Cautions
Patients who take aspirin to prevent stroke or heart attack are advised to avoid ibuprofen. The efficacy of aspirin may be compromised if it is taken with ibuprofen. If both medications must be taken, you should take the ibuprofen at least 8 hours before or 30 minutes after you take the aspirin
Do not use ibuprofen with other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist.
Many over the counter drugs contain aspirin or other medicines that are similar to ibuprofen (such as ketoprofen or naproxen). If you take certain products that contain same active ingredients you will wind up taking more than the recommended dose. I addition, this may increase the risk for side effects. Always read the label of the medicines that you are taking to find out if it has aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.
Do not drink alcohol while taking ibuprofen. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach bleeding caused by the drug.
Drug interactions
Ibuprofen may interact with certain drugs. One of these drugs is lithium, taking ibuprofen may increase your blood lithium level which can put you at risk for lithium toxicity.
Ibuprofen may affect the blood pressure-lowering effects of drugs anti hypertensives. This may happen because prostaglandins play a part in blood pressure regulation. If you are taking blood thinners or anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin) you should avoid ibuprofen because it also thins the blood, excessive blood thinning may result in bleeding.
Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant. Taking ibuprofen with certain antidepressants may cause you to bleed easily.
Side effects
Ibuprofen side effects may include:
You should seek emergency medical help if you develop signs of an allergic reaction such as hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking ibuprofen and contact your health care provider immediately if you notice any of these serious side effects:
• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.
• If you have asthma, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have had an ulcer or bleeding from your stomach or intestines, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful. Avoid injury. Use soft toothbrush, electric razor.
• Do not take colestipol or cholestyramine within 2 hours of this medicine.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• If you are taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack, talk with healthcare provider.
• Talk with healthcare provider before using other: aspirin, aspirin-containing products, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, ibuprofen or like products, pain medicines, or vitamin E.
• If you have PKU, talk with healthcare provider. Some products do contain phenylalanine.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
• Belly pain.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Diarrhea.
• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Change in strength on one side greater than the other, difficulty speaking or thinking, change in balance, or blurred vision.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe belly pain.
• Severe swelling or pain of hands or feet.
• Significant weight gain.
• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.
• Black, tarry, or bloody stools.
• Blood in the urine.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID), Oral; Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID), Parenteral
• This medicine may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. This has been observed with long-term use or at critical times (right after heart surgery). Use caution if you have risk factors for heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, diabetes, cigarette smoking, male older than 40 years of age, other family members with early heart disease, postmenopausal female).
• Do not use this medicine right before or after heart bypass surgery.
• This medicine may increase the risk of ulcer or bleeding from the stomach or intestines. Talk with healthcare provider.
• This medicine does not mix well with some medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• Please read the medication guide.
• If you have an allergy to ibuprofen, aspirin, NSAIDS, or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you are more than 24 weeks pregnant.
• Ibuprofen blocks production and release of chemicals that cause pain and inflammation.
• It reduces fever by adjusting the body's thermostat in the brain.
• It works to decrease uterine contractions.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Many times this medicine is taken on an as needed basis.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect caplets, drops, and tablets from light.
• Protect caplets and tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• The injection will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.
• Take this medicine with food to prevent stomach upset.
• Chewable tablet: Chew or crush well. Mix crushed tablet with food. Do not swallow whole.
• A liquid (drops, suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Shake suspension well before use.
• Those who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.
Injection:
• This medicine is given as a shot into a vein over a period of time.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Created: 2006-10-13 13:09:49.0
Modified: 2010-03-22 14:16:50.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• This medicine is used to relieve pain, inflammation, and fever.
• This medicine is used to relieve painful menstrual cycles.
• This medicine is used to treat arthritis.
• This medicine is used to treat gout attacks.
• This medicine is used to treat migraine headaches.
• This medicine is used to stop early labor.
Ibuprofen is typically used for treating mild to moderate pain, fever and inflammation. Like most NSAID's it blocks the enzyme that makes prostaglandins, thereby relieving pain and inflammation.
It is available in tablets of 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg; chewable tablets of 50 and 100 mg; Capsules of 200 mg; Suspension of 100 mg/2.5 ml and 100 mg/5 ml; Oral drops of 40 mg/ml.
(eye byoo PROE fen)
Addaprin [OTC]; Advil® Children's [OTC]; Advil® Infants' [OTC]; Advil® Migraine [OTC]; Advil® [OTC]; Caldolor™; Genpril® [OTC] [DSC]; I-Prin [OTC]; Ibu-200 [OTC]; Ibu®; Midol® Cramp and Body Aches [OTC]; Motrin® Children's [OTC]; Motrin® IB [OTC]; Motrin® Infants' [OTC]; Motrin® Junior [OTC]; NeoProfen®; Proprinal [OTC]; Ultraprin [OTC]
