Ibuprofen can cause a number of side effects. For this reason, the lowest possible dose of ibuprofen should be taken for the shortest possible time to control your symptoms.
Common side effects of ibuprofen include:
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (being sick)
- diarrhoea (passing loose, watery stools)
- indigestion (dyspepsia)
- abdominal (tummy) pain
Less common side effects include:
- headache
- dizziness
- fluid retention (bloating)
- raised blood pressure
- gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
- duodenal or gastric ulcers (open sores in the digestive system, see Peptic ulcer)
- allergic reactions, such as a rash
- worsening of asthma symptoms by causing bronchospasm (narrowing of airways)
Less common side effects can also include malaena (black stools) and haematemesis (blood in your vomit). These side effects can indicate that there is bleeding in your stomach.
Taking ibuprofen, particularly at high doses over long periods of time, can increase your risk of:
- stroke, when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed
- heart attacks, when the blood supply to the heart is blocked
In females, long-term use of ibuprofen can sometimes be associated with reduced fertility. This is usually reversible when you stop taking ibuprofen.
See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine or the Medicines information section for a full list of side effects.
Ability to drive
Ibuprofen is unlikely to affect your ability to drive safely, although some people may feel dizzy after taking ibuprofen. If you experience dizziness, do not drive.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body's response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
Stomach
The sac-like organ of the digestive system that helps digest food by churning it and mixing it with acids to break it down into smaller pieces.
