Harvard doctor says he never takes too much ibuprofen, here's why
Almost every home has a stack of
ibuprofen
in the medicine cabinet. This over-the-counter painkiller is a go-to for headaches, joint pain, cramps, and fevers. But is it safe to pop these pills every now and then? A Harvard and Stanford-trained gastroenterologist is now sounding the alarm on the widely used painkiller.
'There is one thing I would never do as a gastroenterologist and that is take too much Ibuprofen,' Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a Board-certified gastroenterologist, says.
Before we look into what's wrong with ibuprofen, let's take a look at the medication.
What is ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen
is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that helps reduce inflammation, alleviates aches, and lowers fever.
This everyday painkiller is used for a range of aches and pains, including back pain, period pain, toothache, and symptoms of colds, flu, or coronavirus. Ibuprofen also treats inflammation, such as sprains and strains, and pain from arthritis. It is sold under other brand names such as Advil, Advil Junior Strength, Advil Migraine, Genpril, Ibren, IBU, Ibupak, Midol, Midol Cramps and Body Aches, Motrin, Motrin IB, Motrin Junior Strength, Motrin Migraine Pain, and Samson-8, among others.
What's wrong with taking ibuprofen often?
Dr. Sethi states that as a gastroenterologist, he does not take too much ibuprofen. The gut doctor has over a million followers on Instagram, says that 75 percent of people who take them regularly develop gut inflammation, and one in four can develop ulcers.
'I perform endoscopies regularly and see these ulcers firsthand. NSAIDs reduce blood flow to the gut, which can harm its lining. I've seen young otherwise healthy people come in with gut damage so severe they ended up in the ER just because they did not know the risk of these medications,' Dr. Sethi says in a video shared on Instagram.
Signs that all is not well with your liver
The gastroenterologist has three advice for people who take this medication more than a couple of times a month. His first recommendation is to talk to your doctor about alternatives. He also urges you to ask your doctor about the possibility of giving you medication to protect your stomach. 'And third, take these medicines with food to minimize the risk of damage to the gut lining,' he underlines.
Though
ibuprofen
is a widely used painkiller, it is not suitable for everyone.
Some of the common side effects of ibuprofen include:
Headaches
Feeling dizzy
Nausea
Vomiting
Wind
Indigestion
Serious side effects include:
Anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction in response to the medication
Black poo or blood in your vomit, which can be signs of bleeding in your stomach
Swollen ankles, blood in your pee, or not peeing at all, which could be a hint of a kidney problem
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