Mixing Advil with Lexapro??

prickett · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 21

Hi, I’ve been using advil for a long time for relieving a menstrual pain. Beside that, I suffer from depression, which became major. I have it for two weeks, almost every day, and I was thinking of trying lexapro. However, I don’t know if these two drugs can be mixed. Any suggestions?

rhodes · Newbie Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 21

Hi, I think you shouldn’t mix advil with lexapro. I heard it could cause serotonin syndrome. Advil is a painkiller used for osteoarthritis, arthritis and some other kinds of pain, and lexapro can’t be mixed with painkillers, sedatives and similar medications. Consult your doctor about this, and ask him which medicine you can use for depression, because you already use advil for relieving pain. Don’t forget to check if advil has something to do with your increased symptoms of depression. It has plenty if side effects, like dizziness, nervousness and ringing in the ears. There are many other antidepressants you can use. I heard that zofolt is very good in treating depression and anxiety.

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i don't believe that is accurate

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I also need to take quite a bit of Motrin when my period starts due to menstrual cramps. I began taking 5mg of Lexapro one month ago for depression. Before starting the Lexapro, I asked my doctor if I would be able to take the motrin for cramps while on Lexapro. He had to do some checking and let me know that intermittant use of motrin with Lexapro is ok. I had 16 days of side effects with lexapro and now, have none and it has really helped me with my depression.

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That definitely isn't correct information! Lexapro is often taken in conjunction with xanax, for instance.

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Be careful when using Advil or Motrin with Lexapro. It can (sometimes, not in everyone) lead to increased bruising and other bleeding with some patients when mixed with Lexapro. I experienced this when taking Advil for headaches when I was also on Lexapro.

Both Advil and Motrin use ibuprofen as a painkiller, which is classified as an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Other common NSAIDS include Aleve (naproxen) and aspirin. All of these to some extent can cause increased bleeding. This could mean bruises when you only slightly bump something, giving unexplained bruises around your body, but it is much more serious with stomach bleeding.

My doctor recommended Tylenol (acetaminophen) while I am still on Lexapro. Tylenol is not an NSAID, and may work well for headaches but less for monthly cramps.

Also, remember that larger dosages of the a drug increases the chance for side effects or interaction with other drugs. The 5 mg Lexapro dose listed in the previous post is half the normal starting dose of 10 mg and some people take 20 mg a day. Check with your doctor first, and keep that in mind if you do use Advil or Aleve from time to time with his/her approval, you should not take more than the dose on the bottle and be on the alert since side effects sometimes affect one person more than another.

Lexapro does have warnings about interactions with other antidepressants or antipsycotics, and you should trust your doctor for your specific case.
All of these warnings are listed in the fine print that comes with Lexapro- it is worth taking the time to read if you are taking the medication or have recently been prescribed it. Lexapro's fine print is available in .pdf version on their website. It also comes in every Lexapro sample box.

Mixing Advil with Lexapro??

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