Ibuprofen Users Comment on Side Effects and Usage, page 7
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.
Ibuprofen use by 70 year old male
Date: 5/16/2012
I am a 70 year old male. 9 days ago, I was operated on(micro surgery) for a herniated disc that was impinging on hiatic nerve. MUCH pain prior to surgey!!!. Very little pain after, except some tolerable in back, that is getting better ev day. Doctor reccommended 4 Ibuprofen x 3 day (12 total per day). 35 years ago, I had a peptic ulcer that I managed to cure in +_ 6 months. Have not been bothered since. I was told the Ibuprofen would aid in releiving swelling sensation that I sence in my lower leg & foot. Your thouts, please.
Larry
AskDocWeb: Ibuprofen is known to help relieve both pain and swelling. However, according to the American Geriatrics Society Ibuprofen increases risk of GI bleeding and peptic ulcer disease in high-risk groups, including those over age 75 or taking oral or parenteral corticosteroids, anticoagulants, or antiplatelet agents. Note that the use of a proton pump inhibitor or misoprostol reduces but does not eliminate this risk. Upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding, or perforation caused by NSAIDs occur in approximately 1% of patients treated for 3-6 months and in approximately 2-4% of patients treated for 1 year. These trends continue with longer duration of use
The American Geriatrics Society recommends avoiding chronic use of Ibuprofen unless other alternatives are not effective and patient can take gastroprotective agent (proton pump inhibitor or misoprostol).
Source: http://www.americangeriatrics.org/files/documents/beers/2012BeersCriteria_JAGS.pdf
After quitting Ibuprofen long term
Date: 5/16/2012
I have been taking Ibuprofen long term. I took 3 pills in the morning and 3 at nite for the past 2 years. I quit 2 weeks ago. I got worried about taking so much. Now I have slight pounding heart beat and slight difficulty breathing. Is this a side affect when you stop taking this drug? Thanks for your help.
Paul
AskDocWeb: Ibuprofen doesn’t stay in the body too long. For most, it’s completely out of the body within 24 hours and has no withdrawal effects. That includes no side effects after long-term use.
False positive drug test?
Date: 6/5/2012
Does ibuprofen cause sweating or lower back pain? If I take 200 mg from walmart for a toothache and I am on probation would that set off a false positive drug test?
Chris
AskDocWeb: Ibuprofen and combinations of other products with Ibuprofen can provoke excessive sweating, even pillow-soaking night sweats. It has not been reported to cause back pain. On the contrary, many people take Ibuprofen to relieve back pain. And yes, Ibuprofen is on the list of possible causes of false positive drug tests.
Stomach pain
Date: 6/7/2012
After taking 1 pill 800mg after a meal, my stomach hurt and still hurts a week later. It hurts below my right ribcage as well as the left side below my ribcage. I will not be taking this ever again.
Jessica
AskDocWeb: According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “NSAIDs such as ibuprofen may cause ulcers, bleeding, or holes in the stomach or intestine. These problems may develop at any time during treatment, may happen without warning symptoms, and may cause death. The risk may be higher for people who take NSAIDs for a long time, are older in age, have poor health, or who drink three or more alcoholic drinks per day while taking ibuprofen. Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications: anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin); aspirin; other NSAIDs such as ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Actron) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); or oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had ulcers, bleeding in your stomach or intestines, or other bleeding disorders. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking ibuprofen and call your doctor: stomach pain, heartburn, vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds, blood in the stool, or black and tarry stools.”
Allergic to the coating on Advil
Date: 6/17/2012
I have a long story about taking Advil. The end is this after reading so many other comments I may just be allergic to the coating. I have alway taken Advil for pain relief because it works. As I have stated today was the end I hope. A trip to the Medstation with hives all over mmy body. The Doctor told me nothing I did not already know. I had a reaction to the Advil I took for a headache. Finally someone believed me that the cause of all the problems for the last year and a half was Advil. I would like to tell the whole story but it is long and I donot have time right now. I feel like i am not alone anymore.
Nancy
AskDocWeb: Thanks Nancy, when you are ready to tell your story, we will be here.
Inflammation and long term use of Ibuprofen
Date: 6/24/2012
A recent blood test showed that I have inflammation in my body, most notably in both knees. The inflammation I’m told by my doctor is caused by my own immune system attacking something in my body–possibly villi in my intestines or synovial membrane or fluid in my knee. My questions: Does ibuprofen quiet or suppress the immune system or does it just reduce the inflammation and is that bad in the long run? Your advice is most appreciated.
Joe
AskDocWeb: Hello Joe, welcome to the forum. The theme of this website is focused on side effects and we will be happy to discuss that but if you want medical advice then check with 
Doctors online or your local doctor.
Ibuprofen has several effects on the body. One of which is to suppress certain parts of the immune system, which results in reduced inflammation.
It may be helpful to understand that inflammation isn’t entirely bad. It’s what protects and heals the body after an injury or infection and is an essential part of your immune system. You need inflammation to survive.
The trouble occurs when that defense system goes into overdrive or runs out of control. You’re probably familiar with overactive immune responses that produce too much inflammation in conditions like allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disease or asthma. And it’s beginning to look like chronic inflammation may be a contributing factor for most chronic illness: heart disease, obesity, diabetes, dementia, depression, cancer and even autism.
So what is the cost in side effects from long-term use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen? There are four main areas of concern; gastrointestinal, nervous system, cardiovascular, and liver.
Gastrointestinal System: Over time, the chemicals in ibuprofen can break down the protective lining in your stomach and intestinal tract. This can lead to peptic ulcer disease and bleeding from the stomach, which could produce black or bloody stools or you may cough up or vomit blood. If you experience these side effects, you should seek immediate medical treatment.
Nervous System: Ibuprofen may also cause side effects in your nervous system. This occurs because the chemicals in ibuprofen can interfere with certain chemicals in your brain. Drugs.com recommends that you stop taking ibuprofen and seek immediate medical treatment if you experience slurred speech, vision problems, severe headache, increased sensitivity to light or seizure. Your doctor must determine if these symptoms are side effects of ibuprofen or signs of another serious medical condition.
Cardiovascular System: Blood pressure may rise with use of any NSAID. Control of treated hypertension may be adversely affected by the addition of NSAIDs. Ibuprofen may affect your heart and cause chest pain and shortness of breath. In addition, this medication may affect your blood vessels and cause swelling or rapid weight gain. All of these symptoms are serious and may be caused by ibuprofen or another serious medical condition. Therefore prompt medical attention is important to prevent possible complications.
Liver toxicity: Long-term use of NSAIDs, especially at high doses, can rarely harm the liver. Monitoring the liver function with blood tests may be recommended in some cases. Ibuprofen report – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – Page 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – Last Page 12
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