Can you take aspirin if you regularly take ibuprofen or a similar medicine?

Always tell your healthcare team about all the medicines you take, including those bought without a prescription.

Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), can thin the blood. This makes it hard for blood to clot. Regular use of ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can increase the risk of bleeding. Taking aspirin with some NSAIDs can increase the risk of bleeding even more.

Some NSAIDs also increase the risk of heart attacks. If you have a reason to use low-dose aspirin — such as a history of a heart attack or bypass surgery — NSAIDs cannot be used instead of aspirin to prevent heart attacks.

Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium also may cause stomach ulcers. The risk of ulcers goes up a lot if you take aspirin and one of these other medicines together.

If you need to take ibuprofen or similar medicines, talk with your healthcare professional about options that won't interfere with daily aspirin therapy. For example, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may be an option.