Side effects of ibuprofen
Side effects on the gastrointestinal tract
Gastrointestinal bleeding, perforations and ulcers (which can also be fatal) can occur during treatment with ibuprofen and are independent of the duration of therapy, but increasing with the dose.
Given the previous side effects, a combination therapy with drugs that protect the gastric mucous membrane (e.g. misoprostol or proton pump inhibitors) is recommended if there is an increased basic risk or parallel use of drugs that favor gastrointestinal bleeding. This is also strongly recommended to patients in old age.
Side effects on the cardiovascular system
In order to protect yourself from possible cardiovascular side effects such as stroke or heart attack, the maximum amount and maximum duration of the treatment should be strictly adhered to and the doctor should be regularly consulted about taking the pain medication ibuprofen.
Even if there are additional risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or smoking, they should be assessed critically before taking ibuprofen!
Side effect palpitations
The side effect palpitations has not yet been described in connection with the drug ibuprofen. Palpitations, also medical Tachycardia called, is a reaction of the body to situations in which the oxygen supply should be increased for various reasons. A side effect associated with ibuprofen, however, is the occurrence of palpitations, so Palpitations. Palpitation is described as the feeling that the heart is beating faster than usual. When the heart beats, the heart muscles contract more forcefully in order to pump more blood around the body with the same number of beats. This means that the heart does not beat faster, but only stronger. In rare cases, palpitations can occur together with a racing heart, as the body sometimes triggers these two reactions simultaneously. However, the side effect of palpitations, and then palpitations, occurs only very rarely. Very rare is a clearly defined term and, from a pharmacological point of view, means that the side effect occurs in less than 1 in 10,000 people.
Side effect heart attack
A possible side effect of ibuprofen can be a heart attack. Again, this is a very rare side effect that occurs in less than 1 in 10,000 people treated. Due to the severity and massive consequences of a heart attack, however, patients with severe heart failure are not advised to take ibuprofen. Likewise, ibuprofen is not recommended for people who already have risk factors for a heart attack. These risk factors include smoking, being overweight, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart disease.
Side effects on blood pressure
Ibuprofen can affect the functioning of the kidneys. The kidneys, in turn, play an important role in regulating blood pressure. Taking ibuprofen can lead to a drop in blood pressure as well as an increase in blood pressure. In extreme cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs weaken the effects of antihypertensive drugs. If ibuprofen is taken for a long time, for example as part of rheumatic therapy, blood pressure should be checked regularly. If necessary, the dose of ibuprofen or that of the antihypertensive drug must be adjusted.
Side effects on the skin
Under therapy with Ibuprofen it can rarely be severe Skin reactions With Redness and Blistering come, which can also be fatal (exfoliative Dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis / Lyell syndrome).
Observations have shown that this is the greatest risk at the beginning of therapy! If the patient observes the first signs of one after taking ibuprofen Rash, Mucosal defects or Hypersensitivity of the skin, he should therefore stop taking the ibuprofen drug immediately and consult a doctor.
Side effects on the kidney
Side effects to the kidneys caused by the intake of ibuprofen are serious but very rare. Nevertheless, ibuprofen is not recommended for patients with damaged kidneys and impaired kidney function. Ibuprofen, as well as other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can interfere with the functioning of the kidneys and thus influence the salt and water balance. It can become a nephritis, i.e. kidney inflammation, lead to kidney tissue disorders and thus to acute, reversible kidney failure. Symptoms of kidney disease are generally increased water retention, so-called Edema, in the legs and arms, as well as malaise, decreased or increased urination and pain in the back in the kidney area. In the blood values, this can be shown in an increase in the amount of protein and uric acid concentration. Since the kidneys also have a major influence on blood pressure, blood pressure fluctuations can occur. If the intake of ibuprofen cannot be avoided, the kidney values should be checked closely by a doctor. Particular caution is required in the context of long-term therapy with ibuprofen.
Side effects on the eyes
Side effects in the eyes caused by ibuprofen are very rare. According to the package insert for most preparations, visual disturbances can occur very rarely to occasionally. Uncommon means that one to ten in 1000 people will have this side effect. In the relevant pharmacological and medical literature, however, this side effect is not even mentioned in connection with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which also include ibuprofen. However, in some cases visual disturbances are counted among the side effects of the nervous system. Visual disturbances usually occur due to central nervous disorders. This means that the causes of the visual disturbances are not in the eye itself, but in the perception and processing in the brain. Paradoxically, headaches can occur as a side effect of the pain reliever ibuprofen. And as all of us have certainly experienced before, headaches can cause visual disturbances such as blurred vision. In summary, side effects do not actually occur in the eyes, but rather in the central nervous system, although here again only very rarely.
Epistaxis as a side effect of ibuprofen
Ibuprofen attacks through that Inhibition of cyclooxygenases into blood clotting. Very rarely, i.e. in less than one in 10,000 people treated, blood formation disorders can occur. This can result in a Thrombocytopenia result, a lack of platelets. Among other things, these ensure that blood coagulates. So if there is a shortage of platelets, an increased tendency to bleeding can occur. As a result, even the smallest injuries to the nasal mucosa are enough to cause profuse bleeding. So, nosebleeds are a very rare but possible side effect of ibuprofen.
Depression as a side effect of ibuprofen
Psychiatric side effects such as depression caused by ibuprofen can also occur very rarely. The exact relationship between ibuprofen and depression is not sufficiently well known.
Duration of side effects
How long the side effects caused by ibuprofen will last is difficult to say. The duration depends, among other things, on the general health of the person being treated. The ibuprofen dose, the exact type of side effect and its severity also play a role. In particular, the occurrence of the most common side effects, gastrointestinal disorders, depends on which dose was taken for how long. It is also crucial here whether other drugs that could affect the gastrointestinal tract were taken at the same time. Side effects on the kidneys are mostly reversible, so disappear again after stopping the ibuprofen. Cardiovascular side effects, on the other hand, can have very long-term consequences. In the case of a heart attack, the side effect lasts for a lifetime, so to speak. As soon as side effects are noticed by the person being treated, a doctor should be consulted immediately, as their extent, duration and also their consequences can be unpredictable.
When should I not take ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen should only be used in the following diseases after carefully weighing the risks and benefits:
- congenital blood formation disorders (e.g. acute intermittent porphyria)
- Autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed collagenosis)
- shortly after major surgery
- for allergies
- With heart diseases such as Heart failure
- impaired kidney or liver function
Very rare side effects
Very rarely become acute Hypersensitivity reactions, such as a anaphylactic shock, observed. If such a reaction is noticed, treatment with ibuprofen must be initiated immediately canceled and a doctor should be consulted to take appropriate medical countermeasures.
Drug interactions
The active ingredient ibuprofen can have a negative effect on platelet aggregation (platelet function), so patients with bleeding disorders must be carefully monitored when ibuprofen is used.
This also applies to therapy with anticoagulant medication such as aspirin (ASA), in which the anticoagulant effect of the medication is reduced by ibuprofen and blood clots can occur (thrombus).
If blood sugar-lowering drugs are taken in parallel with ibuprofen, it is possible that ibuprofen can influence their effect and blood sugar levels should be monitored more closely.
If ibuprofen is taken over a longer period of time, it is important to check certain values regularly:
- Kidney function,
- Blood count
- Liver values
If ibuprofen is taken over a long period of time, it can lead to drug-resistant headaches.
The inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by ibuprofen can make it more difficult to get pregnant while taking ibuprofen.
An overview of side effects
- Heart disease
Rare: palpitations, Heart failure, Heart attack - Diseases of Blood and des Lymphatic system
Very rare: blood formation disorders (symptoms: feverSore throat, superficial sores in the mouth, flu-like symptoms, severe exhaustion, Epistaxis, Skin bleeding) - Diseases of Nervous system
Uncommon: Central nervous disorders (a headache, dizziness, Insomnia, agitation, irritability, tiredness) - Eye diseases
Uncommon: visual disturbances - Diseases of Ear and des Maze
Rare: ringing in the ears (Tinnitus) - Diseases of Gastrointestinal tract
Common: gastrointestinal complaints (heartburn, Stomach pain, nausea, Vomit, Flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, Gastrointestinal bleeding)
Uncommon: stomach / duodenal ulcers, possibly with bleeding and breakthrough, inflammation of the oral mucosa with ulceration, aggravation of Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, Inflammation of the stomach lining
Very rare: inflammation of the esophagus, inflammation of the pancreas - Diseases of the Kidneys and Urinary tract
Very rare: increased Water retention in the tissue, inflammatory kidney disease, kidney tissue damage (increased uric acid levels in the blood, decreased urine excretion, general malaise) - Diseases of the skin and Subcutaneous tissue
Very rare: severe skin reactions, hair loss, severe skin infections - Infections and parasitic diseases
Very rare: worsening of infection-related inflammation, symptoms of a Meningitis (severe headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, stiff neck, clouding of consciousness) especially in autoimmune patients - Vascular disease
Very rare: high blood pressure - Diseases of Immune system
Uncommon: Hypersensitivity creations with rashes and itchy skin and Asthma attacks
Very rare: severe general hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. facial edema, swelling of the tongue, internal swelling of the larynx with narrowing of the airways, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, drop in blood pressure, shock) - liver- and Biliary diseases
Very rare: liver dysfunction, liver damage, Liver failure, acute Inflammation of the liver - Psychiatric illness
Very rare: psychotic reactions, depression
