Can I take ibuprofen with Mucinex DM?

What is actually in Mucinex DM?

Mucinex DM has 2 active ingredients. Guaifenesin is an expectorant: the label says it helps loosen mucus and thin bronchial secretions. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. Neither one is a pain reliever or fever reducer, and neither is an NSAID.

That matters because the ibuprofen label warns that taking other NSAIDs raises the chance of stomach bleeding. Mucinex DM does not contain one. Here is what the DailyMed labels list:

• Mucinex DM (12-hour, regular strength): guaifenesin 600 mg and dextromethorphan HBr 30 mg per tablet. Adults and children 12 and older: 1 or 2 tablets every 12 hours, no more than 4 tablets in 24 hours.
• Mucinex DM Maximum Strength (12-hour): guaifenesin 1200 mg and dextromethorphan HBr 60 mg per tablet. 1 tablet every 12 hours, no more than 2 tablets in 24 hours.
• Advil and Motrin: brand names for ibuprofen, an NSAID. Advil tablets are 200 mg.

Which Mucinex boxes are different?

The "DM" products above are cough and mucus medicines only. Other boxes under the same brand are multi-symptom products. For example, the Mucinex Fast-Max Severe Cold label lists acetaminophen (the medicine in Tylenol), dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine, a decongestant.

Ibuprofen is a different drug from acetaminophen. The NHS says adults can take paracetamol (acetaminophen) at the same time as ibuprofen if needed, and suggests trying each on its own first. The ibuprofen label still says to ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you take any other drug, and to ask a doctor if you have certain health conditions. The Severe Cold label says not to use it with any other drug that contains acetaminophen, and, because it has a decongestant, to ask a doctor first if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. It also carries the MAOI warning.

• Read the Active ingredients panel on your exact box, not just the name on the front.
• If your Mucinex product has acetaminophen, do not add Tylenol or any other acetaminophen product.
• Mucinex DM already has dextromethorphan. Do not add a second cough or cold product that also has dextromethorphan.
• Do not add a second NSAID to ibuprofen, such as naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin, unless a doctor tells you to.

Who should ask a pharmacist or doctor before adding ibuprofen?

The ibuprofen Drug Facts label says to ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking any other drug, which includes Mucinex DM. That is a check, not a ban. The label lists these reasons to ask a doctor first:

• You have had stomach ulcers or bleeding problems, or have a history of stomach problems such as heartburn.
• You have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, asthma, or have had a stroke.
• You take a blood thinner, a steroid, a diuretic (water pill), or aspirin for heart attack or stroke. The label says ibuprofen may decrease this benefit of aspirin.
• You are 60 or older, or have 3 or more alcoholic drinks a day.
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding. The label says it is especially important not to use ibuprofen at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy unless a doctor tells you to.

What should you not mix with Mucinex DM?

The biggest warning on Mucinex DM is about MAOIs. These are a type of prescription antidepressant, for example phenelzine (Nardil) and isocarboxazid (Marplan), as listed by MedlinePlus. Do not use Mucinex DM if you take an MAOI or stopped one within the last 2 weeks. If you are not sure whether a medicine is an MAOI, ask a pharmacist before you start.

The Mucinex DM labels also say to ask a doctor first if you have a long-lasting cough from smoking, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema, or a cough with a lot of mucus. Do not give Mucinex DM to children under 12. MedlinePlus says not to give adult dextromethorphan products to children.

How do you take them together?

If neither label's warnings apply to you, follow each product's own directions. There is no special combined schedule.

• Mucinex DM: swallow the extended-release tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break it. Space doses 12 hours apart.
• Ibuprofen 200 mg (Advil, Motrin IB): adults and children 12 and older take 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours while symptoms last. If 1 tablet does not help, the label says 2 may be used. Do not take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours unless a doctor tells you to.
• Take ibuprofen with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
• Use the smallest dose that works. The ibuprofen label says the chance of stomach bleeding is higher if you take more or for longer than directed.

When should you stop and get checked?

Both labels tell you when self-treatment has gone on long enough. Stop Mucinex DM and ask a doctor if your cough lasts more than 7 days, keeps coming back, or comes with a fever, rash, or headache that will not go away. Stop ibuprofen and ask a doctor if pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days, fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days, or new symptoms appear.

If you are not sure which box you have or whether your other medicines fit, you can text our AI doctor with the product names for guidance. A pharmacist can also check your list in a few minutes.