Michelle Lee Photography // Shutterstock

Ibuprofen is one of the most widely used over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications. While it’s effective for headaches, muscle aches, and fever, it’s not without risks when combined with other substances. Interactions can increase the chance of side effects like stomach bleeding, kidney damage, or reduced drug effectiveness.

Knowing what to avoid while taking ibuprofen is essential for your safety. Doctronic breaks down nine important ibuprofen interactions to watch out for, explaining why they happen and what signs to look for.

Key takeaways

• Ibuprofen can interact with a variety of medications, supplements, and substances, potentially causing serious side effects or reducing effectiveness.
• Common interactions include blood thinners, lithium, certain blood pressure medications, and other NSAIDs.
• Alcohol and some foods can worsen ibuprofen’s side effects, especially on the stomach and liver.
• Always consult a healthcare professional before combining ibuprofen with other drugs or supplements.

1. Ibuprofen and Blood Thinners

Combining ibuprofen with blood thinners such as warfarin or newer anticoagulants can increase your risk of bleeding. Ibuprofen itself can irritate the stomach lining and affect platelet function, which helps blood clot. When paired with blood thinners, this effect can become dangerous.

Signs of bleeding include unusual bruising, bloody stools, or prolonged bleeding from cuts. If you’re on blood thinners, talk to your doctor before using ibuprofen or opt for safer alternatives.

2. Ibuprofen and Other NSAIDs

Taking ibuprofen alongside other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or naproxen can raise the risk of gastrointestinal issues such as ulcers and bleeding. It also increases the chance of kidney damage, especially if used frequently or in high doses.

Avoid stacking NSAIDs unless specifically advised by your healthcare provider. If you need pain relief, consider alternating medications or using acetaminophen instead.

3. Ibuprofen and Blood Pressure Medications

Ibuprofen can interfere with the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and diuretics. This interaction may lead to higher blood pressure or reduced kidney function.

People with hypertension should monitor their blood pressure closely and consult a healthcare professional before using ibuprofen regularly.

4. Ibuprofen and Lithium

Ibuprofen can increase lithium levels in the blood, potentially causing lithium toxicity. Symptoms of toxicity include tremors, confusion, nausea, and irregular heartbeat.

If you’re taking lithium for mood disorders, avoid ibuprofen unless your doctor approves and monitors your lithium levels carefully.<

Dan Hixson // University of Utah

Storage room 3495 at his University of Utah computing lab had gotten so packed full of cardboard boxes, Aleks Maricq jokes it had become hard to even see the floor.

It rivaled a game of Jenga — or maybe Tetris — as the research associate took down one box after another to clear it out. There were old cords from unknown sources and mountains of papers that had been dumped from a former professor’s file cabinet, including old drawings from his kids and saved plane ticket stubs.

A few boxes in, though, Maricq stumbled on something unusual, a find older than the game of Tetris itself (created in 1985).

“I knew it was very old, likely very rare,” he said of his summer discovery. “And then after a quick Google search, I realized just how rare.”

It’s so old and rare, in fact, that the U. no longer has the computing equipment needed to confirm it is what the label says it is: “UNIX Original from Bell Labs V4.”

The 9-track magnetic tape discovery included the helpful note “see manual for format.” The less helpful part? No manual was found with it.

And the least helpful part: Even with the manual — and the right equipment — the tape is so old and fragile that analysts likely only had one chance to read it.

“We didn’t want to risk anything,” Maricq said.

So they waited until Jon Duerig, another research associate at the U. computing lab, could drive it this December to California’s renowned Computer History Museum, where staff have the machinery and expertise. Mailing it could have resulted in damage, even with precautions, from heat or rough handling. And flying with the tape on a plane likely would’ve meant exposing it to radiation through security checks.

But now, after a journey more akin to The Oregon Trail computer game, the Computer History Museum has confirmed: It’s believed to be the only remaining copy of the full operating system that is the foundation for the computing we rely on today.

The tape of the UNIX software, version 4, was made in 1973 — 52 years ago — and only 20 copies were ever produced, said Robert Ricci, a research professor in the U.’s Kahlert School of Computing and one of the directors of the Flux Research Group, where Maricq and Duerig work.

UNIX V4 is the computer operating system, which basically tells the computer or device how to run, that serves as the basis for iOS on iPhones and macOS on Apple computers, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. Apple’s website today literally describes its products as having a “UNIX foundation.”

“The UNIX system was

Wanan Wanan // Shutterstock

For many, filing a tax return is about as pleasant as dental treatment without anesthesia. However, the effort often pays off. In recent years, the average tax refund in the U.S. was around $3,000. Enough for a vacation, home improvements, or paying down debt.

Today, more and more people are turning to AI chatbots to prepare their taxes. According to the D21 Digital Index 2024/25, AI has become a staple for general research, with 25% trusting ChatGPT as a reliable tool for looking up information.

A survey conducted by the Germany-based tax platform BuchhaltungsButler, in collaboration with Berlin-based data studio DataPulse Research, shows just how far this trust extends: Almost half of those surveyed can imagine replacing their own tax advisor with ChatGPT or a similar AI tool. This applies particularly to younger generations and high earners.

We asked over 1,000 people how they feel about filing tax returns with the help of ChatGPT or similar AI tools. The surprising result: 47% of respondents can imagine replacing their tax advisor with AI.

Source: BuchhaltungsButler in collaboration with DataPulse Research / norstat, November 2025 | n = 1,009, representative for Germany

Online forums like Reddit are chock-full of anecdotal experiences using the tool, with some raving about it and others warning against it. In subreddits like r/tax or r/personalfinance, proponents report that AI support saved them time and money when preparing tax returns.

However, other people have had mixed experiences. Hernán Barahona, an expat freelancer living in Germany who prepared his tax return with AI support, explains that ChatGPT helped him to better understand the basic terms and structures of foreign tax law. Also, as a nonnative German speaker, he had many things explained to him in English. However, ChatGPT sometimes lost the thread over long conversations and was prone to oversimplifying nuanced information. Relying solely on the AI almost cost him more than 4,000 dollars.

The bottom line: Enlisting AI support for tax returns might be helpful, but it should also be used with caution.

How do ChatGPT and other chatbots work? ChatGPT and other AI chatbots operate based on statistical patterns. They calculate the probability for every possible next word in their answers and assemble each sentence word by word. Thus, every answer is newly generated, which means that even the same question can lead to different answers.

BuchhaltungsButler explains how to sensibly u

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The past year tested the resilience of workers and employers alike. As the job market tightened and opportunities became scarce, employees faced a double challenge: Not only were roles harder to find, but many companies rolled back the flexible arrangements workers had come to value, mandating return-to-office (RTO) policies that challenged work-life balance. Layoffs cast long shadows, AI anxiety peaked, and the economic turbulence of the world outside inevitably found its way inside the office walls. Despite those factors, Glassdoor is highlighting a few companies that managed to maintain high morale through it all and gain their employees’ approval.

What is the Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2026 list?

Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work 2026 is an employee-driven ranking of top U.S. companies across a range of industries, including technology, finance, healthcare, and more, based on authentic reviews. In a year defined by RTO mandates and “forever layoffs,” these winning organizations stood out for strong leadership, supportive cultures, and clear career growth opportunities.

What makes a company a “Best Place to Work” in 2026?

The organizations that earned a spot on this year’s list didn’t retreat to rigid policies or top-down mandates. They listened. These companies proved that true workplace excellence isn’t built on what sounds good in a press release but on what actually works for the people doing the work. They cultivated people-first cultures, offered genuine flexibility, invested in career growth, led with transparency, and provided competitive compensation that reflects employees’ true value. In a year when many workers felt the ground shifting, these companies stood out by providing something increasingly rare: workplaces that truly understood and supported their most important asset: their employees. A recent poll of workers revealed that poor leadership is the number one factor for turning a “good” job into a bad one (51% said so). These companies are leading in a way that makes employees want to stay.

If you’re looking for a workplace with a culture where you can thrive, here are this year’s 25 Best Places to Work with the most open roles.

Best Places to Work 2026: 25 U.S. large companies hiring the most right now

1. Costco Wholesale
2. Chick-fil-A Restaurants
3. Apple
4. JPMorganChase
5. LongHorn Steakhouse
6. RDSolutions
7. Lockheed Martin
8. Bath & Body Works
9. Google
10. HDR
11. Keller Williams
12. Burns & McDonnell
13. Power Home Remodeling
14. Booz Allen Hamilton
15. Stake Center Locating
16. KBR
17. Bank of America
18. Fidelity Investments

Lokal Brand // Shutterstock

Before the holidays, winter can feel like a wonderland, filled with decorations, loved ones, and festive treats. However, once January starts, winter can quickly become dreary, complete with early sunsets, cold weather, and too many indoor activities. If you’re looking for a reprieve from the winter blues, there are plenty of warm-weather destinations within a few hours of the U.S. that you can visit without breaking the bank.

Point.me compiled a list of 10 destinations you can visit for as few as 2,500 points using sample fares and average ranges from point.me data. Here’s what you need to know about the cheapest warm-weather destinations you can head to this winter, including why you should visit and the smartest ways to get there.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Lowest fare: 5,000 points each way

Average fare: 22,000 points each way

Puerto Vallarta is on the Pacific side of Mexico, and it doesn’t get nearly the same publicity as the Caribbean side. However, it’s still known for world-class beaches and a fantastic nightlife scene. Whether you’re a digital nomad looking to escape the rest of the winter months or you just need a quick beach getaway, Puerto Vallarta is the perfect destination. You can find a large array of outdoor activities you might be interested in, from hiking to snorkeling and everything in between. When you visit, be sure to fill up on as many seafood tacos as you can find.

You can reach Puerto Vallarta (PVR) via a nonstop flight from close to two dozen hubs throughout the U.S., including San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Salt Lake City (SLC), New York (JFK, EWR), Atlanta (ATL), and Dallas (DFW). Each major alliance (SkyTeam, Oneworld, and Star Alliance) offers impressive connectivity.

Although rates have been as low as 5,000 points each way to get to Puerto Vallarta, the average fare will be around 22,000 points. As always, this will depend on where you’re traveling from. For instance, the six-hour flight from New York (JFK) to Puerto Vallarta might cost 15,000 Atmos Rewards points, which you can transfer at a 1:1 ratio from Bilt Rewards.

Although Alaska Airlines publishes a partner distance-based award chart, it lists “starting at” values, which means prices can vary based on demand and seasonality.

On the other hand, the three-hour flight from Los Angeles (LAX) might cost just 5,000 Delta SkyMiles, which you can transfer from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

Cancun, Mexico

Lowest fare: 2,500 points each way

Average fare: 24,000 points each way

Cancun needs no introduction. It’s one of the most famous destinations in the Caribbean for a reason. You’ll be hard-pressed to find more beautiful beaches this close to the U.S., and the abundance of resorts means you can find a hotel at any price point. Plus, each of the major hotel chains has several properties in Cancun, so you can easily use points for your stay — inc