Everyday aches and pains are a part of life. Your muscles feel tender after a tough workout. Your temples throb after a night overindulging in too many TikTok-inspired cocktails. (Better to stick with mocktails; NCPIC tried the Sleepy Girl mocktail and was surprised.) At times like these, over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers may provide relief.
But what if you require a more potent painkiller? In such cases, your doctor might prescribe a medication that combines ibuprofen and hydrocodone, as the pain-relieving effects of OTC products might not suffice.
If you’re new to this type of painkiller, you might be curious about its effects on your body. Understanding how ibuprofen and hydrocodone function, along with their common side effects, is a good starting point.
Let’s begin by examining ibuprofen, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Among other functions, ibuprofen relieves pain by blocking the production of prostaglandins — hormone-like substances that promote inflammation, pain, and fever. Simply put, ibuprofen acts as a barrier to prevent pain from disrupting your day.
There’s just one issue: Ibuprofen generally only works on lower-level pain (e.g., those nagging but mild everyday pains). If your pain exceeds moderate ranges, ibuprofen alone can’t always serve as a fix. That’s when hydrocodone may be needed as a secondary pain-relieving solution.
Ibuprofen can enhance hydrocodone’s effectiveness
You may have heard of hydrocodone; it’s an opioid that can become habit-forming and has been associated with addiction. This is one reason it’s usually only prescribed for short periods; plus, the CDC has issued guidelines for doctors who prescribe opioids. Nonetheless, it’s prescribed frequently enough: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around one-fifth of people who have pain unrelated to cancer receive opioids.
Like ibuprofen, hydrocodone helps relieve pain, but it works differently. Hydrocodone alters how your brain and nervous system respond to pain. Instead of targeting inflammation, it binds to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocking the transmission of pain signals. Consequently, you get relief.
When ibuprofen and hydrocodone are combined into a single drug, your body’s ability to feel pain is dulled in two ways. This makes it possible for you to function during times when you might otherwise be overwhelmed by discomfort.
Research indicates that the dual pain-fighting action of ibuprofen and hydrocodone is reliable. In fact, the presence of ibuprofen might enhance hydrocodone’s performance.
For instance, a 2019 article in Neuropharmacology argues that combining a non-opioid with an opioid can improve the opioid’s effectiveness. This approach makes it easier to achieve the same or better results from the opioid without continuously increasing the dosage, potentially reducing the risk of overuse.
A study from 2003 in Anesthesia and Analgesia supports this notion. During the study, mice that received ibuprofen and hydrocodone required less hydrocodone to achieve the same effect as a single higher dose of hydrocodone.
Frequently reported side effects with hydrocodone and ibuprofen
As with all medications, hydrocodone and ibuprofen can be beneficial as well as problematic. Ideally, a medication containing both substances should alleviate most or all of your pain. Yet some side effects related to using an ibuprofen-hydrocodone drug can range from annoying to serious.
For instance, ibuprofen and hydrocodone may cause you to sleep too much or too little. Plus, you might experience bouts of constipation. In fact, constipation frequently accompanies the use of this type of drug. However, your doctor may suggest taking measures to minimize this uncomfortable symptom, such as increasing your intake of fiber to improve digestive health or taking a laxative. (Alternatively, you can try these genius ways to get yourself to poop.) This way, constipation will be less likely to disrupt your daily routines.
Since ibuprofen can interfere with drugs like blood thinners and lithium, it’s crucial to inform your doctor about all medicines you’re taking before adding ibuprofen and hydrocodone into the mix. There’s an upside, though: If you and your doctor decide it’s worth proceeding with this kind of drug, you shouldn’t have to deal with unwanted side effects for long. Medications that contain both ibuprofen and hydrocodone are typically prescribed for 10 or fewer days (via Mayo Clinic).
