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Generic Name: ibuprofen (eye byoo PROE fen)
Brand Names:
Advil, Ibu-Tab, Midol IB, Motrin, Nuprin, Pediacare Fever, Rufen |
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What is the most important information I should know about ibuprofen?
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Take ibuprofen with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach
upset. |
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Contact your doctor if you experience blood in vomit or bloody,
black, or tarry stools. These symptoms could indicate damage to the
stomach or intestines, which could be dangerous. |
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Many over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, and
pain medicines contain aspirin or other medicines similar to
ibuprofen (such as naproxen, ketoprofen, and others). Before taking any
prescription or over-the-counter medicine, talk to your doctor and
pharmacist. |
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Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation. If you drink more than
three alcoholic beverages a day, ibuprofen may increase the risk of
dangerous stomach bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking ibuprofen
if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day. |
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Ibuprofen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones
that cause inflammation and pain in the body. |
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Ibuprofen is used to reduce the fever, pain, inflammation, and
stiffness caused by many conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid
arthritis, and abdominal cramps associated with menstruation. |
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Ibuprofen may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
ibuprofen?
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Before taking ibuprofen, tell your doctor if you |
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have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs, |
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have an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach, |
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drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, |
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have liver or kidney disease, |
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have a coagulation (bleeding or blood clotting) disorder, |
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have congestive heart failure, |
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have high blood pressure. |
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You may not be able to take ibuprofen, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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During the first two trimesters of pregnancy ibuprofen is in the FDA
pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn
baby during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. However,
ibuprofen should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester)
because a similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart. Do not take
ibuprofen without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or
could become pregnant during treatment. |
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Ibuprofen passes into breast milk in very small amounts, however it
is not expected to be harmful to a nursing baby. Talk to your doctor
before taking ibuprofen if you are breast-feeding. |
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How should I take ibuprofen?
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Take ibuprofen exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. |
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Take ibuprofen with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach
upset. |
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Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose. To ensure that
you get the correct dose, measure the liquid form of ibuprofen with a
special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon. If
you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you
can get one. |
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Store ibuprofen at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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If you are taking ibuprofen on a regular schedule, take the missed
dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next
dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled
dose. Do not take a double dose. |
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If you are taking ibuprofen as needed, take the missed dose if it is
needed, then wait the recommended or prescribed amount of time before
taking another dose. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. |
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Symptoms of a ibuprofen overdose may include nausea, vomiting or
stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, ringing in the ears,
blurred vision, seizures, sweating, numbness or tingling, little or no
urine production, and slow breathing. |
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What should I avoid while taking ibuprofen?
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Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Ibuprofen may increase the
sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective
clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable. |
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Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation. If you drink more than
three alcoholic beverages a day, ibuprofen may increase the risk of
dangerous stomach bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking ibuprofen
if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day. |
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• |
Many over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, and pain medicines
contain aspirin or other medicines similar to ibuprofen (such as
naproxen, ketoprofen, and others). Before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicine, talk to your doctor and pharmacist. |
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What are the possible side effects of ibuprofen?
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Contact your doctor if you experience blood in vomit or bloody,
black, or tarry stools. These symptoms could indicate damage to the
stomach or intestines, which could be dangerous. |
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking ibuprofen and seek medical attention or contact your doctor
immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling; |
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ulcers (open sores) in the mouth; |
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rapid weight gain (fluid retention); |
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decreased hearing or ringing in the ears; |
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yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); or |
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abdominal cramping, indigestion, or heartburn. |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take ibuprofen and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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nausea, gaseousness, diarrhea, or constipation; |
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irregular menstrual periods. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect ibuprofen?
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Before taking ibuprofen, tell your doctor if you are taking any of
the following drugs: |
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aspirin or another salicylate (form of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid),
diflunisal (Dolobid), choline salicylate-magnesium salicylate (Trilisate,
Tricosal, others), and magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others); |
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another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as
diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon),
flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis,
Orudis KT), ketorolac (Toradol), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen),
naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, others), oxaprozin (Daypro),
piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin); |
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an over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or
pain medicine that contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ibuprofen, or
ketoprofen; |
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an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin); |
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a steroid such as prednisone (Deltasone); |
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insulin or an oral diabetes medicine such as glipizide (Glucotrol),
glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase), and others; |
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lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others); or |
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bismuth subsalicylate in drugs such as Pepto-Bismol. |
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You may not be able to take ibuprofen, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any
of the medicines listed above. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with ibuprofen.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal
products. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about ibuprofen written
for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2005 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 9.01. Revision date: 6/
6/ 05. |
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