Is there an MAOI in ibuprofen?
No. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), not a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). There is no MAOI ingredient listed for ibuprofen by itself.
Why do people think MAOIs might be in ibuprofen?
Confusion usually comes from the fact that MAOI interactions are serious, and some medications have drug names that sound similar or are combined products. But ibuprofen’s active ingredient is ibuprofen (an NSAID), not an MAOI.
What if I’m taking ibuprofen plus another cold/flu medicine?
Some over-the-counter “cold and flu” products include additional active ingredients (for example, decongestants or antihistamines). Those products are where interaction questions often come up. If you tell me the exact product name (or the active ingredients on the label), I can help check whether any of those ingredients are an MAOI or could interact with MAOI therapy.
Quick check: what counts as an MAOI?
Common MAOIs include older antidepressants such as tranylcypromine, phenelzine, isocarboxazid, and the prescription MAOIs like selegiline (at antidepressant-dose formulations) and others. Ibuprofen is not in this group.
If you want, I can verify your specific product
Reply with the exact ibuprofen brand name and strength (and whether it’s a combo product), and I’ll confirm the active ingredients.