MajorNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)×Glucocorticoids
Updated · Methodology
Mechanism
Additive gastroesophageal ulcer and bleeding risk. Glucocorticoids reduce GI mucosal repair; NSAIDs block protective prostaglandins.
Symptoms
Black or tarry stools (melena), vomiting blood or coffee-ground material, epigastric pain. Risk multiplies in older patients and with prior peptic ulcer disease.
Management
Avoid prolonged combination. If ibuprofen is needed for a short course on prednisolone, use the minimum effective dose for 5–7 days with mandatory pantoprazole cover. For chronic analgesia: paracetamol or celecoxib.
Check the full regimen, not just this pair
Opens the checker with these two drugs prefilled. Add the rest of the regimen and recompute additive risks.
Summary of a multi-drug list →
Medicine list: everything you take in one place →
Sources
- FDA: Ibuprofen tablet (Ascend Laboratories, LLC) – Prescribing Information (2007)– ; DailyMed setid 7c7b815b-d6f5-4ce6-b37f-f35d5c9f3254
- AEMPS: Ficha técnica: Ibuprofeno (nº registro 63597), sección 4.4 (2025)– AEMPS, CIMA, nº registro 63597, revisión 04/2025, sección 4.4