Ibuprofen overdose symptoms
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Common Symptoms of Ibuprofen Overdose
Ibuprofen overdose most often leads to mild symptoms, with many patients experiencing no symptoms at all. The most common effects are gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, as well as mild central nervous system (CNS) depression, including dizziness and mild sedation 1356810. In large studies, about 19% of patients developed symptoms, with children less likely to be affected than adults .
Severe and Rare Symptoms of Ibuprofen Overdose
While most cases are mild, severe symptoms can occur, though they are rare. These include:
- Central nervous system depression, seizures, and coma 1234579
- Respiratory issues such as apnea and, in rare cases, respiratory failure or adult respiratory distress syndrome 12379
- Cardiovascular symptoms like bradycardia (slow heart rate), tachycardia (fast heart rate), and hypotension (low blood pressure) 1379
- Renal (kidney) problems, including abnormal renal function, hematuria (blood in urine), and acute renal failure 13479
- Metabolic acidosis (a dangerous acid-base imbalance in the blood) 2379
- Other symptoms such as blurred vision, nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and mild hepatic (liver) enzyme elevation 149
Timing and Dose-Related Risk
Symptoms, when they occur, usually develop within four hours of ingestion 13. In children, those who became symptomatic had ingested much higher doses (mean 440 mg/kg) compared to those who remained asymptomatic (mean 114 mg/kg), and no symptoms were seen in children who ingested less than 99 mg/kg 13. In adults, the relationship between dose and symptoms is less clear, and severe toxicity is unpredictable 13510.
Predicting and Managing Toxicity
Routine measurement of ibuprofen serum concentrations is not useful for predicting toxicity, as there is poor correlation between blood levels and symptoms 456. Most cases require only supportive care, and serious complications are rare 5610. Fatal outcomes are extremely uncommon and often involve other complicating factors .
Conclusion
Ibuprofen overdose is common, but most cases are mild or asymptomatic. The most frequent symptoms are gastrointestinal upset and mild CNS depression. Severe complications such as seizures, coma, respiratory failure, renal failure, and metabolic acidosis are rare but possible, especially with very large ingestions. Most symptoms appear within four hours, and routine blood tests are not helpful in predicting severity. Supportive care is usually sufficient, and life-threatening outcomes are very uncommon.
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