Is taking too much ibuprofen bad for your liver

Q: Is it OK to take ibuprofen every day?

While you can continue taking ibuprofen for a few days, its not recommended that you take it daily to relieve pain unless your doctor has prescribed it. Medications like ibuprofen can irritate your stomach lining and cause problems ranging from mild nausea to ulcers.

Table of Contents Show

Risks of Incorrect Ibuprofen Use
For children
Drug interactions
Which is worse for your liver Tylenol or ibuprofen?
What organs does ibuprofen affect?
Which pain reliever is most harmful to the liver?
Is it OK to take ibuprofen every day?

If you pull a muscle while running, are experiencing menstrual cramps or have a killer headache, you’re likely to reach for an ibuprofen pill, such as Advil or Motrin, to reduce the inflammation and quash the pain. When taken correctly, ibuprofen is a safe and effective choice.

Available both over-the-counter and by prescription, ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes to prevent or reduce pain and inflammation.

While ibuprofen works well when you take it as directed, taking more of the medicine or taking it too often is not helpful and can actually hurt you, says gastroenterologist Gerard Isenberg, MD.

“People who take it chronically are at risk of developing problems," he says. "A recent study showed that incorrect use of NSAIDs is estimated to account for 107,000 hospitalizations and 15,600 deaths annually in the United States.”

Risks of Incorrect Ibuprofen Use

Among the risks of chronic or incorrect ibuprofen use are:

Ulcers, with an annual incidence of 2 to 4 percent
Worsening kidney function
Cardiovascular issues, such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke and increased blood pressure
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Stomach upset and - rarely - a condition called microscopic colitis, which can cause diarrhea
Nausea
Complications with childbirth and in the newborn, when the mother takes ibuprofen during the third trimester (but ibuprofen use is fine when breastfeeding)

Ibuprofen is an appropriate option for most people, but Dr. Isenberg says it can cause these complications when:

Used by someone who has liver disease
Taken with another NSAID, such as aspirin
Taken with a blood thinner, such as Coumadin
Taken with other medications, such as clopidogrel, phenytoin or cyclosporine
Dosing instructions are ignored (i.e., taking too many at a time or taking subsequent doses too soon)
Used during the third trimester of pregnancy

If you choose to take ibuprofen to help you through an injury or other painful condition, Dr. Isenberg says you can mitigate your risk of developing side effects by following these five guidelines:

Take the lowest dose that is effective for your symptoms.
Consult your doctor before taking ibuprofen if you have a history of stomach, kidney or heart issues, or if you are pregnant.
Ask your doctor about using a topical NSAID gel, such as Diclofenac, instead of oral ibuprofen for musculoskeletal pain. This gel, available in a patch, is a good choice for athletes.
Consider taking something to reduce acid when taking ibuprofen. Check with your doctor and/or pharmacist to make sure you're not on other medications that can increase your chance for side effects.
Ask your physician whether ibuprofen or another NSAID best treats your symptoms and has the fewest potential side effects.

“Ibuprofen is one of the most commonly used meds in the United States,” Dr. Isenberg says. “It has many therapeutic benefits and, despite some of the risks, a very strong safety profile. You just need to be cognizant of how much you use, for how long and whether you have any issues that could cause an increased risk of side effects.”

Gerard Isenberg, MD is a gastroenterologist and associate chief and director, Clinical Operations, Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, and chief medical quality officer, University Hospitals Digestive Health Institute, at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. You can request an appointment with Dr. Isenberg or any other medical provider online.

Taking too much ibuprofen can result in an overdose. This can cause dangerous side effects such as damage to your stomach or intestines. In rare cases, an overdose can be fatal.

For this reason, you should always take it exactly as directed on the label or as recommended by your doctor.

If you think that you or someone you know has overdosed on ibuprofen, contact your local poison center or your local emergency services. In the United States, you can reach the poison center by calling 1-800-222-1222.

Your recommended dose of ibuprofen depends on your age.

For adults

The recommended dosage for adults is one or two 200-milligram (mg) tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Adults should not exceed 800 mg at once or 3,200 mg per day.

Adults over 60 years old should take as little ibuprofen as possible to manage their symptoms. Older adults have a higher risk of kidney and gastrointestinal side effects.

For children

To determine the safe dosage for children, you need to know the child’s weight and the formulation of ibuprofen you’re using.

Ibuprofen for children is available in:

infant drops
liquids
chewable tablets

Liquid measurements are given in milliliters (mL). Make sure to read the label and measure carefully.

Never give your child more than four doses in one day. The following chart shows how much ibuprofen a child can consume depending on their weight.

For babies

Do not give ibuprofen to children under 6 months old.

For infants ages 6 months to 1 year, the safe dose of the infant formulation depends on their weight.

Drug interactions

Certain medications can increase your risk of having an overdose of ibuprofen.

According to research, do not take any of the following medications with ibuprofen without first talking with your doctor:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can interfere with the metabolism of NSAIDs while also increasing pain and bleeding
antihypertensives, which are medications for high blood pressure that may increase the risk of kidney damage
aspirin, which may increase the risk of serious side effects
diuretics (water pills), which increase the risk of kidney failure when combined with ibuprofen
lithium, which increases the risk of toxicity
methotrexate, which increases the risk of toxicity
anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, because they can increase your risk of serious gastrointestinal bleeding

Mixing ibuprofen with alcohol can also increase your risk of having serious side effects, like stomach or intestinal bleeding.

Not everyone will experience symptoms of an ibuprofen overdose right away. Some people won’t have any visible symptoms at all.

If you do experience symptoms of an ibuprofen overdose, they’re usually mild. Mild symptoms may include:

tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
heartburn
nausea
vomiting
stomach pain
diarrhea
dizziness
blurred vision
rash
sweating

Severe symptoms can include:

difficult or slow breathing
convulsions
hypotension (low blood pressure)
seizures
little to no urine production
severe headache
coma

If you or someone you know has taken more than the maximum recommended dose of ibuprofen, contact your local poison center. In the United States, you can reach the poison center by calling 1-800-222-1222. You can call this number 24 hours a day. Stay on the line for further instructions.

If possible, have the following information ready:

the person’s age, height, weight, and gender
how much ibuprofen was ingested
when the last dose was taken
whether the person also took other drugs, supplements, or had any alcohol

You can also receive guidance by using the poison center’s webPOISONCONTROL online tool.

TIP

Text “POISON” to 202-677-7600 to save the contact information for poison control to your smartphone.

If you can’t access a phone or computer, go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Do not wait until symptoms start. Some people who overdose on ibuprofen will not show symptoms right away.

At the hospital, doctors will monitor breathing, heart rate, and other vital signs. A doctor may insert a tube through the mouth to look for internal bleeding.

You may also receive the following treatments:

medications that make you throw up
decontamination of the stomach with activated charcoal
benzodiazepines to control seizures
breathing support, such as oxygen or a breathing machine (ventilator)
intravenous fluids
antihypertensive medications to reduce blood pressure

Children who consume more than 400 mg/kilogram (kg) of ibuprofen are at a higher risk of overdose and will likely require hospitalization. If they consume 100 mg/kg or less, they may be monitored at home.

An overdose of ibuprofen can cause severe problems in the gastrointestinal tract. These include:

inflammation
bleeding
ulcers
stomach or intestinal perforation, which can be fatal
liver or kidney failure

Taking high doses of ibuprofen over long periods of time can also increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

With prompt medical treatment, you’re likely to recover from an ibuprofen overdose. However, some people develop liver, kidney, or stomach issues. People with a prior history of ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding should not take NSAIDS like ibuprofen.

Always read product labels carefully and take the smallest amount of ibuprofen possible that will help relieve your symptoms.

An adult should not take more than 3,200 mg of ibuprofen per day. A safe dose for children is much less than that. If you or someone you know has taken more than the recommended dose, call your local poison center or your local emergency services.

If you experience symptoms of an ulcer after taking ibuprofen, stop taking ibuprofen and call your doctor.

Which is worse for your liver Tylenol or ibuprofen?

Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) are two of the most commonly used pain relievers. They share some similar features, but have several key differences. Advil is harder on the stomach and the kidneys, while Tylenol is harder on the liver.

What organs does ibuprofen affect?

Ibuprofen, on the other hand, is removed from your body by your kidneys. Taking it for a long time can cause kidney damage and stomach bleeding. Using high doses of ibuprofen for longer than recommended can increase your risk of: blood clots.

Which pain reliever is most harmful to the liver?

Any NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) can cause liver injury, although it's very rare. This class of medications includes popular drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. But when it comes to liver injury, diclofenac is the NSAID with the highest risk.

Is it OK to take ibuprofen every day?

While you can continue taking ibuprofen for a few days, it's not recommended that you take it daily to relieve pain unless your doctor has prescribed it. Medications like ibuprofen can irritate your stomach lining and cause problems ranging from mild nausea to ulcers.