Ibuprofen can reduce the blood pressure-lowering effect of lisinopril and may increase the risk of kidney damage. Regular use of ibuprofen with lisinopril can undermine blood pressure control and, in some cases, lead to acute kidney injury, especially in patients who are dehydrated.
How This Interaction Works (Mechanism)
NSAIDs like ibuprofen inhibit prostaglandin synthesis in the kidneys. Prostaglandins help maintain renal blood flow, especially when the renin-angiotensin system is already blocked by an ACE inhibitor like lisinopril. Without prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation, renal perfusion drops, reducing the kidney's ability to filter blood and regulate blood pressure. This creates a dual hit on kidney function.
Source: National Kidney Foundation Clinical Practice Guidelines, 2025
Avoid regular or prolonged use of ibuprofen while taking lisinopril. Occasional short-term use (1 to 2 days) at the lowest effective dose is generally acceptable for most patients. Consider acetaminophen as an alternative for pain relief. Stay well hydrated. If you must use ibuprofen regularly, your doctor should monitor your blood pressure and kidney function closely.
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Sources and standards behind this page
What a drug interaction does, and how strongly it is supported, is documented in public labeling and federal safety references rather than in any one summary, and the sources below are the primary ones. They are linked so a reader can check a claim without taking this page's word for it.
- DailyMed carries the current FDA labeling for every marketed drug product, including the warnings and drug interaction sections.
- Drugs@FDA is the federal database of approved drug products and their approval documents.
- FDA: Drug interactions, what you should know explains how drug-drug, drug-food and drug-condition interactions are described on labels.
- FDA Drug Safety Communications publishes the agency's safety alerts and label changes as they are issued.
- FDA MedWatch is the program for reporting and reviewing adverse events, including suspected interactions.
- openFDA provides public access to FDA labeling and adverse event data.
- MedlinePlus drug information is the National Library of Medicine's consumer reference for what a medicine is and how it is taken.
- NIAAA: Harmful interactions documents which medicines interact with alcohol and how.
- NCCIH: Herb-drug interactions summarises the evidence on interactions between herbal products and medicines.
- National Library of Medicine maintains the drug and health databases the sources above draw on.
This page describes how this interaction works and where it is documented. It is not medical advice: a prescriber or pharmacist decides what applies to a particular patient and medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lisinopril and Ibuprofen have a moderate interaction that requires caution. While some patients may take both under medical supervision, the combination can cause adverse effects. Talk to your doctor before combining these medications, and do not adjust doses on your own.
Ibuprofen can reduce the blood pressure-lowering effect of lisinopril and may increase the risk of kidney damage. Regular use of ibuprofen with lisinopril can undermine blood pressure control and, in some cases, lead to acute kidney injury, especially in patients who are dehydrated.
Yes. Anytime you are taking multiple medications, supplements, or substances, you should inform your doctor and pharmacist. They can evaluate your specific risk factors (age, kidney function, other medications, medical conditions) and determine whether the Lisinopril and Ibuprofen combination is safe for you, or whether adjustments are needed.
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