Ibuprofen is an anti inflammatory without the steroids, thus this drug is classified as a NSAID. It is sold both OTC and by prescription and is commonly taken for inflammation, pain relief and fever.
Ibuprofen works by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, an enzyme that catalyzes prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins activate an inflammatory response when tissue is damaged, similar in the way hormones initiate activity. And since ibuprofen reduces prostaglandin production, one of its primary health benefits is its anti inflammatory property.
Ibuprofen anti inflammatory is frequently used to relieve symptoms of:
- backache
- toothache
- general pain
- reduce fever
- osteoarthritis
- dysmenorrhea
- juvenile arthritis
- muscle soreness
- rheumatoid arthritis
- excruciating gout pain
- common cold symptoms
- migraine, tension headaches
And other rheumatic and inflammatory diseases.
Ibuprofen can cause drug side effects, stomach upset being the most prevalent. Some of the other drug side effects you may experience are:
- pallor
- nausea
- tinnitus
- diarrhea
- jaundice
- stiff neck
- dizziness
- back pain
- headache
- nosebleeds
- palpitations
- hoarseness
- constipation
- nervousness
- gas, bloating
- loss of appetite
- painful urination
- red, painful eyes
- flu type symptoms
- breathing difficulty
- excessive tiredness
- problems swallowing
- confusion, aggression
- inexplicable weight gain
- upper right stomach pain
- hematuria, cloudy, discolored urine
- skin conditions ~ blisters, rash, pruritus, hives
- puffy, swollen eyes, face swelling, peripheral edema
- vision problems ~ blurred vision, color vision changes
Some of these side effects are serious, so you should stop taking ibuprofen whenever they arise until you discuss them with your health care provider.
Ibuprofen also increases your risk for:
- ulcers
- stroke
- heart attack
- intestinal bleeding
- cardiovascular thrombosis
- stomach, intestinal perforation
Many symptoms of an overdose mimic those of this anti inflammatory drug side effects, like
- rash
- diarrhea
- seizures
- heartburn
- wheezing
- dizziness
- headache
- drowsiness
- blurred vision
- unsteadiness
- stomach pain
- hyperhidrosis
- nausea, vomiting
- ringing in the ears
- little, no urine output
- difficult, slow breathing
- agitation, incoherence, confusion
An overdose of ibuprofen can put you in a coma, so get health care attention ASAP if you suspect you’ve taken a dosage over the recommendation and start to have symptoms.
Recovery can be expected from an ibuprofen overdose when you seek prompt treatment. Treatments used with an overdose of this anti inflammatory might involve activated charcoal and a laxative.
