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.