· Lee Chee Cheow, M.Sc. Dip CMP · Digestive Health · 4 min read
Which Medications Can Cause Indigestion? A Practical Guide
If indigestion started around the same time as a new medication, that might not be a coincidence. Here's how six common medication categories can trigger digestive discomfort, and what the symptom pattern tends to look like for each.
Not all indigestion is about diet or stress. A number of common, everyday medications can trigger or worsen indigestion through their own distinct mechanisms — and recognising the pattern can save a lot of unnecessary guesswork about what is actually causing the discomfort.
The main medication categories linked to indigestion
| Medication | How it triggers indigestion | Typical symptom |
|---|---|---|
| NSAIDs (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen) | Deplete protective prostaglandins and can cause gastric hypermotility | Burning epigastric pain, nausea, and an “acidic” quality to the discomfort |
| Antibiotics | Shift the gut microbiome and affect motility | Nausea, cramping, and bloating |
| Oestrogen-containing medication | Slows gastric emptying and increases sensitivity | Early satiety (feeling full quickly) and sensitivity to gas |
| Iron supplements | Direct chemical irritation and oxidation in the stomach lining | A “heavy” epigastric ache and a metallic taste |
| Steroids | Reduce protective mucus and barrier function in the stomach lining | Burning sensation, often worse when combined with NSAIDs |
| Thyroid medication | Excessive dosing increases gastric acid secretion and speeds up motility; inadequate dosing slows gastric emptying | Fullness and bloating (under-dosed); reflux or loose stools (over-dosed) |
Why NSAIDs are a particularly important category
NSAIDs — non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen — deserve particular attention because regular or high-dose use is one of the two major recognised risk factors for peptic ulcers, alongside H. pylori infection. The mechanism is prostaglandin depletion, which reduces the stomach lining’s natural protection against its own acid, and can also increase gastric hypermotility. This combination is why NSAID use is so consistently linked with burning epigastric pain and acid-related indigestion symptoms — and why combining NSAIDs with steroids, in particular, tends to worsen the burning sensation further, since both categories independently reduce the stomach’s protective barrier.
Why thyroid medication is easy to miss
Thyroid medication is a less obvious cause because its effect runs in two opposite directions depending on dosing. Too much thyroid hormone increases gastric acid secretion and speeds up gut motility; too little slows gastric emptying down. This is a useful example of why the same underlying medication can produce quite different symptom patterns in different people — fullness and bloating on one side, reflux or loose stools on the other — depending on where their dose actually sits relative to what their body needs.
What to do if you suspect a medication is the cause
If indigestion began or worsened around the time a new medication started, that timing is a genuinely useful clue — but it is not a reason to stop or adjust the medication independently. Several of the medications listed above (NSAIDs for chronic pain conditions, thyroid medication, oestrogen-containing treatments) are prescribed for reasons that matter, and stopping abruptly can carry its own risks.
The sensible path is to raise the pattern with the prescribing doctor or a pharmacist: describe when the symptoms started relative to the medication, and let them assess whether a dose adjustment, a different formulation, or an added protective medication (such as an antacid or acid suppressant, where appropriate) makes sense.
Frequently asked questions
Can over-the-counter painkillers really cause indigestion? Yes. NSAIDs, including common over-the-counter options like aspirin and ibuprofen, are one of the two major risk factors for peptic ulcers and a well-recognised cause of burning, acid-related indigestion, particularly with regular or high-dose use.
Should I stop taking a medication if I think it’s causing indigestion? Not without talking to the prescribing doctor or a pharmacist first. Many of these medications are prescribed for important underlying conditions, and stopping abruptly can carry its own risks. Raise the timing and symptom pattern with them instead.
Why does the same medication affect people differently? Dosing, individual sensitivity, and — in the case of medications like thyroid hormone — whether the dose is too high or too low relative to what the body needs can all shape which symptoms show up and how severe they are.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. If you suspect a medication is causing your indigestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist before making any changes.