In pain? High Fever? Will Ibuprofen Help You?

Pain comes in many forms. You have certainly experienced pain in your life. Although experiencing pain is a normal way of life, pain that lasts for a long time, or can cause dire consequences is never normal. When in pain it is always best to get a medical opinion. Pain is an indication in your nervous system to tell you that something may be wrong. It could be long-term pain or for a short period. One can feel pain with a sting of an insect, a burn, a prick, or even a sprain. Sometimes the pain is induced by an injury, sport, or inflammation somewhere. Pain can be sudden or can be constant too! No pain is normal, and it should be treated even if it cannot be completely cured. Broadly, we can say that pain is acute or chronic.

Pain associated with a sudden injury, disease, or disorder is called acute pain; whereas chronic pain is the one that troubles you over a long period. It can cause severe problems. If acute pain is not treated in time, it may become chronic. Consult the doctor as soon as you feel any type of pain in your body. The doctor decides the type of treatment based on the main cause of the pain. Treatment may consist of medicines, physiotherapy, acupuncture, or surgery, depending on the type of pain. Sometimes the doctor recommends a combination of both medicines and a non-drug approach. Ibuprofen is a widely used drug to treat pain and related symptoms.

What is Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is an analgesic and beneficial as an anti-inflammatory drug. Ibuprofen belongs to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen reduces the hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Ibuprofen has an excellent quality to reduce fever. It also treats varied pains caused due to inflammation. Ibuprofen has shown good results to lower pain associated with back pain, arthritis, headache, toothache, menstrual cramps, or minor injury.

How to take Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen needs to be used with caution. Use it as per the directions of a doctor. The tablet form is taken orally (by mouth) For oral dosage form (tablets and suspension) The usual dose is three or four times a day for arthritis or every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain.

For fever:

For infants (younger than 6 months of age), the dose and use of Ibuprofen are decided by the doctor.

For children, over two years of age, the dose and usage are decided by the doctor depending on the need.

For children of age six months to 2 years, the dose is decided by the doctor based on the body weight and temperature of the child.

For fever lower than 102.5 °F (39.2 °C), the dose usually is 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight.

For higher fever, the dose usually is about 10 milligrams (mg) per kg. The dose is up to 40 mg per kg per day, given every six to eight hours.

For menstrual cramps:

In adults, the dose usually is every four hours, 400 milligrams (mg).

In children, the doctor decides the dose.

For mild to moderate pain:

In adults and teenagers, the dose is usually every four to six hours, 400 milligrams (mg).

In children, over 6 months of age, the doctor decides the dose based on the body weight of the child. The usual dose is every six to eight hours and 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight. It can be increased up to 40 milligrams (mg) per kg per day.

In infants (6 months or younger), the doctor decides the dose as per the requirement.

For osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:

In adults and teenagers, the dose is 1200 milligrams (mg) and can be increased up to 3200 mg per day. It is divided into three or four equal doses to be taken during the day.

In children, the dose is determined by the doctor, based on the body weight. The dose is divided into three or four doses over a day. It is 30 milligrams (mg) to 40 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight.

In infants (younger than six months) the doctor decides the use and dose.

Precautions to be taken

There is an increased risk of blockage resulting in a heart attack or stroke, with people taking Ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (other than aspirin). Discuss these risks with your doctor, before you begin the dose. Inform your doctor if you are allergic to aspirin, Ibuprofen, or, any other NSAIDs. Inform your doctor, if you have asthma, high blood pressure, blood clot issues, or stomach ulcers. Also, discuss if you have ever had any kidney or liver-related problems. Inform the doctor of all the medicines you take including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements. Drugs interact with other drugs and sometimes lead to adverse effects. The doctor can take an informed decision when the entire picture is clear. Discuss your medical history and family medical history with the doctor to give a better idea about the drug reactions. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding never take ibuprofen without consulting your doctor. Missed a dose? Take the next dose as per the schedule, do not double the doses.

How is Ibuprofen available?

Ibuprofen is sold as an oral capsule, oral suspension, oral tablet, and chewable tablet. It comes in various strengths as per the form of the medicine. The doctor determines the strength and the dose taking into consideration the type of usage and the requirement. Ibuprofen is sold under several brand names, some popular brand names are

Brufen, Abbott

Ibugesic, Cipla Ltd

Ximafen, Maxzimaa Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.

Icparil, Icpa Health Products Ltd

Tricoff, Vintech Formulations

Ibuvon, Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Combigel, Biodyne Remedies Pvt Ltd

Premobil, Biological E Ltd

Norswel, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Ibubid, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

Side effects associated with Ibuprofen

Side effects are a common phenomenon with medicines. In addition to the beneficial and intended effects, medicines also have some side effects that are unwanted and at times unpleasant. Some people have mild side effects while some may experience severe symptoms. Although most side effects are mild and do not need any immediate medical attention; if you feel you are having any side effects with Ibuprofen, consult your doctor and discuss it.

Common Side Effects of Ibuprofen

Constipation

Diarrhoea

Gas or bloating

Dizziness

Nervousness

A sensation of ringing in the ears

Some severe side effects of Ibuprofen

Unexplained weight gain

Difficulty breathing

Swelling up of face and other body parts

Fever

Blisters

Rash

Itching

Hives

Hoarseness

Excessive tiredness

Pain in the stomach (mostly the right side)

Nausea

Loss of appetite

Flu-like symptoms

Yellow or Pale skin

Fast heartbeat

Cloudy, bloody, or discoloured urine

Difficult or painful urination

Changes or problems in vision

Redness in the eyes or painful eyes

Stiff neck

Headache

Confusion

Aggression

Overdose symptoms

Dizziness

Unusual and uncontrollable eye movements

Slow breathing

A bluish colour on face

How to know if Ibuprofen suits you?

The MEDNAwise Pharmacogenetic testing from Indus Health Plus is the way to know if Ibuprofen suits you. MEDNAwise has opened gates to precision treatments and personalized medicines. With the MEDNAwise test, the method of trial and error to ascertain a medicine and dose has been eliminated. The MEDNAwise test can predict your body’s response to medicines and hence tell you the most effective medicine for you. The chances of therapeutic failure, no response, or any severe adverse effects are reduced. A valuable diagnostic tool for the doctor, MEDNAwise helps the doctor to decide the best-suited drug for you, the correct dosage, and with minimum adverse effects. MEDNAwise tests your genes and the response your body gives based on these genes. genes are the crucial factor to decide the efficacy of drugs. MEDNAwise test is a simple spit swab test that you can do from anywhere. It is easy to do, quick and affordable. With the results, your future health plans can be easily sorted. The genetic counsellors help you and your doctor interpret these results and chalk out the further course. The best part is, the results of the test can be reused for all future purposes. The results act like a ready reckoner for your doctor, to provide fast and correct treatment each time, every time.

Take the step towards a healthy future! Book your MEDNAwise pharmacogenetic test today.