Ibuprofen is a name of medication we are all familiar with. Amongst ourselves as a student population Ibuprofen is widely used, whether it be for headaches, hangovers, inflammation or advised by a doctor for your high temperature during fresher’s flu. But my question is, should we be taking it so regularly?
I want to first explain what ibuprofen should be taken for according to the NHS website: headaches and migraines, joint and muscle pain, pain after an injury, toothache, period pain and high temperature. The NHS also provides a warning that “ibuprofen can cause more side effects than paracetamol.” https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-adults/ .
Now I want to distinguish the difference in the extent of those side effects between ibuprofen and paracetamol. Paracetamol has fewer side effects on your stomach, it in rare cases can cause liver damage particularly for people with pre-existing liver disease, low body weight or with heavy alcohol use. https://primarycare24.org.uk/news/2025/08/11/paracetamol-vs-ibuprofen-whats-the-difference/ Ibuprofen, however, can irritate the stomach lining leading to ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastritis, effect kidney function and blood pressure. It also should be avoided completely by people with severe heart failure, kidney disease, asthma and women in the third trimester of pregnancy. It also has an extensive list of negative interaction with other medications. https://www.londondoctorsclinic.co.uk/blog/ibuprofen-vs-paracetamol/ .
"We all know the benefits of taking ibuprofen, to stop inflammation and pain... but the potential side effects aren't as clearly signposted."
I wanted to write this article as a caution to everyone, but particularly the student community that are at the age where this understanding could be incredibly useful for further usage. We all know the benefits of taking ibuprofen, to stop inflammation and pain, which is positive and necessary for many people, but the potential side effects aren't as clearly signposted.
My Mum, Jeanette, aged 56 has always taken ibuprofen, upon interviewing her she stated, “I suffered from heavy periods and only ibuprofen eased the cramping pain… I always took them according to the directions on the packet; I never overdosed”. Around 3 years ago, she began with intense pain in her upper stomach, “Doctors attributed my pain to hormones, and it was only after the third visit that they told me not to take too many ibuprofen. I googled this to find out what the problem could be and after returning to the doctors, the pain was diagnosed as gastric erosion caused by NSAIDs”
"...the mental toll she has felt is immense..."
After having an endoscopy of her stomach and multiple scans, the condition she was diagnosed with was Ulcerative Gastritis: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gastritis/ . After years of strict diets, missed work and coping with pain she eventually was prescribed a histamine H2-recepter antagonist tablet, that has allowed her to live normally to an extent. However, the mental toll she has felt is immense, “little did I realise that the tablets I could buy easily from a supermarket were eroding my stomach lining, eventually leading to agonising abdominal pain.” Jeanette is now scared to eat certain foods, cannot wear several clothes and after three years of pain, constantly fears doing something that will damage her stomach further.
"Judy Finnigan suffered a severe medical emergency after taking over-the-counter medication for a month which led to large stomach ulcers."
Several celebrities have also suffered with the effects of Ibuprofen, Judy Finnigan suffered a severe medical emergency after taking over-the-counter medication for a month which led to large stomach ulcers: https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/judy-finnigan-70-almost-died-13916781 . Yet we still take this medication so normally and regularly. I am asthmatic and therefore shouldn’t be prescribed ibuprofen, yet when I got tonsillitis it was the first thing my doctors gave me. I had to inform them that I shouldn’t be taking it. Why is it so regularly administrated, and bought, with no large warning of the side effects?
"Ibuprofen is vital to managing pain and inflammation within many people’s daily lives and when prescribed and taken correctly is incredibly beneficial."
Ibuprofen is vital to managing pain and inflammation within many people’s daily lives and when prescribed and taken correctly is incredibly beneficial. This article shouldn’t cause fear, it should inform people, that ibuprofen shouldn’t be taken regularly unless prescribed and necessary. Ibuprofen should be taken when needed, with a full glass of water, right after food and only a maximum of 3 or 4 times a day: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ibuprofen-for-adults/ .
My opinion is, that more awareness needs to be made surrounding the side effects of this medication, and as students we should stop ‘popping’ ibuprofen to help our hangovers and minor issues, but utilise it when necessary and perscribed.