Nosebleed as side effect of ibuprofen

Ibuprofen interferes with blood clotting by inhibiting cyclooxygenases. Very rarely, i.e. in less than one in 10,000 treated patients, blood formation disorders can occur. This can result in thrombocytopenia, a deficiency in blood platelets.

Among other things, these cause blood to clot. If there is a lack of platelets, an increased tendency to bleed can occur. This in turn means that even the smallest injury to the nasal mucosa is enough to cause heavy bleeding. Nosebleeds are therefore a very rare but possible side effect of ibuprofen.

Depression as a side effect of Ibuprofen

Psychiatric side effects such as depression caused by ibuprofen are also very rare. However, the exact relationship between ibuprofen and depression is not sufficiently known.

Duration of side effects

It is difficult to say how long side effects caused by ibuprofen will last. The duration depends, among other things, on the general health of the person treated. The dose of ibuprofen, the exact nature of the side effect and its severity also play a role.

Especially the occurrence of the most common side effects, the disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, depends on which dose was taken and for how long. Here it is also decisive whether other drugs were taken at the same time that could have an effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Side effects on the kidneys are usually reversible, i.e. they disappear again after the ibuprofen has been discontinued.

Cardiovascular side effects, on the other hand, can have very long-term consequences under certain circumstances. In the case of a heart attack, the side effects last for a lifetime, so to speak. As soon as side effects are noticed by the patient, a doctor should be consulted immediately, as their extent, duration and consequences can be unpredictable.

When should ibuprofen not be taken?

For the following diseases, ibuprofen should only be used after careful risk-benefit analysis:

Congenital blood formation disorders (e.g. acute intermittent porphyria)
Autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed collagenosis)
Shortly after major surgery
For allergies
For heart diseases such as heart failure
Restricted kidney or liver function