Can drinking milk with Ibuprofen reduce nausea?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Can drinking milk with Ibuprofen reduce nausea?
Yes, drinking milk with Ibuprofen can reduce nausea and other gastrointestinal side effects – to some extent. However, it will not prevent the stomach damage caused by prolonged use of Ibuprofen, but it will likely slow it down (1).
Ibuprofen can be taken with or without food and it’s absolutely safe to take it with milk and other dairy products.
Gastrointestinal risks associated with the use of Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a widely used medication for pain relief and reducing inflammation, but it also comes with gastrointestinal risks. The mechanism behind these risks lies in how Ibuprofen affects the lining of the stomach and intestines.
When you take Ibuprofen, it works by inhibiting enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2, which are responsible for producing substances called prostaglandins (2). Prostaglandins play a crucial role in protecting the stomach lining and maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
By inhibiting these enzymes, Ibuprofen reduces the production of protective prostaglandins, leading to a decrease in the stomach’s ability to create a protective mucus layer. As a result, the stomach lining becomes more susceptible to irritation and damage from stomach acid (2).
This can cause side effects like nausea, acid reflux, abdominal pain, etc. In severe cases, Ibuprofen can cause erosions or ulcers to form in the stomach lining, leading to pain, bleeding, and discomfort. These meds can generally increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (3).
How does milk reduce Ibuprofen-induced nausea?
Milk is a nutrient-dense liquid and contains a number of good fats and proteins. When taken with Ibuprofen, milk can help protect your gastrointestinal mucosa, which protects your stomach lining from acid exposure (1).
Not only milk, food in general acts in the exact same way and creates a barrier between the lining of your stomach and the gastric fluid containing Ibuprofen and acid (1).
This is why it is advised not to take Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs on an empty stomach. Taking milk with Ibuprofen can also help mask the bitter taste of the drug or prevent any irritation caused by it.
However, you still need to watch out for the inevitable gastrointestinal damage caused by the prolonged use of NSAIDs.
Final words
To sum up, drinking milk with Ibuprofen can help reduce nausea and provide some protection to the stomach lining, but it is not a complete solution to prevent gastrointestinal risks associated with prolonged use.
It’s essential to follow the recommended dosage and usage guidelines for Ibuprofen and avoid taking it for extended periods without medical supervision.
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References
1.-
Bennett SM, Zhou L, Hayes JE. Using milk fat to reduce the irritation and bitter taste of ibuprofen. Chemosens Percept. 2012 Dec 1;5(3-4):231-236. doi: 10.1007/s12078-012-9128-6. Epub 2012 May 1. PMID: 23527314; PMCID: PMC3603579. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23527314/
2.-
Rainsford KD. Gastrointestinal damage from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Toxicol Pathol. 1988;16(2):251-9. doi: 10.1177/019262338801600218. PMID: 3142030. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3142030/
3.-
Michels SL, Collins J, Reynolds MW, Abramsky S, Paredes-Diaz A, McCarberg B. Over-the-counter ibuprofen and risk of gastrointestinal bleeding complications: a systematic literature review. Curr Med Res Opin. 2012 Jan;28(1):89-99. doi: 10.1185/03007995.2011.633990. Epub 2011 Nov 28. PMID: 22017233. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22017233/
