Ibuprofen: Uses, Risks, and What You Need to Know Before Taking It

When you have a headache, a sore muscle, or a fever, ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. Also known as Advil or Motrin, it’s one of the most widely used over-the-counter medicines in the world. But just because it’s easy to get doesn’t mean it’s safe to use without limits. Millions take it daily without thinking twice, but the risks build up quietly—stomach bleeds, kidney damage, heart problems—and they don’t always show up until it’s too late.

It’s not just about how much you take—it’s about NSAIDs, a class of drugs that includes aspirin and naproxen, which work similarly to ibuprofen but carry their own unique risks. If you’re on blood thinners, have high blood pressure, or take antidepressants, ibuprofen can make things worse. It can also interfere with how your body absorbs certain antibiotics, just like dairy products mess with tetracycline. And if you’re using it long-term for arthritis or back pain, you’re not just treating symptoms—you’re risking your gut lining, your kidneys, and even your heart. Studies show that even short-term use in older adults increases the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

Some people think ibuprofen is safer than acetaminophen because it’s "natural" or "herbal," but that’s not true. It’s a powerful chemical that affects your body’s inflammation pathways—and your body doesn’t distinguish between "over-the-counter" and "prescription" when it’s trying to heal itself. If you’ve ever taken it for a headache and then felt nauseous or had stomach pain, that’s your body warning you. And if you’ve ever used it with alcohol, you’re doubling the risk of liver and stomach damage. Even the timing matters: taking it on an empty stomach speeds up absorption but also increases irritation.

There are smarter ways to manage pain. Sometimes, a cold compress or stretching helps more than a pill. Other times, switching to a different NSAID like naproxen—or even skipping NSAIDs entirely—makes sense. If you’re taking ibuprofen every day, you should talk to your doctor. You might need a different plan, especially if you’re over 60, have kidney issues, or take other meds. The posts below cover exactly that: how ibuprofen interacts with antibiotics, why it can cause silent damage, how to spot signs of overuse, and what alternatives actually work without risking your health.