Article content
Do you reach three or four times a day for the colorful Ibalgin pill and related medicines as soon as something starts to hurt? Stop, warn doctors! If you practice this for several months or even years, it’s like placing an order for a stroke or heart attack. In Slovakia people swallow a quarter of a billion of these tablets a year! That’s 24 pieces per person including infants!
Doctors believe that serious health complications are caused by long-term use of ibuprofen, which is the active ingredient of pain-relieving medicines – for example Ibalgin or Brufen. But if you take a pill once as needed for a headache, of course there is no risk.
You will suppress the pain
Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland monitored 116,429 patients. Each of them took for several months one of seven commonly used painkiller types. The subsequent study published in the British Medical Journal shows that patients who frequently consume ibuprofen face a threefold increased risk of stroke. The pain-relieving substance also increases the likelihood of heart attack and death caused by heart complications.
The studies also showed that ibuprofen brings the same risks of stroke and death from heart disease as the substance rofecoxib, which was contained in the preparations Ceeoxx and Vioxx. Those were withdrawn from the market for exactly that reason back in 2004.
The risks are too great
“We monitored patients who took painkillers three to four times a day,” says Professor Peter Juni. “When it comes to stroke, ibuprofen does not look good. If I suffered from chronic pain, I would not take it, because the risks are too great. I would look for other options,” he added. The researchers emphasize that the risks concern people who take three to four pills a day, that is a dose of up to 2000 mg for several months or years. The recommended daily dose is a maximum of 1200 mg.
What causes excessive use of ibuprofen?
• destroys the stomach lining (cramping abdominal pain)
• causes stomach ulcers (risk of rupture and bleeding)
• endangers the intestines (prolonged diarrhea)
• increases the risk of heart attack by 50% (especially if the patient has high blood pressure)
• triples the risk of stroke
Stomach pain and hangover
Regular Ibalgin users often take it preventively even before a planned party, but especially after it. The headache stops, but the stomach suffers. Irritation from alcohol is compounded by a strong chemical cocktail. For a similar reason it is also inappropriate to take ibuprofen for stomach pain.
A women’s matter
Up to half of women always carry Ibalgin with them in their handbag. The reason? They perceive pain more intensely than men, and therefore more often reach for a quick solution in the form of pills. These medicines are also often taken by athletes, nurses, waiters, sales assistants and people who work shifts or have physically demanding jobs.
Doctors recommend alternating pain relievers. For children, for example, Panadol is best; for adults, alternatives are Paralen or Aspirin. All these medicines can be purchased without a prescription.
Statement from ZENTIVA:
“The side effects you mention are common to the entire group of medicinal products that include the active substance ibuprofen (e.g. Brufen, MIG, Modafen, Nurofen, etc.).
Serious side effects are more likely with high doses and long-term treatment. Therefore, for over-the-counter medicines containing ibuprofen the recommended dose is at most 400 mg and the maximum daily dose 1,200 mg. The period of use without a doctor’s recommendation should not exceed 7 days. If the medicine does not work it is necessary to visit a doctor who will determine how to proceed. It is important to pay attention to all the information in the package leaflet, which lists diseases and other circumstances (e.g. concurrent use of certain medicines) when ibuprofen must not be used or can only be used under medical supervision. Adhering to these recommendations will reduce the likelihood of serious side effects. In case of uncertainties, it is necessary to consult use with a doctor or pharmacist.”
Do not forget to share this information with other people by sharing the article.
