Ibuprofen is a generic drug developed by the pharmaceutical company McNeil Consumer and approved as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory by the FDA in 1974. Ibuprofen is now a common over-the-counter pain medication used primarily for headaches, arthritis and dysmenorrhea. Like all non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, ibuprofen use can cause long-term side effects.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Dailymed.com notes that ibuprofen can cause serious gastrointestinal adverse events, including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. A 1999 study published in the Aliment Pharmacological Therapy Journal by G. Doyle et al, showed that gastrointestinal ulcers, gross bleeding, or perforation caused by ibuprofen occur in about 1 percent of patients treated daily for three to six months, and in about 2 to 4 percent of patients treated daily for one year. These trends continued with longer duration of use, increasing the likelihood of developing a serious gastrointestinal problem as a long-term side effect. Drugs.com warns that ibuprofen medication should be prescribed only with extreme caution to those with a previous history of gastrointestinal problems.
Cardiovascular Effects
Druglib.com cites that clinical trials conducted on several non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, including ibuprofen, have shown an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction and brain aneurysm. The results of these studies were published in a 2000 Journal of the American Medical Association and a 2000 New England Journal of Medicine.
A thrombotic event occurs when plaque build-up within an artery breaks loose and becomes stuck within a smaller artery and blocks blood flow. If the blocked blood vessel is within the heart, a myocardial infarction occurs. If the blocked blood vessel is in the brain, a brain aneurysm occurs. Although some of these reported side effects occurred within 10 to 14 days of ibuprofen use, all are considered potential long-term negative effects of chronic ibuprofen use.
Kidney Effects
According to the "PDR Guide to Drug Interactions, Side Effects, and Indications," long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, including ibuprofen, has resulted in renal papillary necrosis and other kidney impairment. Kidney toxicity has also been noted in ibuprofen users over the long term. Users at greatest risk of toxicity are those with impaired kidney function, heart or liver dysfunction, diuretic or ACE inhibitor users, and the geriatric population.
Hypertension
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, including ibuprofen, can lead to the development of new hypertension or worsening of pre-existing hypertension, both in the short-term and long-term, as noted by Rxlist. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, may contribute to the increased incidence of cardiovascular events, such as stroke and heart attack. Blood pressure should be monitored closely during the long-term use of ibuprofen.
References
- Drugs.com: Ibuprofen Information
- Rxlist.com: Ibuprofen - Motrin
- Dailymed.com: Ibuprofen - Motrin Warnings
- Druglib.com: Ibuprofen - Motrin Warnings
- "PDR Guide to Drug Interactions, Side Effects, and Indications"; PDR Staff; 2009
