Talk:Ibuprofen/Archive 1

Synthesis
Someone should add some synthetic details....

Metabolism
Does anyone know how this is metabolized? I have heard through the stomach making Advil and Tylonol acceptible to use in concert.

Dosage
How about safe dosage limits, and what kind of damage an overdose can do?
 * Excellent Idea Medscin 15:04, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

195.93.21.34 14:38, 28 March 2006 (UTC) I think the safe dose must be very high because if you look at the POM (prescription only medecin) then it says doctors can prescribe 4 times the OTC dose- thats 800mg per tab....

User:Comrade Sephiroth If you look at the directions for over-the-counter use, it says not to exceed 1200 mg in 24 hours unless under medical direction. However, the "prescription dosage" for severe pain, swelling or fever is often as high as 2400 mg, even 3200 mg on occasion. The FDA is deliberately very conservative with over-the-counter dosages to avoid liability, and assumes that some people will fudge the OTC limit a little bit (i.e. 1600 or 1800 mg per day). This also takes into account the alcohol issue, of course. People who are completely sober all the time can push the limit more safely than social drinkers. Today my knee, quads and calf were all quite sore and I took a total of 1600 mg. But please do not take my commentary as a reason to use more than 1200 mg/day; you need to use good judgment and make your own decision on dosage.


 * Wikipedia does not give instruction to readers, nor is personal experience/opinion permitted in articles (comes under WP:No original research). NSAIDs have their risks (gastric irritation and gastric ulceration, as well as effects on renal functiuon and risk of heart disease), so there are very good safety reasons why limits are placed. If you can find WP:Reliable sources to WP:Verify that it is Ok for people to exceed the stated dosage limits then fine, but no reliable source would... David Ruben Talk 11:09, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

I don't know how to give a citation for the topical form of Ibuprofen without violating what I suspect are Wikipedia's commerce policies, but it is called Ibunex Topical Ibuprofen from Core Labs. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.180.19.82 (talk) 17:31, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

History
Does anyone know the history of Ibuprofen? How it was discovered, when and by whom?
 * And, I might add, how somebody came up with such a funny name for the substance. =Axlq 07:03, 6 November 2006 (UTC)


 * http://www.ibuprofen-foundation.com/what-ibuprofen/story.htm would seem to be a good reference if anybody wants to use/cite it, there's even a copy of the pattent application there --Streaky 00:17, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

it is metabolized through the kidneys.

LD 50
"Ibuprofen: Oral rat LD50: 636 mg/kg; investigated as a mutagen, reproductive effector."

from: http://bulkpharm.mallinckrodt.com/_attachments/msds/IBUPR.htm ~Mike O.

stereochemistry
"Further in vivo testing, however, revealed the existence of an isomerase which converted (R)-ibuprofen to the active (S)-enantiomer. Thus, due to the expense and futility that might be involved in marketing the single-enantiomer, all ibuprofen formulations currently marketed are a racemic mixture of both enantiomers."

According to John McMurry's Organic Chemistry, (S)-ibuprofen is marketed in Europe. Also, although the body converts the R enantiomer into the S, a racemic mixture would take roughly 38 minutes to take effect while the S enantiomer takes a mere 12 minutes. Does anyone have a source for the above paragraph because if not, I'm going to change it.

The paragraph may be true in USA, but globally it is incorrect. In Finland dexibuprofen is widely used even though slightly more expensive. It has brand name Dexit and is marketed by Leiras and produced by Schering. More info (in Finnish) http://www.dexit.fi/. Unfortunately couldn't find info in English.

photosensitivity
I've forgotten my login, so apologize for lack of sign in right now and other unconvenionalities. But I have to say: I cannot see any logical connection between these two statements: "As with other NSAIDs, ibuprofen has been reported to be a photosensitising agent.[6] Ibuprofen, however, has a very weak absorption spectrum which does not reach into the solar spectrum. "

What the molecule does in a test tube and how it affects the physiochemistry of the cells of the body seem like two different things to me. I personally don't know anything about the specifics of photosensitivity in ibuprofen. Haven't read any papers on it. But I know quite a bit of biology, and this makes no sense to me. It's like saying that because sugar releases all its energy at once when burned in a dish, it wouldn't work as a fuel for cells, which need small packets of energy... I hope someone will consider fixing this. I've attempted to fix things at Wikipedia in the past and had them reversed even though I was definitely right, simply because I hadn't been working on the article for months.So I will not bother researching this and fixing it. Best to the authors, science writer in california
 * What part of that doesn't make sense? The first sentence is a summary statement that it has been reported as a photosensitising agent. The following sentences explain that photosensitivity is not usually clinically significant for ibuprofen and explains why. Admittedly, the reference could be better – I'll fix this. -Techelf 10:34, 5 August 2006 (UTC)

With Food/Drink
Are there any reasons to take Ibuprofen with food or milk etc, or is it better to take it with just water? 69.87.193.34 20:05, 4 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Found no problems either way personally, and I've used it a lot. 62.241.250.39 05:35, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
 * I was told to take 300mg twice daily with food for relief of Temporomandibular joint disorder. --NEMT 05:05, 11 July 2007 (UTC)

Expiration
What is the typical time from manufacture to labelled expiration date?

What are the optimum storage conditions?

After expiration, does it just become weaker in proper action, or are harmful compounds formed? If so, what are they, and what effects would they have? 69.87.193.34 20:05, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Non-Human Uses
Is Ibuprofen useful in non-humans, for example dogs and cats? What are appropriate dosage levels for veterinary uses? 69.87.193.34 20:05, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Acronym?
Under the Adverse Effects heading:

Ibuprofen appears to have UR MUM at the lowest incidence of gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of all the non-selective Nigers.

I don't know enough Medicine to know whether 'UR MUM' is some real cryptic acronym or not, sounds suspicious to me. Can someone look into that?

DarkIye 20:34, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

I assume it was vandalism. They replaced NSAIDs with "Nigers" too. Fixed. MasterOfPuppets

Please add political info
Is this available over the counter?

Are there any laws affecting the usage of this drug?
 * It's in the article already, as well as the info box. Ibuprofen is OTC for smaller dosages (200mg), and prescription for larger. It is very, very widely used as an OTC drug. Haikupoet 01:46, 10 February 2006 (UTC)
 * In Finland you can get 400mg over the counter. 62.241.250.39 05:35, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

Blonde2max 21:21, 25 March 2006 (UTC) In the UK your local shop/supermarket can sell 200mg tablets. If you want 400mg then you have to go to a pharmacy. I am not sure if larger doses are ever givin- but I assume they would have to be prescribed.

It's often interesting to note however that 400mg tablets are more than double the price than 200mg: why can't you just double the dose???

Counterindications and Dosage for Children
Does anybody know if / how much is safe for infants and children? The adult dose is listed, but nothing about babies and children, or for that matter the effect on breastfeeding mothers. Just an idea. Blonde2max 21:27, 25 March 2006 (UTC) Heres some info i found in CALPOL

What's the difference? Paracetamol is considered the first choice treatment for easing childhood pain and bringing a temperature down. It is gentle on the tummy, making it suitable from 2 months plus.

Ibuprofen is also an effective pain reliever but should not be given to babies under 6 months. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce swellings from sprains and strains. However, it can cause tummy upsets and isn't suitable for children with asthma.

Blonde2max 21:46, 25 March 2006 (UTC) Age                 Safe dose Under 6 months        0 mg 6 months - 1 year      50 mg every 6 hours (not exceeding 150mg a day) 1 Year - 2 years      50 mg every 4 hours (not exceeding 200mg a day) 3 years - 7 years    100 mg every 4 hours (not exceeding 400mg a day) 7 years - 12 years   200 mg every 4 hours (not exceeding 800mg a day)

Someone changed the children's dosage information to remove the /kg from "5–10 mg/kg in children". I added the /kg back in. Dosage in children is determined based on the child's weight, so it's 5-10 mg of ibuprofen for each kg that the child weighs. The wording in the article may be somewhat confusing, although I'm unsure how to make it less so. I found a dosage chart that uses the child's weight rather than age, that seems to correspond with 5-10 mg/kg, although it uses pounds rather than kg. http://www.lpch.org/HealthLibrary/ParentCareTopics/DrugDosageTables/Ibuprofenforfeverandpain.html Brokenchairs 14:23, 20 May 2007 (UTC)

Ibuprofen & Aspirin Interactions
I was told by a doctor that Ibuprofen and Aspirin can cancel each others' effects when taken simultaneously. Since this came from a well-educated medical professional I assume that it is true but I am having some trouble finding a reliable source online to confirm. Perhaps someone can look into this and make any necessary changes or additions to the article. Mrestko 02:13, 3 May 2006 (UTC)
 * There is some evidence to suggest that ibuprofen can decrease the antiplatelet action of aspirin (MacDonald & Wei, 2003; ). Concurrent use does not "cancel" the anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin and ibuprofen, however there won't be any added benefit (because they work the same way) and the risk of adverse effects is increased. -Techelf 09:31, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

NaCl
Apparently some NSAIDS have NaCl. Does anyone know if Ibuprofen has NaCl and if so how much? KPM M.D.
 * You are mistaken. Perhaps a preparation of a particular NSAID contains sodium chloride (NaCl), in which case the best place to look is the Appproved Product Information/Prescribing Information document. On the other hand, if you're talking about sodium content, then yes some NSAIDs are marketed as the sodium salt (e.g. diclofenac sodium), in which case the sodium content depends on the NSAID in question. -Techelf 08:50, 24 May 2006 (UTC)

Slang
Added a somewhat half-assed link to "Vitamin I." The only other reference I know is from personal experience as a Morris dancer where the term was much in vogue. However, I'm painfully aware that I don't count as an acceptable reference... Septegram 20:30, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

Paracetemol
Is it safe to take 2 Paracetemols and 2 Ibruprofens together. I am told by my mother this is safe, is it?

Note: This is not personal advice I class it as Dosage


 * Ibuprofen should be enough, if you feel you need Pracetemol on top of it I would suggest you consult your GP JayKeaton 16:05, 27 November 2006 (UTC)
 * I'd really suggest you list the dosage in milligrams instead of just saying the number of pills - but I've taken paracetamol (400mg) and ibuprofen (600mg) simultaneously, and it should be safe at least occasionally.


 * I know this probably seems facetious, but I think it is worth pointing out that this section title is misspelt - the correct name for this medication is "paracetamol", which is the INN. Sorry. :-p Leevclarke 02:18, 9 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Re: the dosage, the recommended maximum dosage limits are (unofficially) well below what most people could safely take, at least occasionally. Ibuprofen is a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory (inflammation may well be a cause for generalised pain), whereas paracetamol is only a painkiller.


 * My advice would be to take one or the other, in increased doses if you really feel it's necessary. Ibuprofen is available generically at no real cost difference compared with paracetamol (at least here in the UK), so I tend to go for ibuprofen in the first instance.  Either is a lot safer than the old days of aspirin as a general painkiller. ;-) Leevclarke 02:19, 9 July 2007 (UTC)


 * The answer to this question is yes. I have had multiple doctors tell me that both medications can be taken together. It is generally safe. However, the risk of stomach irritation increases when both are taken together. ALWAYS talk to your doctor first before taking both together as only your doctor knows your medical history. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 156.80.234.108 (talk) 01:54, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

Structural Diagram
I was somewhat confused by the squiggly line someone put in the structural diagram. I asked a chemistry teacher and she said the squiggly line should simply a straight line, which seemed right as it is a (single?) bond with CH3. Am I right, or simply unlearned in the matter? --DoomsElf 00:45, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

The squiggly line is meant to show that the drug is a racemic mixture of two different enantiomers. If only one enantiomer was given, you would see the wedge shaped bond indicating the group is sticking out of the page or the dashed wedge indicating it being slightly behind the page. The main article currently discusses the chirality. 206.111.112.99 21:31, 29 June 2007 (UTC) Anonymouse

Measurements
in the section detailing overdose the phrase "As little as 4 tablets" occurs. this is hardly scientific, can somone get a minimum reported dosage for an overdose, or I might be tempter to get rid of that part.

The phrase "As little as 4 tablets" is actually in the side effects section, rather than the overdose section, which would imply that these effects are possible from taking the recommended dose. This phrase (4 tablets) seems rather dubious. I have expirienced nausea (one of the side effects mentioned) from taking 200 mg, which is only one tablet. Brokenchairs 01:33, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Ok, so I went ahead and removed the bit about "4 tablets". If anyone thinks it really needs to be there, hopefully you'll use a more quantitative way to describe the amount needed for those side effects, and back it up with a reference. Brokenchairs 01:38, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Replace Advil with generic ibuprofen?
Two out of four of the pictures here are of advil, and the two others are just chemical structures. Should we replace it with something more generic so the article doesn't seem to be endorsing any particular brand? Klosterdev 03:11, 27 February 2007 (UTC)

There seems to be no point in having any pictures of containers of ibuprofen apart from providing free advertisements SilasW 09:14, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

Anticoagulant properties?
I'm currently suffering from oral surgery pain, and I've been avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen in preference to prescription painkillers because I distinctly recalled that even non-aspirin NSAIDs cause a drop in platelet count. In the process of attempting to confirm this for a friend's edification a few moments ago, I wound up visiting the articles for ibuprofen, cyclooxygenase, and platelets before confirming to my satisfaction that I had the right idea... part of the confusion is that the statement about COX-2 inhibition is highly ambiguous - on first reading, the sentence appears to state that COX-2 inhibition occurs at levels below those needed to obtain reduced platelet counts.

Bottom line: confusing as hell, disclaimers notwithstanding. Persist1 06:59, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

Human toxicology
"There is little correlation between severity of symptoms and measured ibuprofen plasma levels. Toxic effects are unlikely at doses below 100 mg/kg but can be severe above 400 mg/kg;[11] ....."

Total dosage/kg per day, per week, per microsecond? What exactly? Geez, no wonder people get poisoned in hospitals. Everyone is so blithe and casual with dropping figures minus context. Assume per day. I weigh 82kg => @100mg/kg/day = 8200mg/day. So toxic effects are unlikely if I stay below 7 times the 1200mg limit for 24 hrs recommended on my bottle here? LOL!!!


 * Please sign your comments. Thank you. As for the doses, for me it's quite clear, that the figures are ment for a single dose p.o. and in a toxicological context. So, if your BM = 82 kg, than, a single ingestion of up to 8.2 g ibuprofen is rather unlikely to be too severe or even fatal, though it certainly would be a medical emergency, requiring examination and assesment by a physician right then, right there (in a hospital); if you'd ingest doses of more than 10 g, the poisoning resulting can be expected to be severe or even fatal, requiring hospitalisation and intensive care, possibly.
 * If you read the article carefully, you certainly shouldn't have problems to find the suggestion to follow dosage instruction in package insert of the medication, or advice your pharmacist/physician gave you. Still laughing out loud? Cheers.--84.163.127.140 (talk) 02:11, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Over the counter (OTC) availability in the United Kingdom
It is not true that OTC sales are limited to 16 * 200mg in the United Kingdom. You can in fact purchase 96 x 200mg and also 400mg packets OTC (as I did myself the other day); they are just not available in general retailers, only from pharmacy counters. However this is still OTC - the definition being you do not need a prescription.

Could we discuss/confirm then update the "availability" section appropriately please?

Canada
Is it available over the counter in Canada? I heard that it was not, but that might not be recent information. -- Beland 23:35, 27 July 2007 (UTC).Ibuprofen is available over the counter in Canada.

Side Effects of Use for DOMS
Still a new user to Wikipedia, I noticed a citation is needed for the current statement that use of Ibuprofen for delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) may suppress muscle growth for athletes/bodybuilders. I've found an article by researchers at the Democritus University of Thrace showing a decreased level of creatine kinase of the ibuprofen group compared to the control group at 48 hours (Tokmakidis, S.P., Kokkinidis, F.A., Smilios, I., & Douda, H.(2003). The effects of ibuprofen on delayed muscle soreness and muscular performance after eccentric exercise. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 17(1), 53-59.) I found this to be related with the claim that Ibuprofen can result in decreased muscle growth. Anyone with confident editing skills and some experience with the drug is welcome to use this citation to add to or replace the DOMS section of Side Effects. Article was found on Google Scholar. Nathan.pepper 03:47, 27 August 2007 (UTC) Nathan.pepper

The entire section related to DOMS should be removed. I'm not in favour of sweeping statements being added with a request for a citation. Anything contentious which requires a citation as supporting evidence should not be included until one is provided. Otherwise it is simply an assertion. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 'The effects of Ibuprofen on delayed muscle soreness and muscular performance after eccentric exercise' Vol 17 (1) 53-59 details quite clearly that Despite a decrease in the perception of pain and reduced levels of the markers associated with muscle damage, the research team were unable to establish any performance benefits resulting from the administration of Ibuprofen. Muscular performance of the hamstrings (maximal strength, knee flexion ROM and vertical jump performance) decreased following the eccentric-exercise session. '''Ibuprofen administration had no effect on the level of decline. The reduction in performance post-exercise was similar for both groups.''' http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/Ibuprofen-muscle-soreness.html --Antipodean 03:27, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

i was treated withthis after being hit by a bus. Just wondering if it can stone you or make you high? started tripping out when i was listening to Pink Floyd —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.255.51.222 (talk) 09:17, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

Interaction with Alcohol
Well, the main article does not even mention alcohol. I've also read the packaging on many ibuprofen products and none of those mention alcohol either. So from that I am assuming that it is safe to use Ibuprofen if you have consumed alcohol, unlike paracetamol (tylanol)? It's an important issue with any drug to know how it interacts with alcohol seeing as so many people do drink. So for that reason may I request that someone who knows, make the inclusion? 80.176.233.50 (talk) 21:11, 27 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Concomitant use of Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs and alcohol should be generally avoided, since it may enhance gastrointestinal (stomach, intestines) and renal (kidneys) toxicities of the drugs. For reference, you can read one of the full prescribing informations available online for Ibuprofen containing medications. Generally, it is wise to assume, that none medication should be combined with alcohol, unless your physician tells you it can. This can be particularly complicated because many people take OTC NSAIDs like Ibuprofen as a "standard" hangover-associated headache remedy, but...it isn't wise to do so often.--84.163.127.140 (talk) 02:30, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Advil
To be consistent with other similar articles, I put back into the summary the best-known brand that contains this ingredient. For the same reason that it's done in the other articles. --Psm (talk) 18:29, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

creation
does anyone know how to make ibuprofen?-
 * You go to walgreens and you buy a jar of 100 200mg tablets for $1.08


 * http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/ibuprofen/synthesisc.htm lists two synthesis pathways, the Boot process, and the more efficient Hoechst process. "Most of these routes to ibuprofen begin with isobutylbenzene and use Friedel-Crafts acylation. The Boot process requires six steps, while the Hoechst process, with the assistance of catalysts, is completed in only three steps."

Don't try it. You'll destroy yourself.

Just mix equal parts Ibu with Profen. You can't go wrong. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.192.119.210 (talk) 10:19, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

Wrong chirality?
There are two different 3D depictions of the molecule on this page - one in the upper right and one further down in the text; ironically in the stereo chemistry section. As far as I can figure out, the two show different chirality. The 2D structure at the top uses a zig-zagged line at the alpha carbon which I'm not familiar with - I only know the wedge-type depiction of chiral bonds. So I don't know which of the two this agrees with. But at least one of the three would appear to be wrong if there's at least two that disagree with each other. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Iron Condor (talk • contribs) 17:09, 3 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Zig-zag lines (more usually drawn as wavy lines) are a stereochemical wild card - they mean either or both enantiomers.


 * My image (the 3D one in the chembox) is one of the enantiomers (the (R) isomer, in fact) - it's taken from the crystal structure of racemic ibuprofen. I'll draw another image, of the other enantiomer.


 * The image below says it is the (R) isomer, but I'm pretty sure it's the (S) isomer.


 * Ben (talk) 17:34, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Yep—just checked in ChemSketch. You can make the ring aromatic while you're at it ;) Fvasconcellos (t·c) 18:29, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

Another effect?
I admit I don't know much about this, I just wanted to say that when I was told to stop by my doctor taking this for pain after breaking my leg because it can slow down bone healing... I assume he was right, so is there another adverse effect that should be put in this conningcris 22:02, 5 July 2008 (UTC) - According to this page your doctor might have been overcautious. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.149.136.12 (talk) 11:22, 20 December 2009 (UTC)

Toxicology & Chirality
Apparently only (R)-ibuprofen is teratogenic (especially in the first trimester). Over-the-counter (OTC) ibuprofen contains a 50-50 mixture of the (R) and (S) isomers. If manufacturers were required to remove the (R) isomer, it would drive up medication costs to the point where few people could afford it. Check page 11 of this pdf for a reference (not sure if it's wikipedia-suitable, but it's undoubtedly a reputable source). Fuzzform (talk) 00:45, 21 October 2008 (UTC)
 * I can't find any evidence for either isomer of ibuprofen acting as a teratogen, especially considering the "Stereochemistry" section of this article. You might be thinking of another drug, perhaps thalidomide.--156.40.228.192 (talk) 13:37, 10 April 2009 (UTC)

Origins in nature?
I'm not trying to fill Wikipedia with anecdotal reports or anything, but in an episode of this nature show I watch sometimes the narrator described some kind of jungle vine in which ibuprofen is isolated from. I noticed nothing is said about it in the article. Does anyone on here know about this vine? If so, how does it compete with synthetic ibuprofen as a main source of the drug?-- Metalhead94 TC 16:53, 27 November 2008 (UTC)
 * Are you sure they weren't talking about oleocanthal, a constituent of olive oil that has been described as "ibuprofen-like" in the scientific literature? Ibuprofen doesn't occur in nature, although a vast number of compounds with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity do. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 16:59, 27 November 2008 (UTC)
 * I'm almost certain he said ibuprofen. The show was Man vs Wild.-- Metalhead94 TC 19:07, 27 November 2008 (UTC)

Is rash a common or infrequent side effect?
"Unexplained rash" is cited as common, while "rash" is cited as infrequent. This is confusing and, I assume, contradictory. 216.94.11.2 (talk) 16:05, 15 July 2009 (UTC)
 * According to Lexi-Comp, rash occurs in 3 to 9% of people taking ibuprofen, which would make it rather common (above 1% is usually considered "common"). Fvasconcellos (t·c) 16:28, 15 July 2009 (UTC)

Racemate / chemical structure
The chemical structure in the article is against the current IUPAC rules. For reference please read pages 1965 to 1969 of the following {"Graphical representation of stereochemical configuration (IUPAC Recommendations 2006)". Pure Appl.Chem. 78 (10): 1897–1970. 10.1351/pac200678101897.}. Structures of BOTH enantiomers should be shown. --Jü (talk) 10:29, 11 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Depicting both enantiomers in the same image without a qualifier, such as "and", between them, is also not acceptable per ST-6.3. You know what would be really cool, in my humble opinion? If drugbox could be changed to display "and enantiomer" in small type, just below the diagram. There could be a parameter to set this, e.g.  or   (or something more appropriate). Fvasconcellos (t·c) 14:22, 11 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Hi Fvasconcellos, thats true, such a modified box could be very helpfull. However, such a move is far beyoynd my IT capabalities. --Jü (talk) 16:14, 11 September 2009 (UTC)

Prophylactic use?
There are a number of articles around detailing the prophylactic use of ibuprofen among athletes, and the negative effects this can have in some cases. This should probably be detailed in the article.Nevard (talk) 09:35, 16 May 2010 (UTC)

what is the risk of taking only one 200 mg ibu each day? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.125.165.106 (talk) 13:23, 6 August 2010 (UTC)

Availability
The line "Higher doses are only available in North America by prescription." is inaccurate. 400mg does are available over the counter in Canada. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.240.215.252 (talk) 05:04, 7 August 2010 (UTC)

Merge Advil article into this one.
If there is any claimed superiority for the brand name, explain in this article with footnotes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.167.61.202 (talk) 14:06, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

ibuprofen co-administration with antacids -- PMID: 18280125 -- please add to article.
Parojcić J, Corrigan OI

Rationale for ibuprofen co-administration with antacids: potential interaction mechanisms affecting drug absorption.

Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2008 Jun;69(2):640-7. Epub 2008 Jan 10. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Belgrade, Serbia.

Abstract

Ibuprofen is a widely used NSAID which is often co-administered with antacids because of its gastro-irritant effects. Literature data suggest that antacid interactions may increase or decrease the drug's absorption rate and onset of action and that the interaction may be formulation specific. In the present study, literature data on ibuprofen absorption were evaluated in order to gain insight into the nature of the in vivo effect. Solubility determinations in reactive media containing magnesium or aluminium and dissolution studies in the presence of antacid suspension were performed in an attempt to simulate in vitro the effects observed in vivo. The results obtained indicate that magnesium hydroxide enhances ibuprofen solubility, dissolution and bioavailability, while aluminium hydroxide has a retarding effect. Solubility studies indicated formation of a soluble solid ibuprofen phase in the presence of Mg2+, in contrast, an insoluble ibuprofen salt was formed with Al3+. The introduction of magnesium based antacid suspension into the dissolution media resulted in a formulation specific increase in drug dissolution rate with the most pronounced effect observed for the slowest release tablet formulation. The results obtained indicate the potential for in vitro studies to predict physicochemical interactions that are likely to influence drug absorption rate in vivo.

PMID: 18280125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.165.11.187 (talk) 16:58, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

How fast does it deplete`?
Article makes no mention of half-life... -- Cimon Avaro; on a pogostick. (talk) 18:12, 7 September 2011 (UTC)

What is its (real) shelf life?
Manufacturers seem to claim 2-5 year shelf life, most commonly 3 years from date of manufacture, but this may be as much for marketing reasons (i.e. forcing consumers to replace expired bottles) as actual effectiveness. Has it been tested for potency at longer times? JimmB (talk) 18:17, 21 August 2013 (UTC)


 * pubchem says simply: "STABLE"

googling says:

"The federal Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) extends the expiration dates on qualifying drugs and other materiel in federal stockpiles. SLEP is administered by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).1 The program is an acknowledgement that the actual shelf life of drugs and other medical products may be longer than their stated expiration date, depending on their storage conditions. The purpose of SLEP is to defer replacement costs of stockpiled drugs by extending their useful life. "

It is a big deal to the U.S. military. The Army stockpiles a billion dollars worth of drugs in case of an attack.

“They were replacing millions a year, so they actually partnered with the FDA,” Schlichte said.

FDA researchers ultimately tested more than 100 over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Ninety percent were proven safe and effective far past the expiration date. Some lasted for 10 extra years!

Cipro, a drug used to treat during an anthrax attack, was labeled for a three-year shelf life, but, in fact, it was 100 percent effective at 10 years.

There are differences in the way the military stores drugs as compared to how we do. Most of us keep our drugs in bathrooms, which can become hot and humid. Dark, cool spots are the best places to keep drugs.

“Exposure to heat and humidity is a huge deal. It breaks down the chemical structure or the fillers used to make that tablet a tablet,” said Schlichte.

--- The general consensus seems to be, if they are stored carefully, and still look and smell OK, ibu is probably OK way past label exp date, but might be gradually declining in strength/effectiveness. -96.233.23.207 (talk) 17:03, 23 July 2014 (UTC)

uses of ibuprofen
I suggest a review of the text concerning uses of ibuprofen " used for relief of the symptoms of arthritis, constipation....." .I believe it is incorrect to state that constipation is an INDICATION for ibuprofen us - a side effect,certainly, but not to treat constipation. I would welcome evidence to the contrary. 69.50.70.10 (talk) 16:42, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

I agree! I will make the edit as I suspect that this is either accidental or a misinterpretation of the provided source. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.222.111.39 (talk) 20:13, 14 February 2012 (UTC)

Statement that ibuprofen acts as a vasodilator
There is no citation and everything I can find suggests it would be a vasoconstrictor. I know some pharmacies are now advertising it is a vasodilator, but I think they got their information from here. This is a serious issue and needs a citation to a peer-reviewed scientific study. Being a vasodilator is inconsistent with it causing hypertension and the particular anti-prostoglandin effect it is alleged to have. Mistakes on this issue could lead to death in some people. If it is a vasodilator, it would be good to explain why and cite clear evidence. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 110.174.33.179 (talk) 14:31, 14 March 2012 (UTC)

Clarification needed re Parkinson's
The article states Ibuprofen has been associated with a lower risk of Parkinson's disease…. A lower risk than what? Other NSAIDs? Other analgesics? Lobster Thermidor? A cow? This should be clarified (especially as it may be read as "associated with a low risk of"). 213.122.235.42 (talk) 18:37, 15 April 2012 (UTC)

Max dosage?
Is the maximum dosage correct? It seems to say that the OTC max is higher than the Rx max, which makes little sense....76.103.24.196 (talk) 18:08, 21 May 2012 (UTC)

Arthrites treatment with Ibuprofen
I'v have taken Ibuprofen when my arthritis acts up. I take 800mg 3 times/day. It allows me to move much better with no pain. It does increase my blood pressure somewhat. My pressure with out taking Ibuprofen is 110/65 (Im 69 YOA) when I take Ibuprofen in the dosages describe herein the BP is 160/85. When I go off of IB the pressure returns to my normal. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.173.239.143 (talk) 03:21, 17 November 2012 (UTC)

Topical gel
What is the key ingredient that allows the active element in the topical gel to penetrate? If you open an oral liquidgel capsule and spread it on the skin, does any active part penetrate?

Why is the US FDA opposed to topical forms, which are standard treatment in many other countries? They seem to partly be opposed to "unproven" claims of advantages of the topical over oral -- but also blocking any topical versions.

For Immediate Release: August 20, 2009 FDA Issues Warning Letters to Marketers of Topical Ibuprofen Drug Products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that the agency issued warning letters to eight companies marketing unlawful over-the-counter (OTC) topical drug products containing the pain reliever ibuprofen.

The products, which contain ibuprofen in combination with a variety of other active ingredients and are marketed for pain relief, are unapproved new drugs that require an approved new drug application in order to be legally marketed. Under its OTC drug monograph system, the FDA allows some OTC drugs to be marketed without first obtaining agency approval... Ibuprofen is not included in any OTC drug monograph...

“These companies have an obligation to the public to demonstrate to the FDA that their products are safe and effective, and they have failed to do so,” said Deborah M. Autor, director of the Office of Compliance at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Orally administered ibuprofen has been approved as a safe and effective treatment for pain and inflammation. There are no approved applications for topical ibuprofen products. Although the FDA has proposed to add orally administered ibuprofen to the applicable OTC monograph, it has never proposed that topical ibuprofen be added to any OTC monograph. Topical ibuprofen is often promoted as a “safer” alternative that can be used in place of oral ibuprofen because of certain side effects, such as stomach ulcers and cardiovascular effects that are associated with prolonged use of oral ibuprofen. However, these safety claims for topical ibuprofen have not been reviewed by the FDA, nor has the agency evaluated what side effects might be associated with such products.

The names of the products and manufacturers that received warning letters are:
 * Emuprofen (Progressive Emu, Inc.)
 * BioEntopic 15% Ibuprofen Crème (BioCentric Laboratories, Inc.)
 * Ibunex Topical Ibuprofen (Core Products International, Inc.)
 * LoPain AF 15% Ibuprofen Crème (Geromatrix Health Products)
 * IB-RELIEF (MEKT LLC)
 * Profen HP (Ridge Medical Products)
 * IbuPRO-10 Plus (Meditrend, Inc. dba Progena Professional Formulations)
 * IBU-RELIEF 12 (Wonder Laboratories)


 * www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18505668 2008
 * CONCLUSIONS: Advice to use either oral or topical preparations has an equivalent effect on knee pain, but oral NSAIDs appear to produce more minor adverse effects than topical NSAIDs. Generally, these results support advising older people with knee pain to use topical rather than oral NSAIDS. However, for patients who prefer oral NSAID preparations rather than a topical NSAID, particularly those with more widespread or severe pain, the oral route is a reasonable treatment option, provided that patients are aware of the risks of potentially serious adverse effects from oral medication...


 * news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3935785.stm 2004
 * Pain relief creams containing drugs similar to aspirin stop working in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) within weeks, research shows. ... They analysed 13 trials comparing topical NSAIDs (treatments applied to the skin) with dummy treatment or NSAIDs taken in a tablet form in nearly 2,000 patients with OA. ... Topical NSAIDs provided better pain relief than the dummy treatment in the first two weeks, but after a fortnight they were no better than the fake treatment. ... They were less effective than comparable oral versions in the first two weeks of treatment and caused more skin-related side effects such as itch, rash and burning. ... In comparison, oral NSAIDs were an effective long term treatment.

-96.233.19.238 (talk) 21:38, 21 May 2013 (UTC)