Medications that can cause abdominal pain
Many prescription and non-prescription medications can cause abdominal pain by irritating the stomach lining, which can cause heartburn or ulcer-like symptoms. Medications that may cause these symptoms include:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
- ASA.
- Ibuprofen, such as Advil.
- Naproxen sodium, such as Anaprox.
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone.
- Alcohol.
Other medications can cause abdominal cramping, diarrhea, or constipation. Medications that may cause these symptoms include:
- Antidiarrheals, which can cause constipation and abdominal cramping.
- Laxatives, which can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramping.
- Antibiotics, such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, cefuroxime, erythromycin, and clindamycin, which can cause abdominal cramping and burning pain.
- Iron supplements, which can cause constipation, burning pain, and black stools.
- Mylanta or Maalox, which can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramping.
Your health professional may be able to prescribe other medications if you are having abdominal pain caused by a medication. There also may be ways to take a medication that will decrease the chance that it will cause abdominal pain.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 9, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology | |
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