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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Addicted to ibuprofen, any Dr's around to tell me honestly if it's that bad?

108 replies

Isithonestlythatbad · 06/07/2025 11:50

Since being in my twenties (I'm 39 now) I take 5 ibuprofens every morning, sometimes 5 again in the afternoon.
I suffer terribly with headaches/migraines and period pains so got into the habit of taking them regularly. I'm on amitriptaline for my bad heads but can't stop taking the ibuprofen every day.

Can anyone tell me honestly am I risking my health? I currently don't have any side effects but when I told my friends they were horrified. I'm too scared to tell my Dr. So if anyone can offer me any advice I'd be grateful. Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Isithonestlythatbad · 06/07/2025 11:58

Thank you all for being so helpful. I'm actually ashamed of myself.
I need to go cold turkey I think, but it terrifies me!

OP posts:
LegoTherapy · 06/07/2025 11:57

I’m amazed you haven’t burnt through your stomach lining and aren’t vomiting blood. I used to nurse on a gastro ward and we had someone who perforated his stomach with one dose of ibuprofen.

SeaToSki · 06/07/2025 11:56

Look up rebound headaches. If you take pain killers for headaches more than twice a week, they are likely causing your headaches. If you can work out a way to stop taking them your headaches will likely reduce in quantity and severity within 3 weeks

Original poster
Isithonestlythatbad · 06/07/2025 11:56

PeapodMcgee · 06/07/2025 11:52

It's very gastric irritating and can cause ulcers, when taken without food. No heartburn?

Look into other migraine prevention and treatment like betablockers and triptans.

Come to think of it I started getting heartburn and a discomfort when I've eaten about a month ago. I was very ill last year with a tummy bug and ended up in hospital where they did a ct scan on my stomach and they didnt detect any damage thankfully.

OP posts:
NattyFox · 06/07/2025 11:55

I'm not a doctor but diagnosed with chronic pain and I think you should ask about omaprezole to protect your stomach.

ShesTheAlbatross · 06/07/2025 11:54

It’s almost certainly worsening your headaches.

ComtesseDeSpair · 06/07/2025 11:52

You need to share this with your doctor. Taking ibuprofen regularly over a prolonged period of time increases your risk of stroke and heart attack as well as risking stomach bleeding. If you’re taking it for genuine pain, you need to get to the root of the pain and there are different painkillers available. It’s unlikely you’re “addicted”, ibuprofen isn’t habit-forming in itself, but it clearly isn’t working adequately for the pain you have, which is why you’re taking it so frequently.

PeapodMcgee · 06/07/2025 11:52

It's very gastric irritating and can cause ulcers, when taken without food. No heartburn?

Look into other migraine prevention and treatment like betablockers and triptans.

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