Can you mix painkillers?

It’s often confusing to know when it’s safe to take more than one medication at a time. The short answer is it isn’t safe to mix Percocet and Ibuprofen. Both drugs are used to relieve pain and have their own specific effect on the body, and they have their own potential side effects. Your local chemist will be able to give you in-depth information about how to manage your medicine intake to ensure you are safe.

The problem with mixing these drugs is that you can magnify or decrease the effect of either drug. This could lead to overdose or a reduction in the effectiveness of the pain relief. Since medications like these are available via prescription or over the counter, people often assume that they’re not dangerous. This is true if you take your medication according to the directions of your local doctor (GP) and chemist, but straying from this can increase the risk of side effects and the possibility of overdose.

If you find that the medication you’re taking is not meeting your needs in terms of controlling pain, you should consult your GP immediately. NHS have a new helpline: 111, that can give you further advice.