Based on NIH | Is it safe to take Ibuprofen with coffee, or should I avoid caffeine because of potential interactions?

You can generally take ibuprofen with coffee, and moderate caffeine does not meaningfully change how ibuprofen is absorbed or cleared from the body. ^[1] Standard product information shows ibuprofen’s absorption is only minimally affected by food and common co‑administered agents, and it is rapidly eliminated in the urine within about 24 hours. ^[1]

Potential benefits

• Some evidence suggests that adding caffeine can modestly boost pain relief from ibuprofen for acute pain, allowing effective relief at lower ibuprofen doses. ^[2] In clinical trials, combinations like ibuprofen 100–200 mg plus caffeine 100 mg improved the proportion of people achieving good pain relief and reduced the need for additional doses compared with ibuprofen alone or placebo. ^[2] Similar studies in dental postoperative pain found that ibuprofen plus 100 mg caffeine acted faster and was roughly 2–3 times as potent as ibuprofen alone in that setting. ^[3]

What about interactions?

• There is no established harmful pharmacokinetic interaction between ibuprofen and caffeine in healthy adults, and typical dietary caffeine (for example, a cup of coffee) alongside an ibuprofen dose is generally considered acceptable. ^[1] Ibuprofen’s label focuses on interactions with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and some blood pressure medicines not caffeine because those combinations can raise bleeding risk or blunt antihypertensive effects. ^{[4] [5]}

Important safety cautions

• Gastrointestinal risk: All NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, can cause stomach irritation, ulcers, or bleeding, sometimes without warning; risk rises with higher doses, longer use, older age, alcohol use, smoking, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, SSRIs/SNRIs, and poor overall health. ^{[6] [7]} If you already have a history of ulcers or GI bleeding, you may need a different plan or a protective medicine; discuss this with your clinician. ^[8]
• Cardiovascular and kidney considerations: Longer courses of ibuprofen can elevate blood pressure and may reduce the effect of some blood pressure medicines (for example, ACE inhibitors), especially after several days of combined use. ^{[9] [5]} People with heart, kidney, or liver issues should use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time and consult a clinician. ^[8]
• Caffeine sensitivity: While caffeine can enhance analgesia, it may also cause jitters, palpitations, or sleep disruption in sensitive individuals; combination products warn that each recommended dose may contain caffeine similar to about one cup of coffee, so total daily caffeine should be monitored. ^{[2] [10]}

Practical guidance

• For occasional pain, it is reasonable to take ibuprofen with a regular cup of coffee if you tolerate caffeine well. ^[1] If you find caffeine helps your pain, a modest amount (about 100 mg, roughly one cup of coffee) taken with 200 mg of ibuprofen has been shown to improve pain control in acute settings. ^{[2] [3]}
• To reduce stomach irritation, consider taking ibuprofen with food and avoid alcohol, especially if you are at higher GI risk. ^{[6] [7]}
• If you take blood thinners, steroids, SSRIs/SNRIs, or have a history of ulcers or GI bleeding, you should be cautious and seek personalized advice before combining ibuprofen with caffeine or using NSAIDs at all. ^{[4] [7]}
• If you have hypertension or take antihypertensives, monitor your blood pressure during multi‑day NSAID use since ibuprofen can blunt blood pressure control over several days. ^{[9] [5]}

Bottom line

• For most healthy adults, drinking coffee with ibuprofen is generally safe, and caffeine may even enhance pain relief for short‑term, acute pain. ^{[2] [3]} The bigger safety issues relate to ibuprofen itself (stomach, cardiovascular, kidney risks) and certain medicines you may already be taking, rather than to caffeine. ^{[6] [4]} Keep caffeine to moderate amounts and use the lowest effective ibuprofen dose for the shortest necessary time. ^[7]