New study reveals that taking certain painkillers like ibuprofen headache relief with antidepressants reduces the potency of SSRI serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

If you’re currently taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression and also suffer from chronic pain, such as migraine headaches, then you might be compromising the effectiveness of your antidepressant medication. A new study reveals that certain over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers such as Advil ibuprofen have a negative impact on SSRI antidepressants, reducing their ability to fight depression and anxiety.

The study, conducted by the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Rockefeller University, New York, focused on a class of chronic pain relief medications known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Researchers concluded that OTC medications taken for headache relief like ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen, when taken together with SSRIs, essentially reduce the antidepressants’ ability to manage serotonin levels, making them less effective. Popular SSRI antidepressants include Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft.