Ibuprofen, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

Generic and brand names: ibuprofen, oral; Advil; Advil Liqui-Gels; Advil Migraine; Children's Advil; Children's Motrin; Genpril; Haltran; Infant's Motrin; Junior Strength Motrin; Menadol; Midol IB; Midol Maximum Strength Cramp; Motrin; Motrin IB; Motrin Migraine Pain; Nuprin; PediaCare Fever; Saleto-800

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is used to provide relief from:

• the symptoms of arthritis
• pain associated with conditions such as bursitis, menstrual cramps, gout, headache, and muscle strains
• fever.

This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. It works best when taken on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. However, if it upsets your stomach, you may take it with food, milk, or antacids.

If you are taking this medicine for arthritis, take it regularly as prescribed by your health care provider.

This medicine may come in different forms. If you take delayed- or extended-release tablets, swallow them whole. Do not break, crush, or chew them. Ask your pharmacist if you have delayed- or extended-release tablets.

You can buy some NSAIDs without a prescription to relieve pain and fever. Take them according to the directions on the package. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than directed. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

What should I watch out for?

Warning: Occasionally, this medicine may cause bleeding, ulcers, or perforation of the stomach or intestines. These problems may occur without warning symptoms. If you have abdominal pain, a black tarry stool, or a bloody stool, stop taking this medicine and contact your health care provider right away.

This medicine may cause an allergic reaction in people who have asthma or who have had allergic reactions to aspirin or other painkillers. If you develop hives, itching, a rash, tightness in your chest, or trouble breathing, stop taking this medicine and contact your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.

Your health care provider will want to check you regularly to find out if this medicine is causing you to lose too much blood and making you anemic.

Do not take other pain relievers or drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine unless your health care provider approves. They may increase the risk of stomach upset.

You may have swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands while taking this medicine. If this becomes bothersome, contact your health care provider.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest or trouble breathing), extreme headache with stiff neck, bloody or black tarry stools.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Mood changes, confusion, fast breathing, wheezing, feeling faint, mouth or lip sores, hearing problems, ringing in your ears.

Other: Fever, chills, muscle pain, stomach pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), esmolol (Brevibloc), betaxolol (Kerlone), propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), labetalol (Normodyne), pindolol (Visken), nadolol (Corgard), and timolol (Blocadren)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
• dipyridamole (Persantine)
• diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), and ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
• hydantoin (Dilantin)
• lithium (Lithane, Lithonate, Lithobid, Eskalith)
• methotrexate
• penicillamine (Cuprimine) (Indocin)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• salicylates, including aspirin
• thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL), and bendroflumethiazide (Naturetin).

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Also, do not take other nonprescription painkillers while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.