Introduction Ibuprofen is a painkiller available over the counter without a prescription. It's one of a group of painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs and can be used to: ease mild to moderate pain — such as toothache , migraine and period pain control a fever high temperature — for example, when someone has the flu influenza ease pain and inflammation redness and swelling caused by conditions that affect the joints, bones and muscles — such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis ease pain and swelling caused by sprains and strains — such as sports injuries This topic covers: Types of ibuprofen Who can take ibuprofen How to take ibuprofen Interactions with medicines, food and alcohol Side effects of ibuprofen Overdoses of ibuprofen Types of ibuprofen You can buy most types of ibuprofen from supermarkets or pharmacies.
Ibuprofen is available in many forms, including: tablets capsules liquids gels or creams sprays In some products ibuprofen is combined with other ingredients. Who can take ibuprofen Some people should avoid using ibuprofen and others should use it with caution. You shouldn't take ibuprofen if you: have a history of a strong, unpleasant reaction hypersensitivity to aspirin or other NSAIDs have a current or recent stomach ulcer , or you have had one in the past have severe heart failure have severe liver disease are taking low-dose aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease You should use ibuprofen with caution if you're aged 65 or over, breastfeeding, or have: asthma kidney or liver problems lupus Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis previously had any bleeding in your stomach high blood pressure hypertension narrowing of the arteries peripheral arterial disease any problems with your heart, such as angina , heart attacks , or mild or moderate heart failure had a stroke Ibuprofen and pregnancy Ideally, pregnant women shouldn't take ibuprofen unless a doctor recommends it.
It's best to tell your GP, pharmacist or health visitor about any medicines you're taking. Ibuprofen and children Ibuprofen may be given to children aged 3 months or over who weigh at least 5kg 11lbs to relieve pain, inflammation or fever. How to take ibuprofen Make sure you take ibuprofen as directed on the label or leaflet, or as instructed by a health professional.
For example: adults — can usually take 1 or 2 tablets mg every 4 to 6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 1,mg 6 x mg tablets in the space of 24 hours children under 16 — may need to take a lower dose, depending on their age; check the packet or leaflet, or ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice The painkilling effect of ibuprofen begins soon after a dose is taken, but the anti-inflammatory effect can sometimes take up to 3 weeks to get the best results.
Ibuprofen shouldn't be used to treat conditions that are mainly related to inflammation. Don't take more than the recommended dose if it isn't relieving your symptoms. Interactions with medicines, food and alcohol Ibuprofen can react unpredictably with certain other medicines.
NSAIDs can also interact with many other medicines, including: some types of antidepressants — used to treat depression beta-blockers — used to treat high blood pressure hypertension diuretics — which reduce the amount of fluid in your body Read more about medicines that interact with NSAIDs. Side effects of ibuprofen Ibuprofen can cause a number of side effects. Common side effects of ibuprofen include: nausea or vomiting constipation or diarrhoea indigestion dyspepsia or abdominal pain Less common side effects include: headache or dizziness bloating fluid retention raised blood pressure inflammation of the stomach gastritis a stomach ulcer allergic reactions — such as a rash worsening of asthma symptoms by causing narrowing of the airways bronchospasm kidney failure black stools and blood in your vomit — this can indicate bleeding in your stomach If you feel unwell after taking ibuprofen or have concerns, speak to your GP or pharmacist, or phone the NHS 24 service.
High doses Taking high doses of ibuprofen over long periods of time can increase your risk of: stroke — when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed heart attacks — when the blood supply to the heart is blocked In women, long-term use of ibuprofen might be associated with reduced fertility.
If you are prescribed ibuprofen as a regular medicine and forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. Taking too much ibuprofen by mouth can be dangerous.
It can cause side effects such as:. Take the ibuprofen packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you. The amount of ibuprofen you put on your skin depends on the product you're using — check the package leaflet carefully for how much to use. Gently massage the ibuprofen into the painful area 3 or 4 times a day. Leave at least 4 hours between applications, and do not put it on more than 4 times in 24 hours.
Never use ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray on your eyes, mouth, lips, nose or genital area. Do not put it on sore or broken skin. Do not put plasters or dressings over skin you've applied ibuprofen to. Don't worry if you occasionally forget to use it, just carry on using it when you remember.
If you swallow ibuprofen gel or mousse by accident, you may get symptoms including:. If you get a headache, vomit or feel sleepy after accidentally swallowing ibuprofen gel, contact a doctor or straight away.
It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine. But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor. Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. If you take them together, ibuprofen plus aspirin or naproxen may increase the chance of you getting side effects like stomach ache. NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies — for example, cough and cold remedies.
Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. The common side effects of ibuprofen taken by mouth happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to ibuprofen. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.
You're less likely to have side effects when you apply ibuprofen to your skin than with tablets, capsules and syrup because less gets into your body. However, you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin. Applying ibuprofen to your skin can also cause your skin to become more sensitive than normal to sunlight.
These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen gel, mousse and spray. Ibuprofen isn't normally recommended in pregnancy — especially if you're 30 or more weeks — unless it's prescribed by a doctor. This is because there might be a link between taking ibuprofen in pregnancy and some birth defects, in particular damage to the baby's heart and blood vessels.
There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking ibuprofen.
It will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine. There may be other treatments that are safer for you. Ibuprofen is safe to take by mouth or use on your skin if you are breastfeeding. Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. Ibuprofen applied to the skin is less likely to interfere with other medicines than if it's taken by mouth.
For safety, tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking ibuprofen by mouth or using it on your skin:. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. It works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body. This medicine usually begins to work within one week, but in severe cases up to two weeks or even longer may pass before you begin to feel better.
Also, several weeks may pass before you feel the full effects of this medicine. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.
If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.
However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. It showed that only 2 out of 63 people who overdosed with ibuprofen experienced symptoms of kidney failure. In most cases, healthcare professionals can reverse kidney failure from ingestion of a large dosage of ibuprofen.
This can cause loss of consciousness and coma. Children may experience seizures and decreased consciousness from a massive overdose. Some children may even stop breathing. Emergency doctors can reverse the central nervous system toxicities that occur due to an ibuprofen overdose. Compared with NSAIDs such as diclofenac, mefenamic acid, and naproxen, ibuprofen overdoses have links with lower rates of central nervous system toxicities.
The most common complication from ibuprofen overdoses is metabolic acidosis, in which the body cannot eliminate acidic compounds from its blood and tissues.
The body breaks ibuprofen down into acidic compounds. When a person overdoses on it, the acidic compounds accumulate and can reduce the pH of the blood and body tissues. This makes the body more acidic. Ibuprofen overdose can cause sudden kidney failure and seizures, which can affect the production and elimination of acidic compounds. A blood test can reveal a low platelet count following an overdose. Prothrombin time, which is the time it takes for the blood to clot, will also rise.
It is vital for people to seek medical attention immediately if they believe they have ingested too much ibuprofen. In most cases, doctors can reverse the consequences of an ibuprofen overdose. The emergency doctor will take a complete history of how much ibuprofen the person took and at what time. It is also vital for the person to mention whether they took other substances with the ibuprofen.
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