Common uses

This medicie is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: headache, muscular aches, toothache, minor pain of arthritis, backache, the common cold, menstrual cramps. Temporarily reduces fever.

Before using

Physicians may wish to discuss with their patients, the potential risks and likely benefits of NSAID treatment, particularly when the drugs are used for less serious conditions where treatment without NSAIDs may represent an acceptable alternative to both the patient and physician.

Laboratory Tests: Because serious GI tract ulceration and bleeding can occur without warning symptoms, physicians should follow chronically treated patients for the signs and symptoms of ulceration and bleeding and should inform them of the importance of this follow-up.

Directions

Do not take more than directed. Adults and children 12 years and older:

take 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours while symptoms persist
if pain or fever does not respond to 1 tablet, 2 tablets may be used
do not exceed 6 tablets in 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor
the smallest effective dose should be used
Children under 12 years: ask a doctor.

If you have questions of a medical nature, please contact your pharmacist, doctor, or health care professional.

Ask a doctor before use if you have:

stomach pain
problems or serious side effects from taking pain relievers or fever reducers
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are:

under a doctor's care for any serious condition
taking any other drug
taking any other product that contains ibuprofen, or any other pain reliever/fever reducer
When using this product take with food or milk if stomach upset occurs.

Drug Interactions

Coumarin-type anticoagulants: Several short-term controlled studies failed to show that ibuprofen significantly affected prothrombin times or a variety of other clotting factors when administered to individuals on cournarin-type anticoagulants. However, because bleeding has been reported when IBU® (Ibuprofen Tablets, USP) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents have been administered to patients on coumarin-type anticoagulants, the physician should be cautious when administering IBU to patients on anticoagulants.

Cautions

Warnings:

Allergy alert: Ibuprofen may cause a severe allergic reaction which may include:

hives
asthma (wheezing)
facial swelling
shock
Alcohol warning: if you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask you doctor whether you should take ibuprofen or other pain relievers/fever reducers. Ibuprofen may cause stomach bleeding.

Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any other pain reliever/fever reducer.

Stop use and ask a doctor if:

an allergic reaction occurs. Seek medical help right away.
pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days
fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days
stomach pain or upset gets worse or lasts
redness or swelling is present in the painful area
any new symptoms appear
If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. It is especially important not to use ibuprofen during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless definitely directed to do so by a doctor because it may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Possible side effects

lbuprofen, like other drugs of its class, is not free of side effects. The side effects of these drugs can cause discomfort and, rarely, there are more serious side effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, which may result in hospitalization and even fatal outcomes.

NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) are often essential agents in the management of arthritis and have a major role in the treatment of pain, but they also may be commonly employed for conditions which are less serious.