💊 Ibuprofen (Ibuprofen)
Ibuprofen is an oral NSAID used to relieve the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, to relieve mild to moderate pain, and to treat primary dysmenorrhea. It should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration, and the dose is set by your doctor or pharmacist.
In Arabic: إيبوبروفين
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Ibuprofen Dye Free🏭 CVS PharmacyDailyMed
Care One Ibuprofen🏭 American Sales CompanyDailyMed
Concentrated Ibuprofen Infants🏭 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.DailyMed
Topcare Infants Ibuprofen🏭 Topco Associates LLCDailyMed
Equate Ibuprofen🏭 Wal-Mart Stores IncDailyMed
Childrens Ibuprofen🏭 Meijer Distribution IncDailyMed✅ What it is used for
- Relief of signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Relief of mild to moderate pain
- Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain)
🧪 Active ingredient
The active ingredient is ibuprofen, (±)-2-(p-isobutylphenyl)propionic acid. It has analgesic and antipyretic activity; its mode of action may be related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibition, though it is not completely understood.
🌿 Benefits
- Relieves pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Relieves mild to moderate pain
- Relieves primary menstrual pain
- In studies, comparable to aspirin for pain and inflammation control with a statistically significant reduction in milder gastrointestinal side effects
📝 How to use
- Taken by mouth; the dose and frequency are set by your doctor or pharmacist based on individual needs.
- If stomach upset occurs, take it with meals or milk.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals.
- Do not exceed the maximum total daily dose of 3200 mg stated in the label.
💊 Dosage forms
- Tablets 400 mg
- Tablets 600 mg
- Tablets 800 mg
⚠️ Common side effects
- Nausea
- Epigastric pain and heartburn
- Diarrhea, indigestion, constipation
- Abdominal cramps, bloating and flatulence
- Dizziness, headache, nervousness
- Rash and itching
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Decreased appetite
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal
- Bleeding, ulceration or perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can occur without warning symptoms
- Severe allergic (anaphylactoid) reactions (difficulty breathing, swelling of face or throat)
- Serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
- Liver problems (jaundice, severe fatigue, itching, nausea)
- Signs of heart failure (shortness of breath, unexplained weight gain, edema)
- Blood disorders (neutropenia, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia)
- Visual disturbances or hearing loss
⛔ Do not use if
- Known hypersensitivity to ibuprofen
- Patients who have had asthma, urticaria, or allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs
- In the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Boxed warning: NSAIDs increase the risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events (myocardial infarction and stroke), which may occur early in treatment and increase with duration of use.
- Boxed warning: NSAIDs increase the risk of serious GI bleeding, ulceration and perforation, which can occur at any time without warning symptoms; elderly patients are at greater risk.
- Stop immediately and contact a healthcare provider if any rash or fever develops.
- Should not be given to patients with aspirin-sensitive asthma and should be used with caution in patients with preexisting asthma.
- Be alert for symptoms of heart failure, edema and hepatotoxicity.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible.
🔄 Drug interactions
- ACE inhibitors: NSAIDs may diminish their antihypertensive effect.
- Aspirin: ibuprofen can interfere with the antiplatelet effect of low-dose aspirin; concomitant use is generally not recommended because of increased adverse effects.
- Diuretics (furosemide, thiazides): ibuprofen can reduce their natriuretic effect; observe for signs of renal failure.
- Lithium: ibuprofen elevated plasma lithium levels and reduced renal lithium clearance in a study of normal volunteers.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you take.
🤰 Pregnancy
In rat studies, drugs that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis increased dystocia, delayed parturition and decreased pup survival. The effects of ibuprofen on labor and delivery in pregnant women are unknown. Consult your doctor before use.
🍼 Breastfeeding
It is not known whether ibuprofen is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made with your doctor whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, considering the importance of the drug to the mother.
🧒 Children
Controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and effectiveness of ibuprofen tablets in children have not been conducted.
👴 Older adults
Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events such as bleeding, ulceration and perforation. Use under medical supervision.
🌡️ Storage
Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Avoid excessive heat above 40°C (104°F).
⏰ Missed dose
The label text does not address missed doses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, and do not double a dose without guidance.
🆘 Overdose
In acute overdose, seek emergency care immediately. Management may include emptying the stomach by vomiting or lavage (little drug is likely recovered if more than an hour has passed), alkali administration and induced diuresis, oral activated charcoal, and supportive measures. Reported cases in children included apnea, cyanosis and unresponsiveness; an adult reported dizziness and nystagmus.
💰 Price & brands in your area
Locally made brands: ISOFEN TAB.400 MG.، ALGOFEN TABLET (sodium ibuprofen 512 mg = 400 mg ibuprofen) (Birzeit Pharmaceuticals)
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Mechanism of action
NSAID with analgesic and antipyretic activity; mode of action may be related to prostaglandin synthetase inhibition (COX inhibitor) and is not completely understood.
Labeled dosing
Rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis: 1200–3200 mg daily (300 mg qid; 400, 600 or 800 mg tid or qid). Mild to moderate pain: 400 mg every 4–6 hours as necessary. Dysmenorrhea: 400 mg every 4 hours as necessary, beginning at earliest onset of pain. Do not exceed 3200 mg total daily dose. The dose is set and adjusted by the physician according to patient response.
- In analgesic trials, doses greater than 400 mg were no more effective than 400 mg.
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis generally require higher doses than those with osteoarthritis.
- In chronic conditions, response is sometimes seen in days to a week, most often by two weeks.
- Administer with meals or milk if GI complaints occur.
- May be used in combination with gold salts and/or corticosteroids.
🎓 Key points for students
- NSAID, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor class.
- Boxed warning for cardiovascular thrombotic and gastrointestinal risks.
- Contraindicated in CABG setting and in hypersensitivity or aspirin/NSAID-sensitive asthma/urticaria.
- Interacts with aspirin antiplatelet effect, reduces efficacy of ACE inhibitors and diuretics, and raises lithium levels.
- Overdose management is supportive with gastric emptying and activated charcoal to reduce absorption.
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What is ibuprofen used for?
It is used to relieve signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, to relieve mild to moderate pain, and to treat primary dysmenorrhea.
How should I take ibuprofen?
The dose is set by your doctor or pharmacist. Take it by mouth, with meals or milk if stomach upset occurs, at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.
What are the most common side effects?
Mostly gastrointestinal: nausea, upper abdominal pain, heartburn, diarrhea and indigestion, as well as dizziness, headache and rash.
When should I seek medical help immediately?
For chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness or slurred speech, black stools or vomiting blood, rash or fever, swelling of face or throat, or yellowing of the skin.
Can people with asthma take ibuprofen?
It should not be given to those who have had asthma or allergic reactions after aspirin or other NSAIDs, and should be used with caution in preexisting asthma. Consult your doctor.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2025-02), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-10.