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Ibuprofen: Side Effects, Uses, Interaction and Precautions

Posted on the 01 February 2021 by Vishal Kaushik @HR_Gabru

GENERIC NAME- Ibuprofen
BRAND NAME(S)- Advil, Junior Strength Advil

What is Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is a medicine belongs to class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Advil (Ibuprofen) is used to reduce fever, treat pain and inflammation.

Advil Side Effects:

Some of the common side effects of ibuprofen may include -

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these serious health side effects -

  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Hearing changes such as ringing in the ears
  • Mental or mood changes
  • Unexplained stiff neck
  • Signs of kidney problems like change in the amount of urine
  • Vision changes
  • Symptoms of heart failure such as unusual tiredness, swelling in ankles or feet or sudden weight gain

Get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the symptoms of liver damage such as -

  • Dark urine
  • Persistent nausea/vomiting/loss of appetite
  • Stomach/abdominal pain
  • Yellowing eyes or skin (jaundice)

Interactions:

Taking Ibuprofen tablet with some other medicines may change its effectiveness or may lead to the risk of serious side effects. Do not start or stop taking any medicine immediately or don not change the dosage of any medicine without the approval of your doctor or health care provider. Take all medicines under the supervision or guidance of your doctor.

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Some drugs that may interact with Advil medicine include -

  • Aliskiren
  • ACE inhibitors including captopril, lisinopril
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers including losartan, valsartan
  • Cidofovir
  • A blood thinner such as warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven
  • Corticosteroids such as prednisone
  • Lithium
  • Steroid medicines such as prednisone
  • Water pills or diuretics such as furosemide

Precautions:

Before taking Ibuprofen medicine, tell your doctor or health care provider if you are allergic to it or if you have a history of any other allergies.

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Before taking Ibuprofen capsule or medicine, tell your doctor about the medical history, especially of -

  • Asthma
  • Liver disease
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Stroke or blood clot
  • Heart attack
  • Stomach ulcers or bleeding
  • Blood disorders including anemia, bleeding or clotting

IMPORTANT NOTE: Avoid consuming alcohol. It may increase the risk of stomach bleeding.

Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding:

It is recommended not to take Ibuprofen medicine, if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

A study held on pregnant women states that those women who took any type or amount of NSAIDs (such as Ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac) had 2.4 times more risk of having miscarriage than those who did not took the medicines. However, an another research held in Israel states that no increased risk of miscarriage has been seen in the group of mothers using these medicines.

Here it is advisable to take Advil medication under the supervision of your doctor.

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Ibuprofen medicine may pass into breast-milk and can cause harm infant in many ways. Ask your doctor or health care provider if you're breast-feeding.

Ibuprofen: Side Effects, Uses, Interaction and Precautions

Missed Dose:

Advil is usually taken when needed, so you don't need to schedule a dose. Skip the missed dose if it is almost the time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Overdose:

Common Ibuprofen overdose symptoms may include -

  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Ear ringing and nystagmus

Rarely, but more severe symptoms include -

  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Seizures
  • Metabolic acidosis
  • High blood levels of potassium
  • Low blood pressure
  • Slow heart rate
  • Fast heart rate
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Coma
  • Liver dysfunction
  • Acute kidney failure
  • Cyanosis
  • Respiratory depression
  • Cardiac arrest

See your doctor immediately if you have taken an overdose of Ibuprofen medication.

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Aleve Vs Advil:

Aleve and Advil are two of the most popular and well known medicines used to treat joint pain, muscle aches and inflammation. Both of the medications are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and both are readily available.

One of the best difference between Aleve and Advil is that Advil short-acting. Advil is better suited to treat acute pain. Whereas, Aleve is a long-acting medicine and is used to treat chronic conditions.

Aspirin Vs Ibuprofen:

Aspirin and ibuprofen both medicines contain different active ingredients. Aspirin is composed with salicylic acid. Whereas, Ibuprofen is made with propionic acid. However, both of the medicines can be used to cure pain caused by inflammation or headaches, fevers, injury, arthritis and menstrual cramps.

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Motrin Vs Advil:

There is no real difference between Motrin and Advil medications. Both are the brands of ibuprofen and both are equally effective.

Advil is a medication used to treat fever, pain and inflammation. It belongs to a group of medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Ibuprofen medicine is used to reduce fever, relieve pain, aches and headaches, arthritis, toothaches, menstrual periods, the common cold and backaches.

Yes. You can say that Ibuprofen is a fever reducer because it helps to reduce fever symptoms and is very effective in fever.

The brand names of Ibuprofen include Advil, Pediatric Advil, Advil/Motrin, Advil Migraine, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, PediaCareChildren's Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer, PediaCare Infant's Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer, Caldolor, Duexis, IBU-Tab and Neoprofen (ibuprofen lysine).

Yes. Advil and Ibuprofen are same.

Ibuprofen is a painkiller which is used to treat aches and pain such as toothache, muscle pain, back pain or menstrual pain.

Yes. Motrin and Ibuprofen are same. But, the brand names are different.

Yes. The brand names are differ.

  1. The use of ibuprofen to treat fever in COVID-19: A possible indirect association with worse outcome?; Author: Brenda D. Jamerson and T. Ho Haryadi; PMCID: PMC7247463. PMID: 32505846. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109880.
  2. Naproxen (Aleve) vs. Ibuprofen (Advil): Which Is Better?; Goodrx.com; By: Sharon Orrange, MD, MPH.
  3. Aspirin vs. ibuprofen: The key differences and which one you should take; By: Ashley Laderer.

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