It would be great if medications worked ASAP, making you feel better literally as soon as you took them. If your symptoms have reached the point where you’re turning to medication to feel better, you’re likely feeling pretty lousy.
While it’s often important to give the body the rest it needs to recover, other times, you just need the pain to go away so you can power through your day. After all, there’s probably a lot you want to get done. In these moments, you’re likely relying on your morningcup of coffee even more to help energize you.
Of course, not all medications are designed to work instantly, and most of us have been told again and again not to expect immediate relief. Many pain relievers, allergy meds, and even everyday supplements can take a while to absorb, which only adds to the frustration when you’re already dragging yourself through the day.
It’s why people get curious about anything that might make their medication kick in faster—whether it’s timing your dose with food, taking it on an empty stomach or pairing it with hydration. And since caffeine is already part of so many morning routines, it’s natural to wonder if that daily cup could give you a lift in more ways than one. Maybe you’ve even noticed moments where medication seems to “hit” you harder after your latte or espresso, making you question whether there’s something actually happening there instead of pure coincidence.
Ready to hear the best news ever? According to three doctors we talked to, sometimes, taking your medication with coffee can make it work even better.
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According to Dr. Fawad Mian, MD, a neurologist and founder at Ascend Regenerative, taking ibuprofen with coffee can boost the medication’s pain-relieving powers.
“Caffeine works by blocking adenosine, which is one of the chemicals in pain and fatigue. It tightens up blood vessels in the head. Ibuprofen works by blocking prostaglandins, which drive pain and inflammation. In combination, they are synergistic in reducing pain,” he says, adding that his patients who get migraines often combine ibuprofen and coffee when they get a migraine.
Family physician Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH, agrees that taking ibuprofen with coffee can be effective. “In some research studies, around 100 milligrams of caffeine plus ibuprofen has been shown to work better for pain management than ibuprofen alone,” she says, adding that this is roughly the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee.
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To her point, scientific research shows that people who took ibuprofen with 100 milligrams of caffeine experienced 50% more reduction in pain than people who took ibuprofen on its own. Dr. Mieses Malchuk explains that caffeine likely enhances ibuprofen’s ability to stop pain signals in the brain, and may specifically help ibuprofen work more quickly.
Dr. Sarah Bobker, MD, a clinical associate professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Division of Headache Medicine, says that it isn’t just coffee that can have this effect; anything with caffeine can. So if you’re not a coffee drinker, you can take your ibuprofen with caffeinated tea instead and get a similar result, although Dr. Bobker says that coffee has more caffeine than tea, so the impact won’t be as dramatic. She also points out that many pain relievers are formulated with caffeine, so taking one of these medications is another way to get the boosted benefits.
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Does Food Impact Ibuprofen's Effectiveness?
In terms of how other foods and drinks can impact ibuprofen, all three doctors say that there aren’t any specific foods that make the medication more or less effective. However, you may want to avoid taking it after a big meal.
“Food does not specifically make ibuprofen less effective, but it may slow down ibuprofen's absorption. After a big meal, for example, it will take your stomach more time to digest everything inside. This can delay the positive effects of ibuprofen on your pain,” Dr. Bobker says. Dr. Mian says this too, explaining that fatty meals can especially make ibuprofen take longer to reach peak levels, meaning it would take longer to feel the effect.
That said, ibuprofen can be tough on your stomach, especially if taken regularly. Taking ibuprofen with food can help mitigate these effects.
There is one drink in particular that all three doctors warn against taking with ibuprofen: alcohol.
“Taking ibuprofen with alcohol significantly increases the risk of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract,” Dr. Mieses Malchuk says, explaining that common signs of a GI bleed include vomiting blood, black, tarry stools and maroon-colored blood streaked on your stool or from your rectum. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor ASAP.
Related: 2 Over-The-Counter Medications You Should Never, Ever Combine, According to Doctors
In addition to increasing the risk of a GI bleed, Dr. Mian says that taking ibuprofen with alcohol puts added stress on the kidneys, which can be especially dangerous for older adults.
If you find yourself taking ibuprofen frequently, Dr. Mieses Malchuk recommends seeing your healthcare provider to make sure there isn’t a more serious underlying problem. While it’s okay to take ibuprofen occasionally, it shouldn’t be a regular habit.
Sometimes, there’s nothing the body needs more than rest, and trying to power through your symptoms is only going to prolong your illness. But when it’s a headache, muscle aches, menstrual cramps or minor joint pain holding you back, taking ibuprofen with coffee may be just the trick to feeling better as quickly as possible.
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Sources:
Dr. Fawad Mian, MD, neurologist and founder at Ascend RegenerativeDr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH,family medicine physician at Geisinger in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania Dr. Sarah Bobker, MD, clinical associate professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Division of Headache MedicineDerry, S., Wiffen, P.J., Moore, R.A. (2015). Single dose oral ibuprofen plus caffeine for acute postoperative pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015(7):CD011509.Hence then, the article about combining this medication with coffee can actually boost its effects was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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