is mild, ibuprofen may be a good option instead of taking a dose of Norco.
Norco should start working in about 30 minutes and should reach peak effect in about 90 minutes. Overall, Norco treats pain for about 3-4 hours. Ibuprofen takes about 1 hour to start working and peaks within 2-4 hours.
Hydrocodone and ibuprofen are actually combined in a formulation known by the brand name VIcoprofen. This is used less frequently than Norco. In addition, one study indicated that taking a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen for dental pain was more effective than opioid containing formulations like Norco.
While acetaminophen and ibuprofen are both available as over the counter pain medications, they work in different ways to treat pain. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by inhibiting an enzyme known as cyclooxygenase or COX. The COX enzymes play a significant role in prostaglandin formation which is responsible for inflammation, platelet formation, and fever. There are two types of COX, known as COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 has a more prominent role in platelet formation, as well as protecting the stomach lining. COX-2 is primarily responsible for inflammation. Ibuprofen inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2.
Acetaminophen inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) in both COX-1
and COX-2 forms. Acetaminophen blocks COX in the CNS, which differs from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) that mostly work locally in the tissues.
