Experts have warned of alarming risks of the popular painkiller, ibuprofen — and advised patients to use the medication sparingly.
Complications like headaches and nausea can occur even if patients are sticking to the recommended dose of two 200mg tablets every four to six hours (roughly four times a day), doctors say.
But some experts say taking tablets three times a day for a few months is enough to trigger worrying problems.
The common over-the-counter medication is used by many Brits to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation, for instance in arthritis.
But one doctor has warned about the risks of the medication that millions take for aches and pains.
‘Taking ibuprofen on a long-term basis can lead to some seriously damaging health conditions,’ said Dr Gerard Sinovich, a Lead Pain Consultant at the medical cannabis clinic Alternaleaf in a new warning statement.
For instance, he added that the drug ‘has been found to approximately double the risk of hospital admission due to heart failure’ as well as increase blood pressure by an average of two to three points.
Meanwhile pharmacist Dr Leyla Hannbeck told MailOnline that some of the most common issues linked to ibuprofen are ‘ulcer in the stomach, damaging kidney function and cardiovascular problems’.
An adult can take 200 to 400 milligrams (mg) per dose every four to six hours, with a maximum of 1,200 mg per day, Dr Gerard Sinovich. That’s the equivalent to about six tablets a day
Other experts have issued similar warnings.
Manchester-based pharmacist Thorrun Govind explained that, in some cases, doctors are able to prescribe a patient up to 600mg to take four times a day.
But she stressed this should only happen under the supervision of a prescriber and be used for the shortest possible duration.
Meanwhile NHS GP Dr Hana Patel flagged the risk of headaches, dizziness, nausea, wind and indigestion, which occurs in one in 100 people.
Ibuprofen belongs to a group of medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), of which examples include aspirin and naproxen.
They work by blocking the production of prostaglandins — a chemical that causes pain and inflammation throughout the body.
The danger of the medicines — which are especially risky to elderly people in high doses — is thought to lie in the fact the drug can raise blood pressure and cause internal bleeding in extreme cases.
This is because the drug can reduce the production a protective mucus in the stomach.
While the recommended maximum dose is 200-400 milligrams every four to six hours, some studies have found side effects can happen with a dose lower than this.
For instance, a 2013 study found that taking this dose three times a day over a course of three months was enough to elicit symptoms such as stomach ulcers and extreme headaches.
Here, experts reveal the alarming risks of regularly taking NSAIDs.
More than one in 100 people who take ibuprofen experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, wind and indigestion, NHS GP Dr Hana Patel said. But it can in extreme cases cause heart failure
Heart failure
Ibuprofen reduces the production of inflammatory prostaglandins by inhibiting the production of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) in the kidneys.
But this, Dr Sinovich warns, can lead to an increase in blood pressure and fluid.
High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart failure by forcing the heart to work harder and puts strain on the heart.
Plus, too much fluid in the body can make it harder for the heart to pump blood, further increasing the risk of heart failure.
‘NSAIDs use has been found to approximately double the risk of hospital admission due to heart failure and increase systolic blood pressure by an average of 2 to 3 mmHg.5,’ Dr Sinovich said.
Ms Govind added that patients with arterial disease or cardiovascular disease should avoid the drug.
Stomach inflammation
Even when taking the correct dose of ibuprofen it can cause heartburn and indigestion, warned Dr Sinovich.
But those that take over the recommended amount risk severe stomach pain, stomach ulcers and severe bleeding in the digestive tract, as well as diarrhoea — side effects which are also more common in those over the age of 65.
This is because the drug is irritating to the protective lining of the stomach and bowel, due to its limiting effect on naturally-produced mucus designed to protect the tissues from harm.
This makes the sensitive cells more vulnerable to damage from stomach acid — which can cause injuries.
Dr Sinovich explained that for this reason people with a history of bleeding or ulcers in the gut should completely avoid the drug.
‘Black poo or blood in your vomit can both be signs of bleeding in your stomach,’ Dr Patel added.
Kidney failure
Ibuprofen can reduce blood flow to the kidneys which can cause damage, if it’s overdosed.
Prostaglandins, the same chemical that causes inflammation and pain, is also responsible for dilating blood vessels in the kidneys, which increases blood flow to the area.
If this chemical is blocked, as a result of an NSAID, blood flow is reduced.
Dr Sinovich said: ‘Signs of kidney failure include swelling in the feet, ankles, legs and hands, and notice sudden urine changes such as urinating more frequently, or producing little to no urine.’
Liver failure
Taking high doses can also seriously damage the liver.
‘Ibuprofen increases the aminotransferase enzyme (ALT) levels that are released by the liver and provoke death of the cells. This increase can lead to liver damage or liver disease,’ Dr Sinovich warned.
That’s why Dr Sinovich also stressed that it’s important to avoid taking ibuprofen alongside any substances that can damage the liver, such as alcohol.