Ibuprofen Side Effects

In people who are taking ibuprofen, side effects most commonly include abdominal pain (or stomach pain), heartburn, nausea, and dizziness. Other side effects of ibuprofen include such things as stomach cramps, indigestion, and diarrhea. There are many possible ibuprofen side effects and most are minor; however, some side effects of the drug can involve serious health problems, such as kidney problems, life-threatening bleeding, a heart attack, or stroke.

 

An Overview of Ibuprofen Side Effects

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with ibuprofen (marketed under brand names such as Motrin®, Advil®, Genpril®, and Nuprin®); however, not everyone who takes ibuprofen will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate ibuprofen well. When people do develop ibuprofen side effects, in many cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by the patient or healthcare provider.
 
There are also several factors that seem to affect the chances of experiencing side effects, including:
 
(The ibuprofen side effects discussed below are NOT a complete list of side effects reported with ibuprofen. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
 

Common Ibuprofen Side Effects

Ibuprofen has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with thousands of people worldwide having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to those that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common ibuprofen side effects include:
 
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain (or stomach pain)
  • Heartburn
  • Dizziness
  • Unexplained rash.
     
Other side effects with ibuprofen occurring in more than 1 percent of people include (but are not limited to):
 
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Indigestion
  • Constipation
  • Stomach cramps
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Headache
  • Nervousness
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Decreased appetite
  • Swelling.
     
(Ibuprofen Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;