Can people become addicted to Ibuprofen?

guest wrote:

Quote:

im 13 and addicted to both ibuprofen and calpol. I simply drink it out of the bottle, I just tastes so nice...

cool!
does it feel nice?

This is not cool. It is stupid and irresponsible. This WILL do damage to your body and you should stop right now.

I had a similar issue with Paracetamol. I took it regularly for 10-15 years. It was only when I noticed a pattern - 4 days of headaches treated with Paracetamol followed by 4 days clear - that I realized it might be the paracetamol causing the problem. I discussed this with my doctor and he confirmed this. I stopped taking Paracetamol immediately and I had headaches for about a week before they started to clear. I still get headaches occasionally now and take just 1 Ibuprofen to clear it. I ended up on this page as I was worried I could have a similar problem with Ibuprofen. Looking at what everyone is saying I think I could.



So, come off the Ibuprofen for a week and see how you go. You may want to discuss this with your doctor first. Good luck.

I am using IBUPROFEN for two and a half week for a back pain. Two days ago i deside to stop it and now all the back pains that I had during all my live, become all together. So now I have to increase the dose to feel normal again. In my experience it is adictive, because you dont cure the cause of the pain, but just releases it for a short time. The pain become stronger after the effect, so you need to take more dose after.  

Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) should NOT be taken at the same time. Tylenol (acetaminophen) has a slightly different mechanism of action, so you can take Tylenol with Advil, or you can take Tylenol with Aleve, but you should NOT take Advil and Aleve together.

I take in the range of 4800-3200 mg per day for ache and pains plus headaches. I, as of this reply, have not had any for 48 hours and my body hurts!
2 days ago I had a nose bleed and lost a minimum of a liter of blood. Worst I have ever had. Since that one, I have had 2 other mild ones.
I am nervous about starting the ib again, but I have to... my body hurts too bad not to.

I have been taking ibuprofen every morning and afternoon for the last several years because of knee pain.  I also take Arthritis strength Tylenol before bed so I don't wake up achy.  I decided to try to go without either for a few days just to see how I feel.  It is my second day without either pain killer, and I am experiencing chills, joint and muscle aches, and a sort of dizzy feeling.  It is difficult to do much at the moment.  I am assuming it is withdrawal symptoms.  Has anyone else experienced this, and how long it lasts?  

Hi, I took iIbuprofen for years as well, and when I decided to stop, indeed I had fever like symptoms. The withdrawal lasted less than a month, probably a bout 2,3 weeks, I do not remember exactly. I took for a few weeks instead Aleve, than just aspirin as necessary one or 2 a day. I am trying to not take them at all, but occasionally I have to, because I have an inflammatory condition. I discovered that it was actually caused by
lack of sleep. When I rest properly , I feel less inflamed nest day. Also, Montel emulsifier (vegetables and fruits smoothies) helps a lot

You symptoms also sound like Rheumatoid Arthritis. A blood test will help to determine that. Good luck!

Hi all,

I think people can become addicted to it 'mentally' cause there mind is saying this makes the pain go etc and i think your body can get addicted to it, as i used to have to take it a lot for tummy pains etc, then when i stopped I would get really bad headaches that wouldnt go unless i took Ibuprofen which i think was just my body wanting it :L

I am now a student LD nurse so will look in the bnf and see what it says about ibu.

Amber

I was on ibuprofen for about a month 200mg 3 times a day. I came off on Saturday and I feel insanely paranoid, anxious, depressed and somewhat achy along with being very sleepy and very awake both at the same time! I rarely take any type of pain relief as i usually just grin and bear it and it goes away however after coming off ibuprofen only having took it regularly for a month i really hate these withdrawal symptoms!

The real question is are you addicted to ibuprofen?

I've been taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen (mostly ibuprofen) for the last six months due to tooth pain (my dentist put too much filling material in what was, according to her, a "small" cavity, and she just keeps telling me to wait and see if the pain improves). Anyway, on most days, I take the maximum dose per the bottle. It was never my intention to take it for so long, but the pain is really bad sometimes. What really made me look at my painkiller use, lately, has been the fact that I gained 12 pounds between the end of November and the beginning of March, despite the fact that I am healthy and neither my food intake or activity level have changed. I can't seem to shed these pounds (not a single one of them), so I looked at the only thing I've done differently -- consume otc painkillers on a daily basis for six months. I stopped taking them cold turkey day before yesterday. Now, I'm taking some homeopathic preparations (arnica and hypernicum) to alleviate my tooth pain, and they seem to be working. In fact, I think that the painkillers might have been causing some weird pain cycle that was making the pain worse and more frequent. I woke up with a terrible headache this morning, and I never get headaches, especially bad ones like this. Based on the things I've read, I assume this is somehow related to my stopping the painkillers. I also noticed that I've felt very emotional and depressed over the last couple of days, and I think this, too, is related. NSAIDs (including ibuprofen) work by blocking or disrupting the manufacture of prostaglandins, which are what allow us to feel physical pain. Prostaglandins also help to regulate certain hormones, metabolize fat, protect the stomach lining, etc. So, it stands to reason that constant and long-term use of ibuprofen could be problematic for some, regardless of what a doctor says. Though acetaminophen works a little differently, it also blocks or affects the manufacture of prostaglandins, just to a lesser degree. In any case, I am done with painkillers for a long, long while. I need to get better control over whatever pain I have, and I need to address all of the problems that have come from my excess use of painkillers.

As many of the users have already said I am of the same opinion that this drug is addictive for most of the people who take it more than a few days. When they do not take it or stop taking it they feel really really very bad and irritated. Therefore, the best is to take natural alternatives and resort to exercises.

I have been taking Advil for migraines for a few years now 3 pills 3-4 times a day. Sometime last week I just didn't take any and woke up in the morning with a pounding headache. It's been about 4 days and I realize it was Advil because if I let myself take any, I feel fine. So I'm detoxing from this drug vomiting from the headache and lying in bed. If anyone else went through this, words of encouragement are much needed....also how long did it last?

This is not accurate. Overuse of ibuprophen causes kidney damage but not liver. Acetaminiphen is what causes liver damage.