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What does it do?

Ibuprofen reduces pain, inflammation and fever.

Before you start

  • Tell your doctor if you have heart, kidney, stomach or bowel problems; high blood pressure; asthma; or if you have ever had a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke).
  • Tell your doctor if you have had problems with aspirin or anti-inflammatories.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

How should you take it?

Take ibuprofen with food and a glass of water. Swallow the tablets whole.
Measure the liquid carefully with an oral syringe or measuring spoon. Shake the bottle well before measuring each dose.

What if you forget a dose?

Should an occasional dose be missed it need not be taken later.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with ibuprofen including:

  • anti-inflammatories such as diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren Rapid®), aspirin (e.g. Disprin®, in doses used for pain relief). These can also be found in some cold and flu medicines (e.g. Nurofen Cold and Flu®), and creams or gels (e.g. Voltaren Emulgel®)
  • low-dose aspirin (e.g. Cartia®)

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side EffectsRecommended action

Stomach pain, coughing or vomiting of blood, black bowel motions

Swollen lips, tongue, throat or face, trouble breathing

Chest pain

Symptoms of liver problems including: yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, pale bowel motions, abdominal pain

Reduced number of blood cells that help your blood to clot - symptoms include: easy or unusual bruising or bleeding

Tell your doctor immediately

Swollen feet or legs, short of breath

Bloody or cloudy pee

Ringing in the ears

Tell your doctor

Dizziness

Indigestion, nausea, constipation or diarrhoea

Skin rash

Tell your doctor if troublesome

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

  • In most cases, paracetamol and/or codeine may be safely used while taking ibuprofen.

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the MyMedicines Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha, New Zealand. March 2023

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

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About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed