November 04, 2025

Why You Should Never Take OTC Painkillers While on Antibiotics

7 minutes

Each year, 4.95 million deaths worldwide are linked to antimicrobial resistance, making drug-resistant infections one of the greatest threats to health
Research shows that taking common painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen while on antibiotics speeds up bacterial mutations that make infections harder to treat
Resistance levels in E. coli jumped as much as 64-fold when exposed to both antibiotics and over-the-counter painkillers, and the resistance spread to multiple antibiotic classes
Older adults in long-term care facilities face the highest risk because they often take multiple medications daily, creating the perfect environment for resistant bacteria to thrive
Choosing natural pain relief options and limiting unnecessary antibiotic use are simple steps to protect yourself from fueling dangerous superbugs

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14871,487 ratings

November 04, 2025

7 minutes

Each year, 4.95 million deaths worldwide are linked to antimicrobial resistance, making drug-resistant infections one of the greatest threats to health
Research shows that taking common painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen while on antibiotics speeds up bacterial mutations that make infections harder to treat
Resistance levels in E. coli jumped as much as 64-fold when exposed to both antibiotics and over-the-counter painkillers, and the resistance spread to multiple antibiotic classes
Older adults in long-term care facilities face the highest risk because they often take multiple medications daily, creating the perfect environment for resistant bacteria to thrive
Choosing natural pain relief options and limiting unnecessary antibiotic use are simple steps to protect yourself from fueling dangerous superbugs

...more