Ibuprofen relieves pain, brings down fever and reduces swelling. It works differently from paracetamol, and it must never be used when dengue is suspected.
- Generic name
- Ibuprofen
- Active ingredient
- Ibuprofen
- Common brands in India
- Brufen, Ibugesic, Combiflam (with paracetamol), Advil
- Available as
- Tablet, Suspension, Topical gel
- Common strengths
- 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg, 100 mg/5 mL suspension
- How it is sold
- Commonly available without a prescription
No dosage information on this page
The correct dose depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other medicines and medical history. Follow the dose your doctor prescribed, or the instructions on the pack. Never copy a dose from a website or from someone else's prescription.
What Ibuprofen is used for
- Pain with swelling — sprains, muscle injury, joint pain
- Period pain, where it often works better than paracetamol
- Dental pain and pain after minor procedures
- Fever, when paracetamol alone is not enough and a doctor advises it
- Arthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions, under medical supervision
How it works
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, usually shortened to NSAID. It blocks an enzyme the body uses to make prostaglandins — the chemicals that produce pain, swelling and fever. Because it reduces swelling as well as pain, it suits injuries and inflammatory pain better than paracetamol does.
How to take Ibuprofen
- Take it with food or just after a meal, and with a full glass of water. On an empty stomach it is much more likely to cause irritation.
- Use it for the shortest time that does the job. It is not a medicine to take daily for months without a doctor deciding that.
- Do not take it alongside another anti-inflammatory such as diclofenac, naproxen or aspirin for pain, unless a doctor has said so — the stomach risk adds up.
- The gel form is applied to the skin over the painful area and is a reasonable option for a local strain.
Precautions
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had a stomach ulcer, acidity that needs regular treatment, or any bleeding problem.
- Tell your doctor about kidney disease, heart failure, high blood pressure or liver disease — ibuprofen can worsen all of these.
- Some people with asthma become wheezy on NSAIDs. If your breathing worsens after taking it, stop and speak to a doctor.
- Avoid it in the last three months of pregnancy, and ask a doctor before using it at any stage of pregnancy.
- Drink normally while taking it. Being dehydrated on ibuprofen is what puts the kidneys at risk.
Common side effects
Not everyone gets side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these are troublesome or do not settle.
- Stomach discomfort, heartburn or acidity
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fluid retention or mild swelling in some people
Important warnings
- Do not take ibuprofen if dengue is suspected. In dengue the platelet count falls and the risk of bleeding rises, and NSAIDs make bleeding more likely. Any fever during a dengue season should be treated with paracetamol until a doctor says otherwise. The same applies to aspirin and other NSAIDs.
- Black or tarry stools, vomiting blood or material like coffee grounds, or severe stomach pain mean stomach bleeding. Stop the medicine and get medical help the same day.
- Long-term or high use raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney damage. This is a medicine for short courses unless a doctor is monitoring you.
- Do not use it to bring down a fever for days on end without knowing what is causing the fever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take ibuprofen for dengue fever?
No. Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory painkillers increase the risk of bleeding, and dengue already lowers the platelets that help blood clot. Paracetamol is the painkiller used in dengue. During a dengue season, treat any fever as possible dengue until a doctor tells you otherwise.
What is the difference between paracetamol and ibuprofen?
Paracetamol treats pain and fever but does little for swelling, and it is gentler on the stomach. Ibuprofen also reduces inflammation, which makes it better for sprains, injuries and period pain, but it carries stomach, kidney and heart risks that paracetamol does not.
Can I take ibuprofen and paracetamol together?
Doctors do sometimes use both, because they work in different ways. But combining painkillers is a decision for a doctor or pharmacist who knows your history — and many combination products already contain one of them, so it is easy to double up without realising.
What are the side effects of ibuprofen?
Stomach discomfort and heartburn are the common ones, along with nausea, dizziness and headache. The serious risks — stomach bleeding, kidney damage and heart problems — come mainly from taking it in large amounts or for a long time.
What this costs, and what is free
Commonly available free at government hospitals and health and wellness centres when prescribed there.
Generic versions are sold at Jan Aushadhi Kendras at substantially lower prices than branded packs of the same medicine.
The same molecule is sold under many brand names at very different prices. Ask your doctor to write the generic name, and compare at a Jan Aushadhi Kendra — the saving on a medicine taken daily is often substantial over a year. You can look up any medicine's official ceiling price on NPPA's Pharma Sahi Daam app.
Source: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
Prices and scheme rules change. Confirm current details with the hospital or Kendra before you rely on them.
Looking for Ibuprofen locally?Aswini Medicals is a pharmacy that stocks everyday medicines and can advise on availability.
Visit Aswini Medicals