Ibuprofen Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures ... - WebMD

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.