Ibuprofen at a glance
Medicine class
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
What it does
Reduces pain, inflammation and high temperature.
Oral medicines
Swallow tablets or caplets with water, ideally with or after food.
Skin gel
Apply only to intact skin, avoid the eyes and mouth, and wash your hands afterwards unless treating them.
What is Ibuprofen used for?
Licensed uses depend on the formulation and product.
Oral tablets and caplets: pain, fever, inflammation and cold or flu symptoms.
Children’s oral suspension: mild-to-moderate pain, fever, post-immunisation fever and cold or flu symptoms.
Topical gel: local relief of pain and inflammation from backache, muscular or rheumatic pain, sprains, strains, neuralgia and non-serious arthritic conditions.
Adult intravenous formulation: acute moderate pain or fever in hospital when other routes cannot be used.
Pedea injection: a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in certain preterm newborns under specialist neonatal care.
How does Ibuprofen work?
Ibuprofen blocks cyclo-oxygenase enzymes and reduces prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins contribute to pain, swelling and fever. In premature newborns they also help keep the ductus arteriosus open, so reducing them can promote closure.
Ibuprofen preparations and strengths
Gel
Route: Cutaneous
Strengths: 5%, 5% w/w, 10%, 10% w/w
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 200 mg, 400 mg
How to take Ibuprofen
Follow the instructions for the exact formulation because ibuprofen products are not interchangeable.
Swallow standard tablets or caplets whole with water, ideally with or after food.
Shake oral suspension well and measure it with the supplied oral syringe or medicine spoon, not a kitchen teaspoon.
Rub gel gently into intact skin. Keep it away from eyes, mouth and mucous membranes, and wash your hands afterwards unless treating them.
Intravenous ibuprofen and Pedea are prepared and administered by healthcare professionals.
Ibuprofen side effects
Common or expected effects
- Indigestion or stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache or dizziness
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Skin rash
Get urgent medical advice
- Allergic reaction with wheeze, breathing difficulty or facial, tongue or throat swelling
- Stomach or intestinal ulceration or bleeding
- Severe blistering, peeling or widespread skin reaction
- Acute kidney injury
- Severe asthma or bronchospasm
- Unexplained bruising, bleeding, marked tiredness, fever or mouth ulcers
Ibuprofen in pregnancy
Avoid ibuprofen during pregnancy unless a doctor or pharmacist specifically recommends it. Systemic ibuprofen should generally be avoided from 20 weeks because prolonged exposure may affect fetal kidney function, amniotic fluid and the ductus arteriosus; it is contraindicated after 28 weeks. Product advice differs for topical formulations: Ibuleve Maximum Strength Gel states that it must not be used during pregnancy.
Ibuprofen while breastfeeding
Ibuprofen is generally the preferred NSAID during breastfeeding because only negligible amounts enter milk and accumulation in the infant is unlikely. Topical exposure is also expected to be low, but prevent the baby touching treated skin. Check the exact product: Ibuleve Maximum Strength Gel states not to use it during lactation.
Ibuprofen interactions
Check with a pharmacist or prescriber before combining ibuprofen with these medicines or classes.
Other NSAIDs, including naproxen and COX-2 inhibitors
Increases gastrointestinal and other adverse effects.
Aspirin
Adverse effects may increase, and regular ibuprofen may reduce the antiplatelet effect of low-dose aspirin.
Warfarin and other anticoagulants
May increase anticoagulant effects and bleeding risk.
Corticosteroids, SSRIs and antiplatelet medicines
Common questions about Ibuprofen
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Can I take paracetamol with ibuprofen?
Adults can generally use them together if both are suitable, but check combination cold and pain products to avoid duplicate ingredients.
Why can ibuprofen be a problem for someone with asthma?
It can trigger bronchospasm or worsen asthma in susceptible people, particularly those who previously reacted to aspirin or another NSAID.
Can ibuprofen affect the kidneys?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.