Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has been offered as an over-the-counter medication for years. The Chemistry Encyclopedia explains that ibuprofen was first made available in the United States in 1974. As with any drug, ibuprofen has both positive and negative effects.
Intended Effects
Ibuprofen has been used as an analgesic for years because of its fever-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties. Since it has a broad use, ibuprofen can be used for a variety of aches and pains ranging from headaches to ankle sprains to menstrual pain. The Chemistry Encyclopedia explains that there are two types of inflammation enzymes in the body that have been known about since the 1990s. One is called COX 1 and the other is COX 2. Ibuprofen helps to decrease and mediate inflammation by working directly on the COX 1 and COX 2 enzymes. Ibuprofen works by binding to the enzymes and not allowing them to work or initiate an inflammatory cascade.
Side Effects
All NSAIDs cause side effects to the stomach and intestines. This is partly due to the COX 1 and 2 enzymes having a dual role in helping with the lining of the stomach. Blocking the action of these enzymes with the use of ibuprofen can lead to stomach ulcers, diarrhea, mild heartburn, bloating and gas. More serious side effects include chest pain; shortness of breath; black, bloody or tarry stools; dark urine; heart attack and stroke.
Ibuprofen can decrease any health effects of aspirin and increase the side effects to the gastrointestinal tract when taken together with aspirin. Ibuprofen also interacts with other medications, so it is important to talk to a doctor about potential drug interactions. In general, Ibuprofen has few to mild side effects, but it is important to know when someone is experiencing them.
Bone Mineral Effects
New studies are being done all the time as more and more is understood about the role of inflammation and what roles it plays in the body. A study published in the
"Journal of Bone Mineral Research" in January 2010 looked at the effects of bone mineral density, exercise and the use of ibuprofen. The study followed premenopausal women and had them pursue an exercise regime. There were three groups; ibuprofen before exercise placebo after, placebo before exercise and ibuprofen after or placebo before and after exercise. The group that had the best bone mineral density at the end of the nine-month study was actually the group that took ibuprofen after a workout, while the group that had the worst outcome was the one that took ibuprofen before the workout. This means that taking ibuprofen after a workout to decrease the potential pain and inflammation post workout can also have positive effects on bone mineral density. More studies will need to be done, but this result is a useful side effect for an analgesic medication.
