Ibuprofen: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

Uses

What is ibuprofen used for?

Ibuprofen is commonly used to reduce fever and to treat pain and inflammation caused by several conditions, including arthritis, menstrual cramps, headache, muscle pain, back pain, and tooth pain. Ibuprofen injection may also be used with an opioid pain medicine, like hydrocodone or morphine, to treat severe pain.

Ibuprofen may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does ibuprofen work (mechanism of action)?

Ibuprofen works by blocking certain substances in the body that cause pain, inflammation, and fever.

How is ibuprofen supplied (dosage forms)?

Ibuprofen is available in the following dosage forms that are taken by mouth.

100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg, 800 mg oral tablets
200 mg oral capsules
50 mg, 100 mg chewable tablets
50 mg/1.25mL, 100 mg/5mL oral suspension

How should I store ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of ibuprofen?

The most common side effects of ibuprofen are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

Stomach pain
Constipation or diarrhea
Gas or heartburn
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Headache
Rash
Bleeding (see below)
Injection site pain (injection)
Anemia (injection use in children)

There may be other side effects of ibuprofen that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of ibuprofen?

While less common, the most serious side effects of ibuprofen are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Heart Attack and Stroke. Ibuprofen can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This risk is increased in people with existing heart disease and with longer use of ibuprofen and higher doses. Do not take ibuprofen if you have had a recent heart attack without talking to your healthcare provider. This could increase your risk of having another heart attack. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.

Chest pain or pressure
Fast or abnormal heartbeat
Trouble breathing
Pain in your back, jaw, throat, or arm
Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness
Sudden weakness on one side of your body
Sudden and severe headache
Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech

Bleeding. Ibuprofen can increase your risk of bleeding, especially if you have a bleeding disorder or take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice signs of bleeding including easy bruising or bleeding.

Stomach Bleeding. Ibuprofen can increase your risk of bleeding, ulcers, and tears (perforation) in your gut. The risk is higher if you have a history of stomach ulcers, bleeding problems, take higher doses of ibuprofen or take it for longer than directed, have poor health, are age 60 or older, have liver disease, smoke, drink alcohol, or take certain other medicines. Stop taking ibuprofen and get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

Vomit blood
Black or tarry poop
Stomach pain that does not go away
Upset stomach
Feel faint

Anemia. Ibuprofen may cause anemia, which is a condition that causes low levels of red blood cells. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of anemia.

Unusual weakness or tiredness
Cold hands and feet
Fast or abnormal heartbeat
Pale or yellowish skin
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
Shortness of breath

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking ibuprofen. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

Nausea or vomiting
Stomach or belly pain
Fever
Weakness or unusual tiredness
Itching
Loss of appetite
Light colored poop
Dark colored urine
Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Increased Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Ibuprofen may increase your blood pressure or make it worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. Call your healthcare provider if your blood pressure increases while taking this medicine.

If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 mm Hg or higher, get medical attention right away. An increase in blood pressure may not be noticeable but look out for any of the following symptoms of severely high blood pressure.

Sudden severe headache
Chest pain
Dizziness or confusion
Trouble breathing
Nausea/vomiting
Blurry or other changes to vision
Anxiety
Buzzing in the ears
Nosebleed
Feeling of skipped heart beats

Heart Failure. Ibuprofen may increase your risk for heart failure. Stop taking ibuprofen and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of heart failure.

Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially while lying down
Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
Unusually fast weight gain
Unusual tiredness

Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when using Ibuprofen. Stop taking ibuprofen and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.

Reduced need to pee
Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs (edema)
Weakness or unusual tiredness
Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
Confusion
Nausea
Seizures

Severe Allergic Reactions. Ibuprofen can cause allergic reactions, including a specific type of allergic reaction called DRESS. DRESS stands for Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms. It is also sometimes called multiorgan hypersensitivity. This is a reaction that can affect multiple parts of the body, including your liver, kidneys, and heart. Stop taking the medicine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

Breathing problems or wheezing
Racing heart
Fever or general ill feeling
Swollen lymph nodes
Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
Stomach cramps
Joint pain
Dark colored urine
Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Severe Skin Reactions. Ibuprofen can cause severe skin reactions called exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) that can lead to death if not treated. If you develop a rash, stop ibuprofen and call your healthcare provider right away. Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a severe skin reaction.

Painful red or purple skin that looks burned and peels off
Flat red rash or blisters on your skin, mouth, nose, and genitals
Red, painful, watery eyes
Fever or general ill feeling
Areas of thickened skin
Sores that are crusted over

Eye Problems. Ibuprofen can sometimes affect your vision. Stop taking ibuprofen and talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms.

Blurred or decreased vision
Blind spot
Change in the way you see colors

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use ibuprofen?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use ibuprofen products.

Ibuprofen
Advil
Caldolor
Motrin
Aspirin or any other medicine known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific ibuprofen products they stock.

Heart Surgery. Do not take ibuprofen right before or after a heart surgery called coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Taking ibuprofen during this time can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

What should I know about ibuprofen before using it?

If ibuprofen was prescribed to you by a healthcare provider, take it as prescribed. If you take over-the-counter ibuprofen, do not take it for more than 10 days without talking with your healthcare provider.

Do not share ibuprofen that was prescribed for you by a healthcare provider with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep ibuprofen out of the reach of children.

You may take ibuprofen with food or milk if stomach upset occurs.

Use an accurate measuring device to measure your ibuprofen oral liquid dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device.

People aged 60 years and older can be at greater risk for some side effects of ibuprofen. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using ibuprofen?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if ibuprofen is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

Heart problems such as heart failure, or recent heart attack
Bleeding problems
Kidney or liver problems
Fluid retention (edema)
Stomach ulcers, bleeding, or other stomach problems like heartburn
High blood pressure
Asthma
Stroke
A type of lupus called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Anemia

Other Medicines and Supplements. Ibuprofen may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using Ibuprofen, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section below for more details.

Pregnancy. Do not take ibuprofen at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy without talking to your healthcare provider. Taking ibuprofen during this time may cause harm to an unborn baby and complications during delivery. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should use ibuprofen while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Ibuprofen passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take ibuprofen while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does ibuprofen interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between ibuprofen and foods or drinks.

Drinking alcohol while taking ibuprofen increases your risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Does ibuprofen interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking ibuprofen.

Any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen and others, which are present in many prescription and OTC products for pain, swelling, and fever
Methotrexate (Trexall and others)
A corticosteroid, which is a medicine for certain inflammatory conditions
Aspirin
A blood thinner, which is a medicine used to treat or prevent blood clots
An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and certain kidney problems
An angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which is a medicine for high blood pressure, heart failure, and other heart conditions
A beta-blocker, which is a medicine usually used to reduce blood pressure and for certain other heart conditions
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which are medicines commonly used for anxiety and depression
Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), which is a medicine to suppress your immune system
A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
Lithium, which is a medicine for certain mental health conditions
Pemetrexed (Alimta, Pemfexy), which is a medicine to treat certain cancers
Digoxin, which is a medicine used to treat heart failure or certain abnormal heart rhythms

Does Ibuprofen interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much ibuprofen?

If you or someone else has taken too much ibuprofen, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of ibuprofen?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.