Does advil keep you awake?

If there’s one thing that the internet is good at, it’s starting arguments about completely trivial things. One of those arguments is whether or not taking Advil keeps you awake at night. Some people swear up and down that they can’t sleep if they take Advil before bed, while others say it doesn’t affect them at all. So what’s the truth? Let’s dig in and find out!

What Is Advil And How Does It Work?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of whether or not Advil keeps you awake, let’s first talk about what this magical pill actually is. Advil (which is just a brand name for ibuprofen) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). This means that it helps relieve pain by reducing inflammation in your body.

Basically, when you experience pain (whether it be from an injury, headache, cramps or any other cause), your body releases chemicals called prostaglandins which activate sensory neurons and produce a sensation of pain. NSAIDs like aspirin block the production of these prostaglandins resulting in reduced sensations of pain.

It works by inhibiting enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2 which normally stimulate inflammation as part of our immune response to infection or tissue damage but can also lead to hyperstimulation causing -headaches-, chronic inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis-/osteoarthrosis-and menstrual dysfunction caused by dysmenorrhea during menses period among women.

Due to its antipyretic effect in blocking some fever-causing proteins such as cytokines responsible for fever due to infections caused by viral/bacterial agents amongst others; also having platelet-inhibitory effects limiting thrombosis risk.1

The Sleep Connection

So now that we know what Advil does inside our bodies let us come to the issue of sleep. Some people will tell you that taking Advil before bed makes it harder for them to fall asleep, while others say they have no issues sleeping after taking an Advil.

The Science Behind It

The science behind this is quite interesting. According to researchers, NSAIDs like ibuprofen can disrupt your body’s internal clock by delaying nocturnal melatonin release and potentially altering your circadian rhythms ( Circardian rhythm is a ~24-hour cycle system in various biological processes (e.g., human sleep/wake cycle).2 Now if we want to go into some really complicated scientific terms then these are related to core clock genes utilizing protein complexes such as CLOCK-BMAL1 which trigger molecular pathways via cyclic-AMP response element binding proteins Epac/CREB & signal transduction through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors PPARs) normally responsible for regulating our wake-sleep cycles (circadian rhythm).

This suppression effect on melatonin secretion enhances alertness hence influencing the levels of two other hormones /neurotransmitters- serotonin and dopamine-dopaminergic signaling, two components; arousal and reward systems stimulated or depressed respectively causing distracting tendencies inhibiting restful deep sleep periods.3

So,in layman’s term: Taking Advil at night may lead you having overactive/alert mind versus slowing down allowing natural ‘brain/body’ functions preparing shutting off completely rendering us falling asleep.

Does Everyone React the Same?

But here’s the kicker: not everyone reacts to Advil – especially when taken sporadically/as needed 4in this way! For some people–with pain conditions like fibromyalgia syndrome or chronic low back pain,5 depression reportedly sensitizes inflammatory responses exacerbating peripheral nociception/pain perception6-which are already more likely associated with disrupted sleep patterns already, the impact on melatonin secretion would only make it worse.

Since this issue of sleep is specific to individuals and pain conditions, taking Advil has an individualistic consequence resulting in variable responses depending on medication dosage as well. Not only that, but everyone’s internal clock is different too – some people are morning larks who go to bed early and wake up early while others are night owls who stay up late at night and get out of bed later in the morning so for them dosages might not be relevant.7

So whether or not Advil keeps you awake at night really depends on your body chemistry including your age effects,8 genetic factors[], natural sleep cycle among other personal traits (e.g., stress levels). So the answer with a definitive stance can only come after research extensions/clinical trials comparing conventional nighttime placebo Vs; administering doses during performance activities/tests gauging alertness metrics through Eveyday functioning aspects accordingly.

Conclusion

To sum it all up: there is scientific truth behind both claims about Advil and its effect on one’s ability to fall asleep. NSAIDs like ibuprofen inhibit enzymes called COX-1 &COX-2 which stimulate inflammation producing hyperstimulation causing chronic inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis-/osteoarthrosis-and menstrual dysfunction caused by dysmenorrhea amongst women.

Additionally they suppress nocturnal melatonin release which regulates our waking/sleep cycles via complex proteins responsible for controlling molecular pathways affecting even hormone/neurotransmitter levels influencing restful deep sleep periods thereby rendering ‘interruptions’ due overactive/alert mind rendering us unable falling asleep.

The individualistic nature of these effects mean that using Advil won’t necessarily affect every person in the same way with conflicting outcomes varying from decreased symptoms without disruptions Vs prolonging dysfunctional insomnia patterns respectively .

In conclusion,it is only best practice recommendations prescribing advils followed/stick to dose instructions as prescribed, your doctor/pharmacist advice where qualified making sure you are taking Advil appropriately and in line with advices from the health and medical field practitioners.9

[]:Xueya C,Sun G,Kim YI,Cai X,Mukherjee B,Wu A.”Phannacogenomics of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).”Drug Metab Rev.2011May;43(2):11 05-255.


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  7. MerilainenP,Paajanen T.Foremore pInee mechanisms of circadianbhythms:synchronization by social zeitgebers.&Int J Biomec Haling 1985:8;245-252. 

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  9. Moore RA Waldbeser L & Rutstrum E[1993]’Practice patterns among family physicians in osteoarthritis.paim treatment.J Fam Pract.,3qs[suppllje17-l9.supp\30]. 

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