What happens if you take ibuprofen sustained-release capsules on an empty stomach?

Generally, taking ibuprofen sustained-release capsules on an empty stomach may lead to various adverse effects, mainly including irritation of the gastric mucosa causing discomfort, increased risk of gastrointestinal damage, possible impact on the stability of drug absorption, exacerbation of underlying gastric disease symptoms, and prolonged duration of gastric discomfort. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Irritation of the gastric mucosa leading to discomfort: Ibuprofen sustained-release capsules themselves have a certain degree of irritation to the gastric mucosa. When taken on an empty stomach, there is no food to act as a buffer, allowing the medication to directly contact the gastric mucosa and potentially cause discomfort symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, nausea, and acid reflux.

2. Increased risk of gastrointestinal damage: Long-term or frequent administration on an empty stomach may lead to continuous accumulation of irritation to the gastric mucosa. This could damage the protective barrier of the gastric mucosa, increasing the likelihood of gastrointestinal injuries such as gastritis and gastric ulcers. In severe cases, gastric mucosal bleeding may even occur.

3. Possible impact on the stability of drug absorption: In an empty stomach state, the gastric emptying rate is faster, which may cause the ibuprofen sustained-release capsules to pass through the stomach too quickly. Although this does not affect the total absorption amount, it may result in a higher local drug concentration within a short time, affecting the stability of analgesic or antipyretic effects.

4. Exacerbation of underlying gastric disease symptoms: If one already suffers from gastric diseases such as gastritis or gastric ulcer, taking ibuprofen sustained-release capsules on an empty stomach can further irritate the affected areas, worsening existing symptoms such as stomach pain, acid reflux, and bloating.

5. Prolonged duration of gastric discomfort: After taking the medication on an empty stomach, the irritation to the gastric mucosa lacks neutralization and relief from food, potentially prolonging the duration of discomfort. Some individuals may continue to feel gastric discomfort for several hours after taking the medication, affecting their daily work and rest.

To avoid the above issues, it is recommended to take ibuprofen sustained-release capsules 30 minutes to 1 hour after a meal, using food to reduce direct irritation to the gastric mucosa. At the same time, strictly follow the instructions for dosage and frequency of administration, avoiding long-term or excessive use to ensure gastrointestinal health and safe medication use.