Dangers Associated with Ibuprofen

I suffer from migraines, as well as other forms of headaches, quite frequently. After much experimentation with over the counter pain relievers, as well as some prescription medications, I have found that ibuprofen is the only thing that really helps knock out a tough headache. The problem with this is that I end up taking quite a bit of ibuprofen during any given month. While this helps to keep the headaches at bay, there are some dangers that are known to be connected to taking ibuprofen. One must be careful not to overdo it when taking this medication, so that there will not be negative side effects.

There are some side effects of ibuprofen that can be experienced if you take a dose that is too large for your body to handle. These effects include nausea, heartburn, gastrointestinal problems, headache, dizziness, or sleepiness. These types of side effects can range from minor inconveniences to severe problems. If you have any of these symptoms, you should stop taking ibuprofen, and consult a physician. Perhaps, you will only have to cut back on your dosage, or you may have to switch the type of pain medication that you use.

A true overdose of ibuprofen will exhibit the same types of symptoms as those listed above, only they will be much more severe. A further symptom could be seizures as well.

There are also problems that can arise from taking ibuprofen long term. Ibuprofen can be prescribed by a doctor for long term pain management for conditions such as arthritis or chronic headaches (such as I experience). However, the consequences can be quite severe, at least in some patients. Some problems that can occur include chest pain, heart problems, gastrointestinal problems, liver problems, and kidney problems. These can be quite severe, and lead to some very detrimental symptoms. For example, Drugs.com suggests that you should report any of the following symptoms:

· chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

· black, bloody, or tarry stools;

· coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

· swelling or rapid weight gain;

· urinating less than usual or not at all;

· nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;

· bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

· fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).

People who already have some sort of gastrointestinal problems, or problems with their kidneys or liver should consult a physician before taking ibuprofen, especially if it is necessary for an extended period of time. It is also suggested that people who suffer from diabetes, mellitus, lupus, asthma, epilepsy or Parkinson's should talk to their doctor before they start taking ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is also a drug that should be avoided if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant in the near future, or are breastfeeding. It is thought that ibuprofen may cause some birth defects during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Avoid this drug while pregnant, unless specifically taking it upon the direction of your physician. Make sure to inform your doctor if you become pregnant so that he can decide whether to allow you to continue taking ibuprofen.

You should also avoid ibuprofen if you are scheduled for surgery. Most doctors will make sure that you do not take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs at least three days prior to any surgery. Since these types of drugs can cause thinning of blood, they should be avoided any time surgery will be undertaken to ensure proper clotting.

As with any drug, there are often side effects that need to be taken into consideration before taking ibuprofen. However, for the most part this is a safe drug that can be used to help manage minor pain. If you do experience any of the side effects that are indicative of problems listed here, be sure to talk to your doctor to see if you need to stop taking ibuprofen, and switch to a different, and perhaps safer option.