Ibuprofen Users Comment on Side Effects and Usage, page 4
Ibuprofen Feedback
If you use Ibuprofen, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.
Subj: Hot flashes
Date: 12/7/2009
Oh thank heavens other women have reported hot flashes after Ibuprofen use! I have mentioned this to both my orthopedist and my family doctor and both said “no way” but I know my body and my reaction…
Mary
Subj: Long-term use of Ibuprofen?
Date: 12/11/2009
I’ve been diagnosed with chronic prostatitis. I tried almost all types of leading antibiotics. But it doesn’t go away. So, at last, my physician prescribed me to take Ibuprofen 400mg twice a day. So, my question is-Should I continue taking it for years? If yes, then how many years? Waiting for reply, thanks.
Ronak
AskDocWeb: A study of long-term ibuprofen users published in 2001 in the journal Drug Safety Vol 24(No. 12, pages 929-938) concluded: “At 12 months, long term users were significantly more likely than short term users or non-users to have experienced dizziness, skin rash, itchy skin and wheeziness.” As for how long you should use it, that is between you and your doctor.
Subj: Why Ibuprofen affects the stomach
Date: 12/29/2009
Hello. I have been trying to research why Ibuprofen affects the stomach so hard. Why does is gives stomach ulcers and so forth? What chemicals in the drug make it do that?
Sarah
AskDocWeb: The name of this drug is derived from a shortening of the chemical name. Iso-butyl-propanoic-phenolic acid was simplified into the easier to remember name, Ibuprofen. This chemical inhibits a class of enzymes called cyclooxygenase (COX for short). There are two COX enzymes affected by Ibuprofen, COX-1 and COX-2. Your body uses COX-1 (Cyclooxygenase-1) to promote kidney function and maintain a healthy thickness of your stomach wall, which keeps stomach acid where it belongs. This is also the carrier of the message your body uses to make you aware of pain. The COX-2 enzyme (cyclooxygenase-2) is used by your body to begin the healing process by clotting blood. Ibuprofen blocks both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. The desirable effect of blocking the COX enzymes is that you feel less pain. Some of the undesirable effects are;
1. Your body’s ability to clot blood in order to stop bleeding is reduced, which is why in many cases doctors cannot operate on you if you are taking this drug.
2. The enzyme that maintains the health of your stomach wall is reduced, which is why it may affect the stomach so hard.
.
3. Taking pain killers make it difficult for your body to know when it’s hurt, which increases the chances of additional injury.
Subj: In Response to Hot Flashes
Date: 2/15/2010
I have recently had some form of the flu. I have been taking 400mg every 6-8 hrs. Every time I take it, I have been going through about 3 hrs of hot flashes. I even took a shower to cool off and that did nothing. I just had to wait it out. I have been running fevers, but this just makes it worse and I have realized it’s better for me to pass and the meds and just deal with the headache and body aches. I can’t deal with the hot flashes.
OutWayne
Subj: Stomach pain, nausea, bloating, chills, gas, and fatigue
Date: 2/16/2010
I have been having stomach pain, nausea, bloating, chills, severe gas and fatigue off and on for the past few years, I called them my “episodes” and would last sometimes for two weeks or more. I had no idea that Ibuprofen could be the reason. What a nightmare, I wish someone would have warned me sooner about these side effects.
Janel
Subj: Swallowing problems
Date: 3/16/2010
For yrs I took Voltaren or Motrin for a hip problem and while they worked well for the inflamation and pain I experienced problems with some aspiration on swallowing which would cause some coughing and clearing of my throat. After hip replacement my need for NSAIDS ended as did the swallowing issues until I recently began taking motrin for another issue. That is when I connected the dots i.e. swallowing problems with NSAID use?
Jim
AskDocWeb: Congratulations, you connected the dots correctly. A recent study of Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) compared a list of 40 categories of medications and found that 3 of the 40 categories were significantly associated with swallowing difficulties:
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Aspirin/Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Dopamine Agonists/CNS Agents
Swallowing disorders can be temporary and they can also be an indication of a serious medical problem, such as nerve and muscle problems, head and neck injuries, cancer, or a stroke. (source: American Dysphagia Network)
Subj: Drug test
Date: 3/20/2010
Hello I have been taking Equate Ibuprofen Cold & Sinus for about a week now to help with my sinus allergies. I am taking a drug test next week for a new job and I have been told that some over the counter medications for sinus relief will show on a drug test, is this product one of them?
Jim
AskDocWeb: We found several references that say Ibuprofen has shown up as a false positive for Marijuana (THC) (1, 3, 16, 18, and 29) so be prepared for that possibility.
Subj: Hot flashes
Date: 4/5/2010
Finally! I now know I’m not going crazy. I took Advil twice daily for four days and started having hot flashes. Three weeks later they are sill here but slowly diminishing in frequency. I experienced the same thing after having cortisone injections. The hot flashes lasted for four weeks and slowly dimished. Is Ibuprophen in the same drug class as cortisone?
Faye
AskDocWeb: No, Cortisone (17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone) is a steroid hormone. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent.
Subj: Hot flashes
Date: 4/7/2010
I have increased episodes of hot flashes when I take ibuprofen as well. Especially at night.
J
Subj: After taking ibuprofen
Date: 4/7/2010
Why does it say to wait 30 minutes to lie down after taking ibuprofen and what can happen if you do lie down right away after taking the drug?
Bj
AskDocWeb: Maintaining an upright position helps the medication move down through your digestive system. If you lie down the medication might come back up the esophagus.
Subj: False positives for PCP?
Date: 4/20/2010
Can ibuprofen, motren, allergy medications produce false positives for pcp? I also take lisinipril and metoprolol.
Robert
AskDocWeb: None of what you list has been reported to cause a false positive for PCP.
Subj: What is elderly?
Date: 5/30/2010
I am 67 yrs old does this qualify me as one of the elderly? I was on ibuprofen for a tooth infection. I had burning in upper abdomen, dizziness, slight headache. I was taking 600 mg every 6 hours for 3 days. Then after about 4 days was asked to take an additional 600 mg every 6 hours for 5 more days. The problems started again & I stopped taking it.
Luvenia
AskDocWeb: In general, a person is considered to be “elderly” when they reach the ages of 65-70. Elderly has been defined as a chronological age of 65 years or older. While those from age 65 through 74 years are sometimes referred to as “early elderly,” those over 75 years old are referred to as “late elderly.” However, this definition changes along with the country, social group, and culture.
Subj: Change in vision
Date: 6/18/2010
I am not sure but after taking 3 days 600mg thrice a day and afterwards twice a day one 6day I felt left eye to have change in vision to worse. I need to go to ophthalmologists to get it checked. I was taking due to back ache(sprain). Munich, Germany.
Vimal
Subj: Severe swelling
Date: 6/19/2010
I have taken ibuprofen on two occasions. On both occasions, my lips began to swell severely. The lower lip more than the upper lip. On the first occasion, I was not sure of the cause of the reaction. Following the second reaction, I took aspirin about a week after and noticed minor lip swelling once again. Since then, I have been able to tolerate aspirin with no problems. I am always concerned about what might take place if I were to take ibuprofen again.
Rob
Subj: Hot flashes
Date: 6/29/2010
This is for Sharon. I have just started experienced hot flashes when I take Ibuprofen. I have been taking it for years, but this is something new. I am 56 and have been through menopause. I just took two about an hour ago and I am burning up! This is a mystery.
Patty
Subj: Hot Flashes
Date: 7/26/2010
Although the “Hot Flashes” post is a few years old, I did find the question and feedback useful. I’m almost 36 and in the last 3 years have occassionally waken with night sweats, feeling as though I had a heating pad on my back. I also have on occassion had what I thought could be similar to hot flashes. Well today I took generic Ibuprofen (which I do occassionally when needed) and now (within 30 min) I’m feeling extremely overheated, like I’m wrapped in a heating blanket.
Roxanne
Subj: Alternatives to ibuprofen
Date: 8/9/2010
I have been taking ibuprofen off and on since high school (ten plus years). I’ve noticed over the years that my muscles ache so much and I seem tired all the time. I have weakness in my legs, arms, neck, etc. I can go a day or two without taking it before my pains overwhelm me and force me back on the pill. Is there any other medicine used to treat tendinitis, muscle aches and pains that would not be damaging to the body long term?
Mary
AskDocWeb: One problem is that every drug has side effects and the longer a drug is used the greater the chances are of some kind of damage. Alternative medications found to be helpful in treating tendinitis include acetaminophen, aspirin, naproxen, tylenol, paracetamol, advil, aleve, motrin, naprosyn, Celebrex, and Acetametaphine. Massage therapy and ultrasound treatments may also be helpful.
Subj: Hot flashes
Date: 9/10/2010
YES!! Hot flashes! Taking Ibuprofen 2 200 mg at night for hip problems. Also, dizziness and vertigo–no idea this was from Ibuprofen. I am an RN and it is the only thing that makes sense since it is the only thing I am on. I am pre-menopausal.
Marisa
Read more feedback about Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen report – 2 – 3 – Page 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – Last Page 12
If you find this page useful share it with others. If you have used Ibuprofen, use the form below to add your review of Ibuprofen, feedback or suggestions that may help others. Please note that all addresses are held confidential.