The truth behind Vitamin I (ibuprofen) and its side effects!

Ibuprofen is the most commonly recommended and taken pain reliever and anti-inflammatory.  It is a common, over the counter Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that may be prescribed in higher dosages from a medical doctor.  Generally speaking, research has shown that all NSAIDs are equally effective with side effects varying, slightly, in severity between common NSAIDs.  Ibuprofen is considered one of the safest NSAID.

In our chiropractic clinic, we see many people that experience pain and a large percentage of these individuals take Ibuprofen to help manage their pain.   Did you know that reported potential side effects of Ibuprofen are joint pain, neck stiffness, headaches, back pain, side pain, leg pain or stomach pain? One might wonder whether the pain that patients experience is due to or exacerbated by the Ibuprofen.  Let's take a moment to examine Vitamin I's safety.  

IBUPROFEN SAFETY

Most research reports a dose related risk; greater than 1200 mg/day significantly increases risks. Research findings for NSAIDs, in general, have demonstrated that, in people with previous treatment for severe heart conditions, the risk of death after taking an NSAID is about 28% (about 17% of those deaths are associated with ibuprofen specifically).  Following NSAID use, gastric ulcers appear in almost 20% of healthy individuals having taken 500mg 2x/day for a week.  The national mortality rate among NSAID users due to gastrointestinal problems associated with NSAIDs is 0.04%...that ranks deaths associated with NSAID complications in the USA on par with AIDS and far more than deaths due to conditions like asthma or many forms of cancer.  NSAID therapy increases the risk of gastrointestinal ulcers by 5 to 10 times; these ulcers can easily lead to bleeding, perforations and/or death.

SIDE EFFECTS OF IBUPROFEN

Common side effects: (about 1-3% of users) of Ibuprofen include a severe rash, dizziness, nausea, heartburn, stomach cramps, ringing in the ears or hearing loss.

Less Common side effects: (about 1% of users) of Ibuprofen include severe itching, severe water retention, diarrhea, vomiting, easy agitation, nervousness and depression, gas/indigestion, loss of appetite, constipation or headache.

More rare side effects: (less than 1% of users) experience bleeding gums, blistering or peeling of skin, blood in the urine or stool, blurred vision, chest pain, back or leg pain, chills, fever, coma, decreased urine output, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, extreme fatigue, irregular heart beat, irregular breathing, nose bleeding, increased blood pressure, hives or welts, muscle twitching, joint or muscle pain, lower back or side pain, stiff neck, seizures, muscle tremors, liver and/or kidney failure, and more.

           In chiropractic, the most common side effect (about 1 in 3 people) experience mild soreness that resolves within 24 hours after a chiropractic adjustment.  Rib fractures are the next most common adverse event and is considered very rare with no research regarding frequency available but risk is increased with age and osteoporosis. 

CAN IBUPROFEN HELP YOU LONG TERM?

While Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs have been shown to reduce pain in the very short term, there is no report in research for any long term effectiveness with any NSAID treatment.  It is notable that some of the side effects of Ibuprofen are the same symptoms that Ibuprofen is reported to help (headaches, neck stiffness, back, low back, side, joint and leg pain).  These common symptoms are commonly treated at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic.

CHIROPRACTIC VS. IBUPROFEN

When comparing chiropractic to NSAIDs, research shows chiropractic to be effective short and long term at treating the problem, not just masking conditions.  A healthy, natural, low risk anti-inflammatory option with many health benefits is curcumin; consider taking curcumin instead of Vitamin I.  Your doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic are here to help you out of pain and help you to improve your function with safe, gentle effective, low risk therapies and nutritional/supplemental counseling.

Call Gallatin Valley Chiropractic today to discuss your condition and to get off the 'not so' safe Vitamin I. 

Call us: 406-551-2177

Schedule online at: https://appointments.mychirotouch.com/?clinic=GVCL0001