Ibuprofin Dangers

Ibuprofen is a common over-the-counter medication used as an alternative to aspirin and steroids. A number of dangers are associated with the use of ibuprofen. While ibuprofen is very helpful to relieve pain and inflamed tissues, excessive use can cause adverse effects or become life-threatening.

Common Effects

• Common dangers associated with ibuprofen include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches and hypertension. These dangers are most prevalent when ibuprofen is used in large quantities.

Sunlight

• Ibuprofen can work as a photosensitizing agent to skin. After consuming the drug, the skin can become susceptible to photons from visible light. This very rarely causes adverse effects.

Heart Attack

• Ibuprofen elevates the risk of myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack. This occurs most readily in individuals who chronically use ibuprofen.

Bowels

• The most dangerous side effect of ibuprofen is inflammatory bowel problems, such as ulcers and Crohn's disease. It also has the tendency to cause gastric bleeding. Alternative types of pain relievers should be used in people with these conditions.

Fatality

• In certain situations, ibuprofen use can be fatal by causing heart and renal failure or possibly lung problems.