Taking Ibuprofen Every Day Isn’t Exactly Great For Your Liver
Ibuprofen may be your best friend when a headache hits, but the NSAID definitely isn’t your liver’s pal.
The health of your liver is obviously important, as it’s one of the body’s largest and most vital organs. And while there are plenty of things you can do to boost your liver’s health, not taking ibuprofen every day could just be one of the most helpful things you could possibly do for your liver. According to experts, if you take ibuprofen every day, you’re actually doing your liver a major disservice.
In fact, a 2020 study published in Scientific Reports found that ibuprofen can permanently damage the liver. “Overall, our data indicate that moderate doses of ibuprofen can affect liver more significantly than previously reported and include proteasome dysfunction, increased levels of H2O2, impaired glycolytic pathways and altered fatty acid synthesis and oxidation,” the study concluded. The increased levels of hydrogen peroxide can damage the liver, according to researchers who spoke with Medical News Today. As the researchers emphasized, it’s best to steer clear of ibuprofen unless absolutely necessary, despite its reputation of being a generally safe, over-the-counter medicine.
Is It Bad To Take Ibuprofen Every Day
If you are suffering from an injury or illness, its perfectly acceptable to take Ibuprofen as directed for a few days in a row. However, regardless of whether or not you are prone to kidney problems, you should not take the medication every day indefinitely unless prescribed by your doctor. Not only can it cause kidney damage, but excessive Ibuprofen intake can also cause mild nausea, stomach ulcers, and more.
Nsaids Are Bad For Your Blood Pressure
NSAIDs can cause high blood pressure. And if you have high blood pressure, they can make it worse. This increases your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.
NSAIDs can also keep some blood pressure drugs from working right. NSAIDs can interfere with:
- Diuretics, or water pills, such as Hydrodiuril . Diuretics remove excess water from the blood vessels.
- ACE inhibitors, such as Prinivil and Zestril . ACE inhibitors are drugs that relax the blood vessels.
- ARBs such as Cozaar . ARBs are another group of drugs that relax the blood vessels.
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Factors That Can Add Up To Cause Harm
When you get sick from something like the flu or diarrhea, or have trouble drinking enough fluids, the blood pressure in your body may decrease. As a result, the pressure in your kidneys can be low, too.
In most cases, healthy kidneys can protect themselves. However, if you keep taking your blood pressure medicines when youre dehydrated or have low blood pressure, your kidneys might have a hard time protecting themselves. The pressure within your kidneys might drop so low that your kidneys wont filter normally.
If youre dehydrated, NSAIDs can also keep your kidneys from protecting themselves. As a result, taking NSAIDs when youre sick and dehydrated can cause kidney injury.
Is Codeine Bad For Your Liver
Codeine on its own isnt bad for your liver, but when its used in combination with other medications, it can be. One example is combination drugs that include both codeine and acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used medications in the world, and its available over-the-counter in medications like Tylenol. Its considered safe at recommended doses, but if you take it in excess, it can cause serious health problems. The liver processes acetaminophen, and if you take too much, it can cause liver damage.
Acetaminophen in large amounts has been linked to acute liver failure and death. This is why its so important for people taking codeine-acetaminophen combination drugs to follow dosage instructions. The risk of liver problems from acetaminophen is even higher if you use other substances that are possibly dangerous to the liver at the same time, such as alcohol.
Codeine is not bad for your liver on its own, but acetaminophen is, so be aware of this with combination medications.
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Is Ibuprofen Bad For Your Liver
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug . This kind of drug works by inhibiting inflammation-causing chemicals known as prostaglandins. Ibuprofen is available in two main forms: tablets and capsules. It is sometimes combined with other drugs to treat colds, cough, and headaches. But, how safe is this widely used drug? Is it bad for your liver?
What Is The Connection Between Ibuprofen And Kidney Disease
The connection between ibuprofen and kidney damage might appear suddenly or after long-term use, depending on several risk factors. People with kidney disease might suffer acute kidney failure when using this nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drug . The link between ibuprofen and kidney disease might also be diagnosed as analgesic nephropathy, a condition that might occur with long-term use of ibuprofen or other NSAID medication. Acute conditions might be reversible with dialysis, although nephropathy could cause permanent damage.
Ibuprofen is sold over the counter and used to relieve pain. It works by disrupting the bodys production of the hormone prostaglandin. The drug might be purchased under several brand names or in its generic form to treat arthritis, severe toothache pain, fever, headache, and other disorders.
Researchers found a connection between ibuprofen and kidney disease after experiments using patients with kidney disorders. One study reported acute kidney failure within a few days in three of 12 female study participants given high doses of the drug. When scientists repeated the test with recommended dosages, kidneys failed in two of the three women. The remaining nine women suffered varying degrees of kidney dysfunction at high doses, but all participants recovered once they stopped taking the medication.
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Taking Ibuprofen Every Day Could Lead To Kidney Disease
Taking ibuprofen every day could negatively impact the healthy of your kidneys.
In case you didn’t know, your kidneys are pretty important organs. As noted by the National Kidney Foundation, your kidneys work to remove waste from your body, and also produce important hormones your body needs. Anyone can see why it’s important to keep your kidneys healthy however, just like your go-to snacks are some of the worst foods for your kidneys, your go-to pain medicine just might be one of the worst medications for your kidneys. In fact, if you take painkillers like ibuprofen on a regular basis, your kidneys could get sick.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, longterm, habitual use of medicines like ibuprofen, naproxen, and high doses of aspirin can cause chronic interstitial nephritis a disease in which the spaces between the kidney tubules become inflamed . While sporadically taking ibuprofen in recommended doses shouldn’t hurt your kidneys, medicines like Advil and Motrin should probably be avoided if you already have kidney-related diseases or other issues.
Effects On Older Adults
Older adults have increased risks from mixing ibuprofen and alcohol. As people age, their bodies are less able to break down alcohol as effectively as when they were younger. Smaller amounts of alcohol in older people can cause greater interactions with ibuprofen that can increase their risk.
Older people also tend to take more medications than their younger counterparts. This can lead to even more difficulties for those who may already combine alcohol and ibuprofen.6
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How Does Ibuprofen Or Acetaminophen Affect To Kidney
NSAIDs have important unfavorable effects on the kidney that you should know about.
Here is the science behind the issue. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs hinder prostaglandins, and that can cause an issue due to the fact that prostaglandins dilate capillary resulting in the kidneys, according to iytmed.com. Preventing prostaglandins may result in kidney anemia and therefore severe kidney injury.
A simple blood test might show a rise in creatinine if your kidneys are being affected, typically seen within the first 3 to seven days of NSAID therapy. Severe kidney injury can occur with any NSAID though naproxen appears to be a bigger culprit. In one study, folks who took NSAIDs had twice the risk of acute kidney injury within 30 days of starting to take the NSAIDs. Good news is its reversible if you stop taking them.
In individuals with hypertension, taking NSAIDs long term may aggravate underlying hypertension. Individuals with kidney problems at baseline regularly get in difficulty with NSAIDs, however if you are taking ibuprofen for extended periods of time its not a bad idea to have a check of your kidney function with a quick blood test. Keep in mind, intense kidney injury from NSAIDs does not cause any symptoms.
Bottomline
NSAIDs are safe for the liver, but can cause a problem with kidney function that is reversible if you stop taking them. Typically safe but worth taking notice of.
Advil Vs Tylenol Liver Damage Risk: Symptoms Of Ibuprofen And Acetaminophen Overdose
Most things in life are about balance and moderation, and pain killers are no different. While Advil, Motrin and Tylenol offer relief when youve tweaked your neck or have a fever, taking too much of these medications can have serious health consequences, one of which is liver damage. But how much exactly is too much?
Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is the one most closely linked to liver problems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against using higher than the recommended dose, even in the short-term using more than one product containing the drug or combining the drug with alcohol. FDA believes that consumers need to know that these products can cause serious side effects, such as severe liver injury and stomach bleeding, when used improperly. The maximum safe dose of extra strength Tylenol for adults, as per the companys website, is 3,000 milligrams per day, or six pills. Thats lower than it used to be Tylenol explains that the old dosage limit was 4,000 milligrams a day, and that it now recommends taking only two pills every six hours, when previously it said four to six hours.
Liver damage caused by Tylenol overdose could turn the skin yellow, a condition called jaundice.Image courtesy of Pixabay, public domain
To avoid liver damage associated with any pain reliever, the FDA advises following recommended dosage guidelines.
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Watch For Hidden Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is found in many medications, particularly over-the-counter cold and flu preparations such as some types of NyQuil, DayQuil, Sudafed, Robitussin and Alka-Seltzer, to name only a few. Its also found in prescription pain relievers, in combination with opiates. These include Percocet, Norco and Vicodin. Its important to be aware of the ingredients in all of your medications, so you dont inadvertently take too much acetaminophen.Ask your doctor if you have any questions about whether a particular drug is safe to use, and understand why he or she might warn you about the dangers of taking acetaminophen.If you have concerns or questions about liver disease and pain, or any other aspect of this condition, the Swedish Liver Center can help. Call for an appointment.
Dosage Of Ibuprofen Or Acetaminophen
For the treatment of mild to moderate pain, minor fever, and acute or chronic inflammatory conditions 200 mg to 400 mg of ibuprofen will work, and is similar to 650 mg of acetaminophen or aspirin. Typically taken every 6 to 8 hours, the optimum dose of NSAIDs per day is 2400 mg which is 12 over-the-counter pills.
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Different Effects On Males Vs Females
To determine the true capacity of ibuprofen to cause liver problems, the researchers regularly administered moderate amounts of ibuprofen to mice for 1 week.
The drug dosage was the equivalent of an adult human taking around 486 milligrams of ibuprofen per day.
At the end of the week, the investigators used advanced mass spectrometry a set of techniques that allow scientists to establish the ratio and type of chemicals present in a laboratory sample at any given time.
The researchers used this method to assess the effects of the ibuprofen on the mices liver cells.
We found that ibuprofen caused many more protein expression changes in the liver than we expected, says study co-author Prof. Aldrin Gomes.
The changes were different, depending on the sex of the mice. In the males livers, the researchers observed changes in at least 34 metabolic pathways, including those that help regulate some essential components of health: amino acids, hormones, vitamins, and the release of reactive oxygen and hydrogen peroxide within cells.
When poorly regulated, hydrogen peroxide can damage proteins and apply stress to cells in the liver, affecting the organs health, the researchers explain.
Meanwhile, in female but not in male mice, the ibuprofen regimen increased the activity of some cytochrome P450s, a class of enzyme that contributes to the breakdown of drugs.
Your Body Will Be At An Increased Risk Of A Stroke If You Take Ibuprofen Every Day
Even though ibuprofen is sold over the counter and you don’t need a prescription for the drug, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Unless your doctor has specifically told you to take a certain amount each day, it’s best to stick to whatever the bottle recommends. This is because one of the biggest risks of taking ibuprofen every day is that you’ll be at an increased risk of having a stroke.
According to Mayo Clinic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase your stroke risk. Because of that, it’s of utmost importance to only take the amount you need and it’s especially important to try not to take the medication every day. While it’s clear that NSAIDs increase the body’s risk of having a stroke, there really isn’t a clear indication of why that is, as Mayo Clinic reports.
All things considered, it’s better to be safe than sorry and stick to the recommended dosage when it comes to ibuprofen. After all, if you take ibuprofen every day, you’re only putting your body even more at risk for having a stroke and no one wants that.
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Kidney Health Problems Linked To Ibuprofen Use
The widely used, non-prescription pain reliever ibuprofen is increasingly being linked to serious long-term health problems, including kidney failure, according to two new studies.
One report, a small study of 12 patients at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, found that one-quarter of those who took the drug developed acute kidney failure, that was reversed once the drug was stopped. The study will be published later this year in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
A second study of 554 adults by researchers at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences found that ibuprofen can cause kidney failure in individuals with other health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and pre-existing kidney problems. That report, which is the second part of a study published last spring in the New England Journal of Medicine, was presented in July at the Fourth International Nephrotoxicity Symposium in England.
“Our concern is that if patients take this stuff for great lengths of time — and not just in short bursts of therapy — that they could wind up with kidney damage,” said William L. Henrich, a kidney specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
Higher doses of ibuprofen are available by prescription, and in September, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a liquid form of the drug, available only by prescription, for children under 12.
Are Nsaids Safe To Take If You Have Kidney Disease
NSAIDs are usually safe for occasional use when taken as directed. However, if your doctor has told you that you have low kidney function, NSAIDs might not be right for you. These medications should only be used under a doctor’s care by patients with kidney disease. Also, they might not be the best choice for people with heart disease, high blood pressure or liver disease. Some of these drugs affect blood pressure control. High doses over a long period of time can also lead to chronic kidney disease and even progress to kidney failure.
For people without kidney disease, the recommended dose of aspirin can be safe if you read the label and follow the directions. When taken as directed, regular use of aspirin does not seem to increase the risk of kidney disease in people who have normal kidney function. However, taking doses that are too large may temporarily and possibly permanently reduce kidney function. In people with kidney disease, aspirin may increase the tendency to bleed.
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Side Effects Of Ibuprofen
Although ibuprofen is an OTC drug that can be taken without a prescription, it is still a strong medication with potentially harmful side effects even when not combining it with any other substances.
Common ibuprofen side effects include:4
- Diarrhea
Some less common side effects include:4
- Hypertension
- Stomach inflammation
- Digestive ulcers
Anyone with kidney or liver problems, asthma, or other disorders should be extremely cautious in taking ibuprofen and then only when directed by a physician.
Your Ears Might Start To Ring If You Take Ibuprofen Every Day
Taking ibuprofen every day has plenty of side effects and some are more surprising than others.
While it might not be the most intense or dangerous side effect of taking ibuprofen every day, the drug could result in a ringing in your ears. Sure, it’s not as scary as damage to your organs or ulcers in your stomach, but a ringing in your ears can present a variety of problems. Additionally, there’s no cure for the condition also known as tinnitus. As noted by Harvard Health Publishing, tinnitus is defined as “sound in the head with no external source” and could present as ringing, buzzing, whistling, or even shrieking.
As it turns out, ibuprofen might be the source behind that ringing you hear. “Some medications can cause tinnitus that goes away when the drug is discontinued,” Harvard Health Publishing reported. If you take ibuprofen every day and notice that there’s a ringing in your ears, it might be smart to lay off the pills.
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