A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
Ibuprofen
A widely used anti-inflammatory painkiller for pain, inflammation and fever — effective, but best taken at the lowest helpful intensity for the shortest time, with food, and used with care in some conditions.
What is Ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is a familiar painkiller available both on prescription and over the counter. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and bring down a high temperature.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Ibuprofen — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Ibuprofen is one of the most familiar painkillers in the UK and is available both on prescription and over the counter from pharmacies and shops. It belongs to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) family and is used for pain that has an element of inflammation behind it — such as osteoarthritis, period pain, dental pain, sprains and strains — as well as for migraine attacks, gout flares and to bring down a fever. It tackles the cause of inflammatory pain rather than just dulling it, which is why it often works well for swollen, achy or throbbing problems where plain paracetamol falls short.
How it works
Ibuprofen blocks enzymes called cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) that the body uses to make prostaglandins — chemical messengers that drive pain, swelling and fever. By turning prostaglandin production down, it eases pain and inflammation and lowers a raised temperature. The same prostaglandins, though, also protect the stomach lining, support kidney blood flow and help platelets work, which is why blocking them can cause stomach irritation, fluid retention and effects on the kidneys and blood pressure. This single mechanism explains both why ibuprofen helps and why it must be used thoughtfully.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Boots (Boots Pure Drug Co., UK).
Ibuprofen was discovered by pharmacologist Stewart Adams and chemist John Nicholson at Boots in Nottingham, UK, during the late 1950s and 1960s (patent filed in 1961). It was first launched in the UK as the prescription product Brufen in 1969.
What it treats
Conditions Ibuprofen is used for
Practical use
How to take Ibuprofen
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Take it with or just after food or a drink of milk to reduce the chance of stomach upset.
- Use the smallest amount that helps for the shortest time needed.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember unless the next is nearly due; do not double up.
- Avoid taking it alongside other NSAIDs, and check with a pharmacist before combining it with other medicines.
- Stop and seek advice if you notice indigestion that will not settle, black or tarry stools, or vomiting that looks like coffee grounds.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Ibuprofen
Advantages
- Effective for pain, inflammation and fever.
- Widely available and inexpensive for short-term use.
- Useful for conditions with an inflammatory component, such as sprains and period pain.
- Comes in several forms, including tablets, liquids and gels.
Disadvantages
- Can irritate the stomach and cause ulcers or bleeding, especially with long-term use or in older people.
- May harm the kidneys, particularly if dehydrated or alongside certain other medicines.
- Can raise blood pressure and carries some cardiovascular risk with regular heavy use.
- Best avoided in some people with asthma, heart failure, stomach ulcers or in late pregnancy.
Practical use
Good to know
Take ibuprofen with or after food to reduce the chance of stomach upset, and use the lowest intensity that controls your symptoms for the shortest time needed — this is the single most important habit for using it safely. It is excellent for short bursts of inflammatory pain but is not a medicine to take continuously without review. Because it can nudge up blood pressure, hold on to fluid and stress the kidneys, it needs more care in older people and in anyone with heart, kidney or stomach problems. If you have asthma, watch whether it makes your breathing worse, as it does in a minority of people.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with a current or past stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleed, or who have had a bad reaction (such as wheeze or swelling) to ibuprofen, aspirin or another NSAID.
- People with significant heart failure, poorly controlled blood pressure, or significant kidney disease — and it is generally avoided in the later part of pregnancy.
- Used with caution in asthma (it worsens breathing in some people), in older adults, and in anyone already taking a blood thinner or other medicines that irritate the stomach.
Monitoring
- No routine monitoring for short occasional use
- Blood pressure and kidney function with regular or long-term use, especially in older or at-risk people
- For any signs of stomach bleeding
Side effects
- Indigestion, stomach ache or heartburn — more likely without food and with prolonged use.
- Fluid retention, a rise in blood pressure, and headache in some people.
- More seriously and less commonly, stomach ulcers or bleeding (report black stools or vomiting blood), kidney strain, and — with regular long-term use — a small increase in the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Key interactions
- The "triple whammy": taken with an ACE inhibitor or ARB plus a diuretic (water tablet), it can sharply reduce kidney function — a combination to avoid or use only with monitoring.
- It adds to the bleeding risk of anticoagulants and antiplatelets (such as warfarin, the newer blood thinners, and aspirin) and to stomach irritation from steroids and SSRIs/SNRIs.
- It can raise levels of lithium and methotrexate and blunt the effect of blood-pressure medicines and diuretics; avoid combining different NSAIDs.
Available as: Tablets, capsules, oral liquid (including children's formulations), granules, and gels or sprays applied to the skin. A modified-release form and a stronger prescription option exist for some uses.
Answers
Ibuprofen: frequently asked questions
Why should I take ibuprofen with food?
Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining, so taking it with or after food helps cushion that effect and lowers the chance of indigestion or, with heavier use, an ulcer. If you need anti-inflammatory pain relief and have a sensitive stomach, ask your pharmacist whether a stomach-protecting medicine or a different painkiller would suit you better.
Can I take ibuprofen and paracetamol together?
Yes — they work in different ways and can be taken together or alternated for stronger pain relief, which is a common and safe approach for short periods. Ibuprofen has more cautions than paracetamol, so if one alone controls your pain, that is preferable. Check with a pharmacist if you take other medicines or have heart, kidney or stomach conditions.
I have asthma — is ibuprofen safe for me?
Most people with asthma tolerate ibuprofen, but in a minority it triggers wheezing or tightness. If you have never taken an NSAID before, be alert the first time, and if your breathing worsens, stop and seek advice. Anyone whose asthma is known to flare with aspirin or ibuprofen should avoid the whole NSAID family and use paracetamol instead.
Is it safe to take ibuprofen every day?
Occasional or short-course use is generally fine for healthy adults, but taking it daily for long stretches raises the risk of stomach ulcers, kidney strain, raised blood pressure and — over time — heart problems. If you find you need it most days, see your GP or pharmacist: a review may find a safer long-term plan for your pain.
What is the difference between ibuprofen, Nurofen and Brufen?
They all contain the same active ingredient. Ibuprofen is the generic (active-ingredient) name, while Nurofen and Brufen are brand names. Generic ibuprofen contains the identical active ingredient and works in exactly the same way, usually at a lower price.
The wider class
About NSAIDs
Ibuprofen belongs to the nsaids class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
Browse by body system
Authoritative sources
- BNF: Ibuprofen.
- electronic Medicines Compendium (SmPC): Ibuprofen (Brufen/Nurofen).
- NICE CKS: Ibuprofen for adults.
- NICE CKS: NSAIDs - prescribing issues.
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