Skip to main content

What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Diphenhydramine/ibuprofen and naproxen

Diphenhydramine/ibuprofen's FDA label of July 29, 2026 names naproxen in its warnings section; naproxen's label does not name diphenhydramine/ibuprofen itself but warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)). The diphenhydramine/ibuprofen label: “… drugs containing prescription or nonprescription NSAIDs [aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or others] have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while using this product take more or for a longer time than directed Heart …”

Check it at the source: the diphenhydramine/ibuprofen FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 29, 2026, Haleon US Holdings LLC); the naproxen FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 12, 2026, Bayer HealthCare LLC.).

What does the diphenhydramine/ibuprofen label say about naproxen?

Diphenhydramine/ibuprofen label, warnings

The chance is higher if you are age 60 or older have had stomach ulcers or bleeding problems take a blood thinning (anticoagulant) or steroid drug take other drugs containing prescription or nonprescription NSAIDs [aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or others] have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while using this product take more or for a longer time than directed Heart attack and stroke warning:

Source: FDA drug label (ADVIL PM), Haleon US Holdings LLC, effective July 29, 2026 (SPL set 405afdb4-c157-1d88-f232-848063ba4714), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the naproxen label say about diphenhydramine/ibuprofen?

Naproxen's label does not name diphenhydramine/ibuprofen itself; it warns about its class (NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)):

Naproxen label, boxed warning

Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Ulceration, and Perforation NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

Naproxen label, boxed warning

This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use ( 5.1 ) NAPRELAN® is contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery ( 4 , 5.1 ) NSAIDs cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

Source: FDA drug label (Aleve Caplets), Bayer HealthCare LLC., effective March 12, 2026 (SPL set 02941928-128a-2c88-e063-6294a90ac6ba), 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

39Diphenhydramine/ibuprofen generic labelers
139Naproxen generic labelers
Diphenhydramine/ibuprofenNaproxen
Labeled forn/aFever, Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Gout, Pain, Cough and cold
Boxed warningNoYes
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)$0.131 per unit Gs ibuprofen pm caplet$0.0565 per tablet 500 mg tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo 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?