Eating Tofu While Taking Ibuprofen: Is There Any Interaction?

You can eat tofu while taking ibuprofen, and there are no known direct interactions between soy/tofu and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen’s official information highlights interactions with certain medicines (like blood thinners, ACE inhibitors, lithium, and methotrexate) but does not list food, soy, or tofu as a concern. ^[1] Ibuprofen absorption is not significantly affected by typical foods or even common antacids, and food can actually help reduce stomach upset. ^[1]

What We Know About Ibuprofen and Food

• Ibuprofen can be taken with or without food, but taking it with food may ease stomach irritation. ^[1]
• Studies have shown no interference with ibuprofen absorption when taken with an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium, suggesting routine co‑ingestion with common substances does not meaningfully reduce its effect. ^[1]

Known Ibuprofen Interactions (For Awareness)

While tofu/soy is not an issue, ibuprofen does have important interactions with some medicines and conditions:

• Blood thinners and bleeding risk: Using ibuprofen with warfarin-type anticoagulants can increase the risk of bleeding, even though short studies didn’t always show changes in clotting tests. ^{[2] [3]}
• Blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors): Ibuprofen may lessen their blood pressure–lowering effect. ^{[4] [5]}
• Lithium: Ibuprofen can raise lithium levels and increase toxicity risk. ^[6]
• Methotrexate: NSAIDs like ibuprofen may increase methotrexate toxicity risk. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

If you take any of these medicines, it’s wise to confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before using ibuprofen regularly. ^{[2] [11]}

Practical Tips for Taking Ibuprofen With Meals

• Consider taking ibuprofen with a snack or meal, such as tofu dishes, to reduce stomach upset; this is commonly recommended and does not reduce ibuprofen’s effectiveness in a meaningful way. ^[1]
• Avoid excess alcohol, which can raise stomach bleeding risk when combined with NSAIDs like ibuprofen. (General safety guidance; not a tofu issue.)
• If you have a history of ulcers, GI bleeding, kidney disease, heart disease, or are over 65, discuss safer pain options or protective strategies with your clinician. (General NSAID caution.)

When to Seek Medical Advice

• You notice black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, unusual bruising, or stomach pain while using ibuprofen. ^{[2] [3]}
• You take warfarin or other anticoagulants, lithium, methotrexate, or ACE inhibitors and plan to use ibuprofen more than occasionally. ^{[4] [5] [2] [11] [6]}

Bottom Line

• Tofu and soy foods have no known direct interaction with ibuprofen, so it’s fine to eat them together. ^[1]
• The bigger concerns with ibuprofen involve certain medications and bleeding or kidney risks, not tofu. ^{[4] [5] [2] [11] [6]}