Does ibuprofen help with allergies?

In this article:

• Does ibuprofen help with allergies?
• Can you take ibuprofen with allergy medicine?
• Ibuprofen dosage for allergies
• Ibuprofen side effects
• Who should not take ibuprofen for allergies
• Alternatives to ibuprofen for seasonal allergies
• How to tell whether you have allergies or a cold

In this article

• Does ibuprofen help with allergies?
• Can you take ibuprofen with allergy medicine?
• Ibuprofen dosage for allergies
• Ibuprofen side effects
• Who should not take ibuprofen for allergies
• Alternatives to ibuprofen for seasonal allergies
• How to tell whether you have allergies or a cold

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sold over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription, often under brand names such as Motrin or Advil. It’s designed to treat fevers and pain associated with common problems like headaches, muscle pain, toothaches, and menstrual cramps, but it goes one step further than pain relievers such as acetaminophen by helping reduce the inflammation that’s causing your pain.

Most people, however, may not consider taking ibuprofen when their seasonal allergies flare up—after all, it’s not an antihistamine. While ibuprofen can’t prevent the immune response from causing your itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing, it can provide relief in other ways. Here’s what to know about taking ibuprofen for allergies.

Does ibuprofen help with allergies?

“Ibuprofen can reduce some of the symptoms associated with allergies, like headache and sinus pain or pressure from congestion,” says Kathleen Dass, MD, allergist and immunologist based in Oak Park, Michigan.

But ibuprofen won’t address the cause of your allergies, whether that’s pollen, pet dander, mold, dust, or something else entirely. To treat allergies, you’ll need to employ a combination of strategies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). One is to limit or avoid your allergy triggers altogether. The other is to take medications that either prevent the release of histamines in your body when you’re exposed to an allergen (like an antihistamine) or directly stop the symptoms (like a decongestant for a stuffy nose). Ibuprofen can’t do either of those things—it can only relieve pain symptoms associated with allergies.

Can you take ibuprofen with allergy medicine?

“In general, ibuprofen isn’t known to interact with common OTC allergy medications,” says Erika Gray, Pharm.D., cofounder of Toolbox Genomics. In fact, she notes that diphenhydramine (an antihistamine that’s the active ingredient in Benadryl) is sometimes combined with ibuprofen or acetaminophen in certain cold and allergy medications. For example, Advil PM and Motrin PM combine ibuprofen and diphenhydramine. 

Although ibuprofen doesn’t interact with allergy medications, you still have to be careful of exceeding the recommended dosage, especially with those combination medications. For example, if Motrin PM is your choice of ibuprofen, you should be aware of the fact that it contains diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl. So, taking Motrin PM and Benadryl together could put you over the recommended dosage of diphenhydramine. Similarly, Advil Allergy Sinus is an allergy medication that contains 200 milligrams (mg) of ibuprofen, so taking additional ibuprofen with it may put you over the maximum recommended dosage of ibuprofen, depending on your age and weight. Always consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist before combining medication. They can tell you how much is safe to take together.    

Ibuprofen dosage for allergies

If you want to take ibuprofen for allergies, make sure you follow the standard dosing directions or the directions provided on the package. Because ibuprofen doesn’t interact with common OTC allergy medications, you don’t need to adjust your dose if you’re also taking something like Benadryl, for example. The exception is if you’re taking a combination drug, as mentioned earlier. For example, if you’re taking ibuprofen together with Advil Allergy Sinus, you need to limit how much total ibuprofen you’re taking to avoid too much at once.

According to Dr. Dass, the right dosage of ibuprofen is dependent primarily on age and weight. But in young children, body temperature (i.e., how high their fever is) may also determine the dose. If you need to know how much ibuprofen to give a child between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old,  contact your child’s healthcare provider, who will calculate the right dosage based on their age, weight, and symptoms. 

In general, children under 6 months old shouldn’t take ibuprofen. Children 2 years and older can take the appropriate amount based on their body weight. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a helpful chart for calculating the correct dose.

For adults and children 12 years and older, Dr. Dass says the usual dosage of ibuprofen is 200–400 mg every 4–6 hours, as needed.

Ibuprofen side effects

Even though ibuprofen is an OTC medication, it still carries risks, although Dr. Gray says that appropriate, infrequent use of ibuprofen usually doesn’t cause any side effects. But if you take this medication regularly or in higher dosages, common side effects of ibuprofen may include:

• Heartburn and gas
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Dizziness

Although less common, there are also severe side effects that can occur with ibuprofen use, including: 

• Swelling
• Vomiting
• Bruising or bleeding
• Itching or rash
• Kidney or liver damage
• Life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Who should not take ibuprofen for allergies

Some people shouldn’t take ibuprofen for any reason, including allergies. If you have a known hypersensitivity to ibuprofen or any NSAIDs and have experienced anaphylactic reactions or serious skin reactions, Dr. Gray says you should not take ibuprofen.

You should also avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (or consult with a healthcare provider first) if you have any of the following:

• A history of liver or kidney disease
• A history of stomach ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding
• Acid reflux
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• High blood pressure
• A history of stroke or heart attack
• A bleeding disorder
• Unmanaged diabetes

You also shouldn’t take NSAIDs like ibuprofen if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Alternatives to ibuprofen for seasonal allergies

If you’re trying to treat pain—like headache or sinus pain—caused by allergies but can’t take ibuprofen or NSAIDs, Dr. Gray says you may be able to take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) instead. It can help relieve pain but isn’t in the same class of medications as ibuprofen, so it may be safer for you to take. However, if you aren’t sure which type of pain reliever is right for you based on your existing medical conditions, check with a healthcare provider first. 

Antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin are good for treating allergy symptoms at the source, but Dr. Gray says they won’t relieve symptoms of pain. You may need to combine medications if you’re experiencing a headache or sinus pain due to allergies.

In general, other options recommended by the AAFA for treating allergy symptoms include:

• Nasal corticosteroid sprays, like Flonase and Nasacort
• Oral decongestants, such as Sudafed
• Nasal decongestant sprays, such as Afrin (not to be used more than three days in a row) 
• Topical hydrocortisone or diphenhydramine to relieve skin itching
• Eye drops containing ketotifen or olopatadine, like Zaditor, Alaway, and Pataday

How to tell whether you have allergies or a cold

According to Dr. Dass, colds are triggered by the body’s immune response to a virus, but allergies are triggered by the body’s immune response to airborne allergens in the environment, such as pet dander, pollen, and dust.

Unfortunately, many cold symptoms share similarities with allergy symptoms, so it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. “Stuffy nose, runny nose, and sneezing, for example, can happen with both colds and allergies,” Dr. Dass says. But she points out that sore throat and fever are symptoms usually more associated with viral illnesses, while itchy or puffy eyes are usually associated with allergies. 

What about coughing? It depends on whether or not you have asthma, according to Dr. Dass. Although a cough is usually associated with colds, you may have a cough if allergies are causing an asthma flare-up. 

Cold vs. Allergies: Comparison chart
Symptoms	Cold or viral illness	Allergies
Stuffy or runny nose	Yes	Yes
Sneezing	Yes	Yes
Cough	Yes	Not usually, but maybe if you have asthma
Fever	Yes	No
Red, itchy, or puffy eyes	No	Yes
Sore throat	Yes	No
Itchy nose or ears	No	Yes

 

If you have questions about your symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider. They can recommend the best and safest treatment options that won’t interact with other medications you may be taking or conditions you may have.