Medicines That Can Cause Abdominal Pain

Topic Overview

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause belly pain or cramping. A few examples are:

• Aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), and naproxen (such as Aleve).
• Antibiotics.
• Antidiarrheals.
• Laxatives.
• Iron supplements.

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.