Many adults can take Mucinex D with ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), because Mucinex D contains no pain reliever, so the 2 do not double up on the same ingredient. The catch is blood pressure: Mucinex D contains pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, and both its label and the ibuprofen label say to ask a doctor first if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. Check that you are not also taking another decongestant or another NSAID, and ask a pharmacist before use if you take other medicines.
What is in Mucinex D?
Mucinex D has 2 active ingredients, per its FDA Drug Facts label: guaifenesin, an expectorant that loosens mucus, and pseudoephedrine, a nasal decongestant. The regular tablet has 600 mg guaifenesin and 60 mg pseudoephedrine. Mucinex D Maximum Strength has 1200 mg and 120 mg per tablet, so its dose is 1 tablet, not 2. Check which box you have.
Neither ingredient is a pain reliever or fever reducer. That is why adding ibuprofen does not stack 2 of the same drug, the way adding Tylenol to a product that already has acetaminophen would.
Plain Mucinex is a different product from Mucinex D. If your box just says Mucinex, with no D, see our page on Mucinex with ibuprofen instead.
- Mucinex D: guaifenesin 600 mg + pseudoephedrine 60 mg, 2 tablets every 12 hours, no more than 4 in 24 hours
- Mucinex D Maximum Strength: guaifenesin 1200 mg + pseudoephedrine 120 mg, 1 tablet every 12 hours, no more than 2 in 24 hours
- Advil (ibuprofen) tablets: 200 mg per tablet, 1 every 4 to 6 hours, 2 if 1 does not help, no more than 6 in 24 hours unless a doctor tells you otherwise
Why does blood pressure matter for this combination?
Both drugs carry a blood pressure flag. The Mucinex D label says to ask a doctor before use if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, or trouble urinating from an enlarged prostate. MedlinePlus says to tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure before taking pseudoephedrine.
The ibuprofen label says to ask a doctor before use if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, asthma, or have had a stroke, or if you take a diuretic (water pill). The FDA Medication Guide for prescription-strength ibuprofen lists new or worse high blood pressure as a possible serious side effect.
So if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or take blood pressure medicine, run this pair by a pharmacist or doctor before you take it. Tell them you take both, and mention any heart, kidney, or thyroid problems and every other medicine you take. The labels do not give a number for how much either drug raises blood pressure, so we will not guess one. If your blood pressure is normal, you have none of those conditions, and you take no other medicines, the labels do not tell you to avoid taking them together.
What should I not add on top?
The main risk with cold medicine is taking the same ingredient twice from 2 different boxes. MedlinePlus warns that cough and cold products may contain the same active ingredients, and taking them together could cause an overdose.
- No second decongestant: do not add Sudafed, another product with pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, or a cold and sinus combo. Advil Cold and Sinus, for example, already has 30 mg pseudoephedrine in each caplet, and its label says to ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you take any other product with pseudoephedrine or another nasal decongestant.
- No second NSAID: do not take ibuprofen with naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin for pain. The ibuprofen label says the chance of severe stomach bleeding is higher if you take other NSAIDs.
- If you take aspirin for your heart: ask a doctor or pharmacist first. The label says ibuprofen may decrease that benefit of aspirin. Do not stop prescribed aspirin on your own.
- MAOIs: do not use Mucinex D if you take a prescription MAOI, or for 2 weeks after stopping one. If you are not sure whether a medicine is an MAOI, ask a pharmacist.
Will Mucinex D keep me up at night?
It can. The Mucinex D label says to stop and ask a doctor if you get nervous, dizzy, or sleepless, and MedlinePlus lists nervousness and trouble sleeping as possible side effects of pseudoephedrine. MedlinePlus suggests taking your last dose of the day several hours before bedtime.
Mucinex D is an extended-release tablet taken every 12 hours. If it keeps you awake, ask a pharmacist about timing your doses.
Swallow Mucinex D whole. The label says not to crush, chew, or break the tablets.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Stop and contact a doctor right away if you feel faint, have stomach pain that does not get better, have bloody or black stools, feel your heart racing or pounding, feel very nervous or dizzy, or notice leg swelling.
Get care the same day for a fever that lasts more than 3 days, a headache that will not go away, or symptoms that come back with a fever or rash.
Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, swelling of the face or throat, or vomiting blood.
If someone took too much, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if they collapse, have a seizure, or cannot be woken up.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›How long can I take them together?
Follow each label, and stop sooner if you feel worse. Stop Mucinex D and ask a doctor if your symptoms do not get better within 7 days, or come back, or come with a fever, rash, or a headache that will not go away.
Stop ibuprofen and ask a doctor if pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days, or fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days. The ibuprofen label says the heart and stomach risks go up if you use more than directed or for longer than directed, so use the smallest dose that works.
Common questions
Can I take Mucinex D with ibuprofen?
Many adults can, because Mucinex D has no pain reliever and ibuprofen is a different drug. Both labels say to ask a doctor first if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you take other medicines, and do not add another decongestant or NSAID.
Can I take Mucinex D and Advil at the same time?
Advil is ibuprofen, and the labels do not say to space it apart from Mucinex D. Follow each product's own dosing schedule: Mucinex D every 12 hours and Advil every 4 to 6 hours. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, ask a pharmacist before taking either one.
Can I take Mucinex D with Motrin or Aleve?
Motrin is ibuprofen, so the same advice applies. Aleve is naproxen, a different NSAID. Pick 1 NSAID, never ibuprofen and naproxen together, and ask a pharmacist which one fits you if you have blood pressure, kidney, or stomach problems.
Can I take Mucinex D if I have high blood pressure?
Not without asking first. The Mucinex D label says to ask a doctor before use if you have high blood pressure or heart disease, because it contains pseudoephedrine. Ibuprofen has the same caution, so taking both makes checking first even more important.
Can I take Mucinex D with Sudafed or Advil Cold and Sinus?
No. Mucinex D already has pseudoephedrine, the decongestant in Sudafed Congestion and Sudafed 12 Hour, so do not add any Sudafed product or other decongestant. Advil Cold and Sinus also has pseudoephedrine, so taking it with Mucinex D doubles the decongestant. If you want a pain reliever with Mucinex D, a plain ibuprofen product such as Advil tablets does not overlap.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.