Many people use over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to reduce the symptoms of inflammation and pain from illnesses such as arthritis and gout, as well as for more common pain such as headaches. However, when a person takes too much of an NSAID, particularly ibuprofen, side effects can occur that require immediate consultation with a physician, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Hallucinations
Even "safe" medication such as ibuprofen that people buy OTC without a prescription can induce some severe side effects when the person overdoses on the drug. He may see things that do not exist. He may hear things no one else hears or he may feel strange phantom sensations on his skin. Any form of hallucination may indicate an overdose of ibuprofen, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Drowsiness and Coma
Severe overdose side effects of ibuprofen also may include a range of affects on levels of consciousness. While in some people, too much ibuprofen can induce minor drowsiness, in others it may have a far more severe effect, namely putting the person into a coma, the National Institutes of Health report. The organization states seizures also may occur as a result of the overdose.
Arrhythmia
Ibuprofen in excessive amounts can disrupt the person's regular heart rate, the Mayo Clinic states. This usually can happen in one of two ways. Either the person's heart will slow down--a condition known by the medical name bradycardia--or it will begin to beat irregularly. Bradycardia can lead to oxygen deprivation throughout the body, particularly in the brain where it may cause memory problems or even brain damage if it continues.
Postural Hypotension
When a person who overdoses with ibuprofen stands up from sitting down or lying down, she may experience a medical problem called postural hypotension. The term means a sudden drop in blood pressure caused by the rapid change of position. This can cause such problems as sudden fainting or lightheadedness and dizziness, the Mayo Clinic states. Lightheadedness and fainting also may occur without a change in position, the organization states.
Breathing Problems
Too much ibuprofen in a person's body can cause respiratory failure, the Mayo Clinic indicates. This can make it difficult for the person to breathe, and he may take deep and rapid breaths. The overdose also may cause the person to stop breathing.
Restlessness
An ibuprofen overdose also can produce some psychological side effects such as making the person feel disoriented. She may notice her moods or other mental processes changing without knowing why. She also may feel restless and a need to do something.
Cramps and Tremors
The person suffering the side effects of excessive ibuprofen in his system may feel cramps in his stomach because of the actions of the drug. He also may experience tremors in his muscles.
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