Ketoprofen Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 16, 2025.

Applies to ketoprofen: oral capsule, oral capsule extended release.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to use it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This is more likely in people who already have heart disease. People who use this medicine for a long time might also have a higher risk. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, slurred speech, or weakness.

This medicine may cause bleeding in your stomach or intestines. These problems can happen without warning signs. This is more likely if you have had a stomach ulcer in the past, if you smoke or drink alcohol regularly, if you are over 60 years old, if you are in poor health, or if you are using certain other medicines (eg, steroid or a blood thinner).

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Serious skin reactions, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, fever, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness and weakness.

Your blood pressure might get too high while you are using this medicine. This may cause headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision. You might need to measure your blood pressure at home. If you think your blood pressure is too high, call your doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if you have blood in the urine, decrease in the frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

Using this medicine during the later part of pregnancy can harm your unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of ketoprofen

Along with its needed effects, ketoprofen may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking ketoprofen:

Symptoms of overdose

• change in consciousness
• difficulty or trouble breathing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• loss of consciousness
• pain or discomfort in chest, upper stomach, or throat
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• seizures
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness or feeling of sluggishness

Other side effects of ketoprofen

Some side effects of ketoprofen may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to ketoprofen: compounding powder, oral capsule, oral capsule extended release, oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most frequently reported side effects were gastrointestinal in nature and included dyspepsia, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and flatulence.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Dyspepsia (up to 11.5%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, anorexia, vomiting, stomatitis, nausea, gastralgia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gastritis
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Peptic ulcer
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pancreatitis
• Frequency not reported: Dry mouth, eructation, gastritis, rectal hemorrhage, melena, fecal occult blood, salivation, gastrointestinal (GI) perforation, hematemesis, intestinal ulceration, buccal necrosis, ulcerative colitis, microvesicular steatosis, ulcerative colitis exacerbated, Crohn's disease exacerbated, GI bleeding, mouth ulcer, sore tongue, GI hemorrhage^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, central nervous system (CNS) inhibition, CNS excitation, somnolence, dizziness
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Paresthesia
• Frequency not reported: Amnesia, migraine, taste perversion, convulsions, drowsiness, dysgeusia, optic neuritis^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Hypertension, palpitation, tachycardia, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, vasodilation, shock, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, heart failure exacerbated, atrial fibrillation, flushing, vasculitis^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hepatitis, transaminases increased, bilirubin elevated
• Frequency not reported: Hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, jaundice, liver function abnormal^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Renal failure/acute renal failure, interstitial nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, renal function tests abnormal, acute tubulopathy^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Depression, insomnia, nervousness
• Frequency not reported: Confusion, dysphoria, hallucination, libido disturbance, nightmares, personality disorder, tension, anxiety, mood altered^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus
• Frequency not reported: Purpura, alopecia, eczema, purpuric rash, sweating, urticaria, bullous rash, exfoliative dermatitis, photosensitivity, skin discoloration, onycholysis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, angioedema, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, bruising^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Visual disturbance
• Frequency not reported: Conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis sicca, eye pain, retinal hemorrhage, retinal pigmentation change^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract irritated
• Frequency not reported: Impotence, menometrorrhagia, hematuria, gynecomastia^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Anemia, hemorrhagic anemia
• Frequency not reported: Hypocoagulability, agranulocytosis, hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, bone marrow failure, bone marrow aplasia, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Asthma/asthma attack
• Frequency not reported: Dyspnea, hemoptysis, epistaxis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, bronchospasm, laryngeal edema^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Appetite increased, hyponatremia, diabetes mellitus aggravated, hyperkalemia^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Myalgia^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Anaphylaxis
• Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Rectal bleeding, rectal pain, rectal burning, rectal pruritus, rectal tenesmus^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Malaise, tinnitus, edema, BUN increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fatigue
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Weight gain
• Frequency not reported: Infection, pain, facial edema, chills, weight loss, thirst, vertigo, hearing impaired, septicemia, aseptic meningitis^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Ketoprofen side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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