Taking Voltaren and Ibuprofen Together – Risks and Side Effects

If you are thinking about taking both Voltaren and Ibuprofen together orally, then no, you should not take both of these oral medications at the same time for a number of reasons.

One way you can get around this would to be to take an Ibuprofen while using a topical Diclofenac Sodium, the active ingredient in Voltaren® Gel, so one is topically relieving your pain while the Ibuprofen will orally relieve pain.

It’s important to note that you should always consult with a healthcare professional or pharmacist before taking multiple medications together, especially if you have specific health concerns or conditions.

One of the most important reasons you shouldn’t be taking both Voltaren (diclofenac) and ibuprofen together is that both of these medications are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), so in essence you’re taking two of the same medications at the same time as both of these medications share similar mechanisms of action in relieving pain and reducing inflammation.

This also means you’re risking double the side effects if you have any problems with NSAIDs which can include gastrointestinal complications such as stomach irritation, ulcers, bleeding, and potential renal issues.

NSAIDs can also be quite harsh on your stomach lining, and taking diclofenac and ibuprofen together together may exacerbate this effect.

If you do decide to try taking both of these together, speak to your doctor if your taking any other medications as the end cocktail can have some negative effects you simply might not be aware of. Personally I try to stay away from oral products whenever possible, and rarely double dose.

Again, I would highly suggest if you feel you need that extra hit of pain relief, use a topical gel for one like Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel and oral for the other like Advil. While some of the gel is absorbed through the skin, it should still lessen any side effects while still giving you the combined strength you’re looking for.

And one important note if you decide you do only want to take one medication, a recent clinical study found that basically diclofenac and ibuprofen were about the same in relieving joint pain, with diclofenac (Voltaren) coming out as being slightly more effective, but not by all that much.

In some cases, a healthcare provider may prescribe both Voltaren and ibuprofen for short-term use under their supervision, but this should only be done when the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Can You Take Ibuprofen With Voltaren Gel?

Yes, you can take both Ibuprofen with Voltaren Gel as long as it is the topical gel and not the oral form of Voltaren. Using both Voltaren Gel and Ibuprofen together should really help with your pain, and if the combined products don’t seem to be having any affect, it is time to seek out a professional physician.