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Medicines That Can Cause Abdominal Pain

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause abdominal pain by irritating the stomach lining, which can cause heartburn or ulcerlike symptoms. Medicines that may cause these symptoms include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as:
    • Aspirin.
    • Ibuprofen, such as Advil.
    • Naproxen, such as Aleve and Naprosyn.
  • Alcohol.

Other medicines can cause abdominal cramping, diarrhea, or constipation. Medicines 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 medicines if you are having abdominal pain caused by a medicine. There also may be ways to take a medicine that will decrease the chance that it will cause abdominal pain.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Revised January 13, 2011

Last Revised: January 13, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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