Mixing Advil PM and MAOIs
Unsafe
Risk of serious physical or psychological harm. Not recommended under any circumstances.
What to do
- Say what was taken and how much.Responders need it, and in most US states Good Samaritan laws protect both of you from drug possession charges when you call for an overdose.
- Unresponsive: put them on their side, tilt the head back, and stay until help arrives.Never leave someone alone to “sleep it off”.
- Never Use Alone 1-800-484-3731Stays on the line and sends help if you stop responding.
- Full steps: what to do if it is already happeningOverdose signs, the recovery position, what to say on the call, and whether you can be charged for making it.
- Poison Control 1-800-222-1222Free and 24/7, for “is this bad?” before it becomes an emergency.
Can you take Advil PM with MAOIs?
Advil PM contains ibuprofen and diphenhydramine. The most concerning part is Advil PM (Diphenhydramine) with MAOIs: this carries a real risk of serotonin syndrome, and MAOIs can make diphenhydramine stronger and longer-lasting. Avoid this combination at recreational doses. MixSafe rates Advil PM with MAOIs as "Unsafe" — risk of serious physical or psychological harm. Not recommended under any circumstances. Sources: the Drug Facts labels on DailyMed, the TripSit combination chart and MixSafe research. Educational information, not medical advice.
What is in it
- Advil PM
- Ibuprofen + Diphenhydramine.
Ingredient by ingredient
Advil PM (Diphenhydramine) + MAOIsUnsafe
This carries a real risk of serotonin syndrome, and MAOIs can make diphenhydramine stronger and longer-lasting. Avoid this combination at recreational doses.
There is a significant risk of serotonin syndrome with this combination. Monoamine oxidase A inhibitors may extend and increase the anticholinergic effects of DPH. The combination increases each other’s side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and headaches. Medical dosages are not reported to be of concern.
Source: TripSit drug combination chart
Advil PM (Ibuprofen) + MAOIsLow risk, no synergy
Neither substance is expected to meaningfully change the other. Both still carry their own individual risks.
No specific interaction is documented. Ibuprofen's standing risks — stomach bleeding and reduced kidney blood flow — apply in any combination, and matter most when dehydrated, not eating, or dosing repeatedly over a long session.
Sources: Ibuprofen and Alcohol: Is it Safe to Mix NSAIDs and Alcohol? · Mixing NSAIDs with alcohol. GoodRx · Ibuprofen interactions to avoid. SingleCare
- Advil PM, Drug Facts label. DailyMed. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=658fc201-47c9-6a6d-8af9-6208298d43b4
Ingredient lists checked 2026-09-27. Formulas change and store brands differ, so the Drug Facts box on your own packet is the final word.
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