Experts have issued a crucial warning for anyone who takes Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen - and have outlined the symptoms you need to watch out for.
If you’ve ever suffered from a headache, muscle strains, menstrual cramps, tendonitis or have chronic conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, then you know how much pain you can sometimes be in.
While some are likely to push through the discomfort like a real trooper, others may be prone to raiding the medicine cabinet for packets of Ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen.
The trio of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) stop the body from producing certain chemicals, resulting in reduced pain, fever, and swelling, as per the Cleveland Clinic.
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If purchased from your local supermarket or pharmacy, then anti-inflammatory drugs shouldn’t be used continuously for more than three days for fever and 10 days for pain.
This is because, with prolonged use, anti-inflammatory drugs can increase the risk of a heart attack.
Other side effects include the development of stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal issues, and liver injury, experts at Harvard Health warned.
What's more, the meds may increase blood pressure, damage blood vessels inside the kidneys, and potentially cause death, as per leading health figures.
Chronic kidney disease linked to NSAIDs
It’s estimated that a jaw-dropping 7.2 million people in Britain are living with some form of chronic kidney disease (CKD), as per Kidney Care UK.
Uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure are the biggest causes of CKD, with symptoms often not appearing until the disease advances.
When symptoms do manifest, they include weight loss and poor appetite, shortness of breath, feeling sick, headaches, and itchy skin, among other health issues, as per the NHS.
According to Fiona Loud, policy director at the charity, it’s possible to lose up to 90 percent of kidney function without realising, so it’s ‘important to be aware of the signs to look out for’.
Between October 2024 and March 2026, 294,999 people completed a free Kidney Care UK health checker.
Worryingly, almost a quarter (24 percent) said they regularly used over-the-counter medication for pain relief, prompting experts to renew calls to monitor patients’ anti-inflammatory medication reliance.
Who should take the most care when taking Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen?
“Medicines have the power to harm as well as heal,” Oliver Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, recently cautioned.
“Although anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, are effective and safe medicines, patients should be aware of their impact - particularly if they're at an increased risk of developing kidney disease.”
So if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you need to be extra careful when taking Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen.
Picard explained that instead of relying on ibuprofen, alternative medications, such as paracetamol, should be considered.
Anyone who is ‘concerned about any potential long-term effect of some medicines’ should speak to their pharmacist, he added.
“Pharmacists are experts in medicines and are best placed to offer advice to people… and can help patients effectively manage pain.”
Ella Scott