What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Diflunisal and ibuprofen
Ibuprofen's FDA label (Caldolor) of January 29, 2026 names diflunisal in its drug interactions section; diflunisal's label does not name ibuprofen itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The ibuprofen label: “Concomitant use of ibuprofen with other NSAIDs or salicylates increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [ see Warnings and Precautions () ].”
Check it at the source: the diflunisal FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 4, 2026, Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the ibuprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 1, 2026, Savings Distributors LLC).
What does the diflunisal label say about ibuprofen?
Diflunisal's label does not name ibuprofen itself; it warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)):
Diflunisal label, boxed warningGastrointestinal Risk NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.
Diflunisal label, warningsGastrointestinal Effects – Risk of Ulceration, Bleeding and Perforation NSAIDs, including diflunisal tablets, can cause serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, which can be fatal.
Source: FDA drug label (diflunisal), Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective August 4, 2026 (SPL set 666f89b4-fd81-420a-a390-eb1cd4014f61), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the ibuprofen label say about diflunisal?
Caldolor label (Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc., January 29, 2026), drug interactionsNSAIDs and Salicylates Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of ibuprofen with other NSAIDs or salicylates (…) increases the risk of GI toxicity, with little or no increase in efficacy [ see Warnings and Precautions () ]. Intervention: The concomitant use of ibuprofen with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended.
Source: FDA drug label (Caldolor, NDA022348), Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective January 29, 2026 (SPL set 1eaa7790-f1a1-4f51-b10a-cbbaf033f684), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Motrin IB), NDA019012 (Kenvue Brands), as published by Savings Distributors LLC, effective January 1, 2026 (SPL set 56846774-8413-c306-e063-6394a90a2be8), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Diflunisal | Ibuprofen | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis | Fever, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Cough and cold |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.06 per tablet 500 mg tablet | $0.0573 per tablet 800 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once