If you swallow ibuprofen gel or mousse by accident, you may get symptoms including:. If you get a headache, vomit or feel sleepy after accidentally swallowing ibuprofen gel, contact a doctor or straight away. It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine.
But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor. Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. If you take them together, ibuprofen plus aspirin or naproxen may increase the chance of you getting side effects like stomach ache.
NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies — for example, cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. The common side effects of ibuprofen taken by mouth happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to ibuprofen.
You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. You're less likely to have side effects when you apply ibuprofen to your skin than with tablets, capsules and syrup because less gets into your body.
However, you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin. Applying ibuprofen to your skin can also cause your skin to become more sensitive than normal to sunlight. These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen gel, mousse and spray.
Ibuprofen isn't normally recommended in pregnancy — especially if you're 30 or more weeks — unless it's prescribed by a doctor. This is because there might be a link between taking ibuprofen in pregnancy and some birth defects, in particular damage to the baby's heart and blood vessels. There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking ibuprofen. It will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine.
There may be other treatments that are safer for you. Ibuprofen is safe to take by mouth or use on your skin if you are breastfeeding. Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. Ibuprofen applied to the skin is less likely to interfere with other medicines than if it's taken by mouth.
For safety, tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking ibuprofen by mouth or using it on your skin:. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. It works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body. When you apply ibuprofen to your skin, it works in the same way as when you take it by mouth, but it only works in the area you've applied it to.
You should start to feel better 20 to 30 minutes after taking ibuprofen by mouth. For some types of long-term pain, you'll need to take ibuprofen regularly for up to 3 weeks for it to work properly. If you're applying ibuprofen to your skin, it should start to work within 1 to 2 days. Ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin are all effective painkillers. Ibuprofen is good for period pain and migraines. It can also be used for back pain , strains and sprains, as well as pain from arthritis.
Paracetamol is typically used for mild or moderate pain. It may be better than ibuprofen for headaches , toothache , sprains , stomach ache , and nerve pain like sciatica. Aspirin works in a similar way to ibuprofen.
Like ibuprofen, it's good for period pain and migraines. If you have heavy periods, it can make them heavier. It won't do you any harm to use ibuprofen gel at the same time as taking ibuprofen tablets. But if you're already taking ibuprofen tablets regularly, you won't get any extra benefit from also using the gel. Every medication can present a problem or two. Ibuprofen and naproxen can both cause an upset stomach, kidney damage, high blood pressure and inflammation or bleeding in the stomach.
Sutton says. Always check the labels for a list of all potential side effects. And be wary of signs of allergic reactions to a drug — which you may not find on a warning label. If you experience any of these signs after taking acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen, you should get medical help right away :.
Acetaminophen is the safest of the three drugs. But in rare cases, especially in people who drink alcohol routinely , too much acetaminophen can lead to liver damage. Acetaminophen is often an ingredient in many common over-the-counter medications for allergies, cold , cough and sleep. Certain conditions can lead to other side effects, too.
For children, there is no such blanket recommendation. The correct amount of medicine depends on the age and weight of your child. This information is not provided on adult bottles. In the correct doses — and at the right ages — acetaminophen and ibuprofen are safe for kids.
However, naproxen is not recommended for children younger than 12 years old. Make sure to check the labels, product websites or dosage charts as your child grows. Or download these dosage charts developed by The Iowa Clinic to have handy for future reference. Do not give acetaminophen to infants under 12 weeks of age. Once your baby is three months old, consult this chart to find the right dosage. This is life threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
People should not use ibuprofen at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later, as it could lead to low levels of amniotic fluid. A person should seek guidance from a healthcare professional before using any medication during pregnancy or when nursing. Experts do not generally consider ibuprofen to be a medication that will lead to substance use disorder , although at least one case study suggests this is possible.
The body does not build up a tolerance to it, so a person will not need larger doses for the same effect. Also, there are no withdrawal symptoms when a person stops using it. Some drugs contain both ibuprofen and opioids, such as hydrocodone or oxycodone.
Overuse of these medications can lead to substance use disorder. Sometimes, one medication can interfere with the effects of another. Specialists refer to this as drug interaction. Drugs that may interact with ibuprofen include :.
This may not be an exhaustive list of drugs that interact with ibuprofen. Anyone who is considering using ibuprofen should ask a pharmacist or doctor whether it is safe to do so with their existing medication. Ibuprofen is widely available in tablet and syrup forms. Doctors may also give it intravenously to manage pain after surgery. It is essential to take the correct dosage to minimize the risk of side effects. It is best to take it with food or a drink of milk to reduce the risk of an upset stomach.
For mild to moderate pain, a person can take milligrams mg every 4—6 hours. The maximum dose in 1 day is 3, mg. How to store ibuprofen Important information about all medicines. Ibuprofen for pain and inflammation Advil, Brufen, Calprofen, Nurofen In this article About ibuprofen Before taking ibuprofen How to take ibuprofen Getting the most from your treatment Can ibuprofen cause problems? Common ibuprofen side-effects What can I do if I experience this?
Indigestion, heartburn, stomach pain Remember to take your doses with food, or with a glass of milk. If the discomfort continues, speak with your doctor Feeling sick nausea or being sick vomiting , diarrhoea Stick to simple meals. Drink plenty of liquid to replace any lost fluids. If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist. Are you protected against flu? Further reading and references. Join the discussion on the forums.
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