How Often You Should Be Taking Ibuprofen If You're 50 Or Older

Do you turn to ibuprofen often? You're not alone. Many people regularly take ibuprofen to tame their aches, overcome joint stiffness, or bring down a fever from a cold or flu. But if you're beyond your 50th birthday, you may want to reconsider how often you rely on ibuprofen.

Just how common is ibuprofen use among men and women in their 50s? According to findings from the AARP, around 50% of Americans between 50 and 80 years old take at least two over-the-counter drugs. Among those drugs are those that fall under the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen is a popular NSAID — and taking it if you're above 50 years of age can be risky, says K. Ashley Garling, a University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy clinical assistant professor. In fact, Garling recommends that people 50 and over choose Tylenol (which contains acetaminophen, not ibuprofen, as its main ingredient) as their preferred NSAID instead of ibuprofen.

Why all the fuss about ibuprofen? As people age, they can become more sensitive to certain drugs, including drugs that seem safe because they're available without a prescription. This can then lead them to develop unpleasant and new-to-them side effects, even if they've been taking a common medication like ibuprofen since they were children. And two areas of the body that are often affected by age-related sensitivities to (and side effects of) ibuprofen are the stomach and the kidneys.

Maintaining good gut health is essential if you want your digestive system to work as it is designed to do. Besides, gastrointestinal system imbalances are nothing to take lightly. Even a small imbalance in the digestive tract can lead to a condition such as dysbiosis, which Healthline says can trigger everything from diarrhea and nausea to depression and memory problems. Plus, the gut can be thrown off by repeated use of ibuprofen after you turn 50.

For instance, per Mount Sinai, individuals who take NSAIDs for a long time may wind up with stomach ulcers. This phenomenon is even more pronounced in those who are older. An article via the AARP echoes this same warning about ulcers, citing Johns Hopkins Medicine gastroenterologist Dr. Ekta Gupta. In the article, Gupta is quoted as saying that when older individuals take NSAIDs, their risk of developing ulcers increases. 

Knowing that, you may wonder what happens to 50-somethings who not only take ibuprofen but take more than safe doses of the NSAID. The Mayo Clinic has an answer: Their chance of developing stomach ulcers goes up, as does their likelihood of experiencing other issues, such as those related to problems involving the kidneys.

Individuals who are over 50 and worried about kidney disease may want to pay special attention if they've become reliant on ibuprofen. According to 2020 data on kidney disease incidence in adults published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kidney disease diagnosis was prevalent in older people. Though the data specifically referred to those who were age 70 and older, other figures from the Mayo Clinic caution that while most elderly individuals don't have to stop taking ibuprofen, those with kidney issues should self-dose with caution.

A 2022 analysis in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health provides more insight into adverse kidney reactions to NSAIDs. The analysis concluded that kidney problems related to older patients who took NSAIDs tended to be more serious when multiple NSAIDs were taken or when nonselective NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) were taken.

Though this doesn't mean you need to throw away your bottle of ibuprofen if you're 50 or older, you may want to rethink how often you reach for it. You may want to speak with your healthcare provider about turning to a different NSAID, too. That way, you'd be statistically less likely to experience gut and kidney concerns due to your ibuprofen use.