You’ve probably heard and read a lot about ibuprofen. You probably know that it can help with mild pain and headache relief, but did you know that it can also make you sleepy? Many people have no idea that ibuprofen can have such a negative effect on them. If you’re like most people, you take it for the hurt associated with physical or emotional stress. However, overuse or misuse of this natural pain reliever can lead to many side effects. Ibuprofen is an
Why Ibuprofen Can Make You sleepy?
Ibuprofen can make you sleepy. The use of ibuprofen can lead to drowsiness, a relaxed state, and a decrease in cognitive function. It can cause muscle relaxation, and even make you feel sleepy. It’s important to be aware of how this medication can affect you and to take it only as instructed by your doctor.
What Is Ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen
You probably have no idea that this common pain reliever can do so much more damage than just refusing to let your brain drift off at night. The side effects of capsule form Ibuprofen are long referred to as “the five A’s”—Anorexia, Anxiety, Agitation/stomach upset, Abdominal cramping, and Aching muscles. Yes, they do make you feel down and even worsen your insomnia if taken erroneously or too often. However, there are some alternatives to this commonly used drug that don’t carry with them the same number of side effects that may cause a more profound effect when used inappropriately or overused (most pain relievers contain medicine that has the same therapeutic effects as these pain relievers and can cause the same effects if used too much). Ibuprofen is available in pill or liquid form. Ibuprofen usage can also be connected to other side effects.
Side Effects
Overuse & Misuse
Inappropriate Use – If you’re like most people, you take it for the hurt associated with physical or emotional stress. It is this natural pain reliever that allows us to not worry about getting injured and decides whether we will try your plans again next year. So any reason that makes your hand cramp up, your heart hurts more than normal, gives you a headache, or causes you to have trouble sleeping makes perfect opportunities to rely on this medication. However, overuse of ibuprofen creates many adverse reactions that no person enjoys or is willing to accept. It should be noted that avoiding Ibuprofen when treating injuries might best serve the cause of preventing further injury that could bring pain and muscle weakness in the future and perhaps ruin a workout program based on physical activity (or sporting activity) scheduled in the same week as an injury has been treated. One example of such misuse would be a fracture caused by rushing through exercises prior to getting help from a certified athletic trainer on a badly damaged joint; maybe such use of Ibuprofen causes muscle tenderness from further damage due to crying out at inappropriate times with “pain” caused to fall onto the articulating ends of injured toes,
How Does Ibuprofen Work?
- Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by inhibiting the action of the cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX), which is necessary to produce prostaglandins and thromboxanes. This action reduces pain and inflammation by reducing prostaglandin production. Ibuprofen works by damaging the lining of blood capillaries, decreasing blood flow in inflamed tissues. Ibuprofen does not act as an analgesic or anti-inflammatory; however, it can cause some side effects if taken in excess or for too long.
- The recommended dosage for adults is one 650 mg tablet or two 325 mg tablets every six hours as needed for pain relief. The maximum dosage is 4,000 mg per day. Do not exceed this dose unless prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you take an overdose of Ibuprofen you may experience nausea, vomiting and stomach upset; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; drowsiness/sleepiness; fever; confusion/disorientation; increased urination; rash/hives/flushing; muscle tremors/weakness (especially around the mouth); blurred vision, trouble breathing and chest tightness. If any of these symptoms are experienced, seek immediate medical attention because they could be signs of a serious problem such as stomach bleeding, irregular heartbeat, etc.
Side Effects Of Ibuprofen
Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting
Dizziness, when you start taking Ibuprofen, may be a result of the side effects of the drug itself. However, the side effects such as nausea or vomiting are most likely from the drug’s interaction with other medications or food content in your stomach. You should not stop using Ibuprofen, but you should try to reduce its dose if you experience any severe symptoms until you are sure that there is no interaction to cause them.
Drowsiness & Sleepiness
As with dizziness, this effect is probably also caused by the side effects of Ibuprofen. You should not stop taking it if you feel drowsy or sleepy while taking it; instead, you can gradually reduce the dosage while closely monitoring yourself for any signs of drowsiness or sleepiness (that would be a symptom of an overdose).
Chills and/or Unusual Sweating
This is another side effect due to interactions with Ibuprofen and other medications that interact with it. It may be due to changes in body temperature that occurs during your treatment with Ibuprofen but which can occur independently from it as well (such changes in body temperature can lead to chills and fever). If this occurs during your treatment with Ibuprofen, try stopping its use temporarily until your body has stabilized at its normal temperature level again (provided that you have not taken too much of it). If you experience chills and/or unusual sweating after stopping Ibuprofen, then contact your doctor so that he can determine the underlying cause of these symptoms.
Tummy Pain or Abdominal Cramps
If you experience severe abdominal cramps (such as in your lower stomach) that occur when taking Ibuprofen, this is a symptom that should be reported to your doctor as it may indicate an internal organ problem even if it does not show up on an X-ray. The doctor may also want to perform certain tests to rule out any serious disease before giving a definite diagnosis (for example, if you are experiencing severe abdominal cramps due to constipation, the doctor may want to confirm this by conducting several tests).
Mouth Sores & Toothaches
When taking Ibuprofen it is possible for mouth sores and toothaches to occur because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s important for you to keep track of any changes in your mouth and gums while taking Ibuprofen so that they can be reported back to your doctor who will decide what course of action will be taken (if any.
How To Take Ibuprofen?
Children
It is best to avoid Ibuprofen in children since it can cause accidental overdoses resulting in high blood pressure, indigestion, drowsiness, and a loss of appetite. Taking Ibuprofen while taking other medications that have similar effects such as painkillers, anticonvulsants or antidepressants is not recommended either.
Pregnant Women
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid taking Ibuprofen due to the risk of it causing side effects on an unborn child and/or an infant (such as excessive bleeding). This also applies if you are trying for a pregnancy. If you are about to become pregnant, it is advisable for you to consult your doctor before starting treatment with Ibuprofen.
Elderly People
Due to limited body reserves in elderly people; the use of NSAIDs (such as Ibuprofen) needs to be closely monitored with regular blood screenings done by your doctor so that any signs of possible adverse effects can be detected early on and proper steps are taken before anything bad happens.
People who suffer from severe pain
In some cases, Ibuprofen can trigger severe side effects in people who suffer from severe pain such as chronic pain and/or post-surgery pain; therefore, any patients with these conditions should avoid taking Ibuprofen.
People who are dehydrated
Ibuprofen is not advised for people who are suffering from dehydration since it can cause an increase in blood pressure which could then lead to a heart attack or stroke.
How To Store Ibuprofen?
Opened Ibuprofen bottles
Ibuprofen should be stored in the refrigerator since it is a medicine that will expire if it is left at room temperature for too long. Exposure to heat or light will also accelerate the process.
Ibuprofen tablets
The tablets can be stored for up to 6 months or more when kept in a cool dry place away from light and excessive heat. This can be done either in the original bottle, a container made of airtight plastic and/or an airtight bag. To ensure that your medicines stay fresh, it is best to store them with their tamper-proof packaging.
Ibuprofen cream
Ibuprofen cream can be stored in the original container or placed into an airtight plastic container. However, the best way to store it is by placing it in a fridge. Ibuprofen cream will not expire if kept in a refrigerator and can be used for up to 6 months from the date of manufacture. If you lose track of how long your cream has been stored, you should throw it out and replace it with a new one within 2 weeks as this is when its shelf life begins to drop.
Summary
Whether you’re a professional athlete who needs to take this medication regularly or a casual physical therapist who uses it for daily pain management, it’s important to understand how this medication works in your body. There are many cases where one medication won’t treat everything that a person has. In cases like this, you need to use multiple medications to get the full benefit from one medication. As with most things in life, moderation is key. Don’t take a large amount of anything without having thought first about what that amount is safe for. Follow these steps to ensure the best possible results from ibuprofen.
