A man named SB experienced severe health consequences after taking 1,176 ibuprofen tablets over the course of one month. A runner by habit, he had been dealing with pain from his high-impact exercise routine and turned to ibuprofen for relief. However, he misinterpreted the dosage instructions and began taking far more than the recommended amount.
Initially, he took seven tablets in one day, which seemed to alleviate his pain, but soon escalated to 28 tablets daily. This excessive consumption far exceeded the safe dosage, which is generally one to two 200mg tablets three times a day. As a result, SB began to experience alarming symptoms, including sharp chest pain, vomiting blood, and dark-colored stool—signs of internal bleeding.
Despite these warning signs, he continued to take more painkillers until he began feeling fatigued, dizzy, and had trouble urinating. Eventually, SB went to the hospital, where doctors discovered he was suffering from bleeding ulcers in his stomach and esophagus, along with kidney failure. His condition was so severe that he required emergency dialysis to save his kidneys, and the internal bleeding was addressed.
Remarkably, SB made a full recovery, but his experience serves as a stark reminder of the importance of following medication instructions and seeking medical attention when symptoms worsen.
