Ibuprofen is a universal anesthetic, but most often it is taken for migraine and headache, while the cost of such a drug is affordable for everyone. It also helps to reduce body temperature and reduce inflammation. This drug is prescribed to both adults and children with colds and arthritis.
What else do these pills help? Do they have contraindications and side effects? Let's try to figure it out.
Content
What is ibuprofen?
This drug is usually released in the form of tablets having a pink or white color, depending on the composition of the shell and the manufacturer. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal drug that has anti-inflammatory effects. Tablets help reduce the temperature and eliminate pain, even articular. They do not have a strong negative effect on the stomach, unlike other painkillers, such as Aspirin, but it is undesirable to drink them in case of kidney and liver failure, gastric ulcer, allergic reactions, or individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
Ibuprofen is especially effective for headaches. In addition, he helps in the following situations:
- if there are rheumatic and other joint inflammations;
- in diseases that cause movement disorders;
- if a person has myalgia and neuralgia;
- with dental and postoperative pain, occurring in an acute form;
- for the treatment of infectious diseases of upper respiratory tract;
- with menstrual bleeding;
- if a person has flu and ARVI;
- to eliminate fever and hyperthermia.
After taking the suspension or tablets, they begin to act within 10 minutes, because of this, such a drug is considered one of the fastest-acting drugs. The final action of Ibuprofen comes in two hours and lasts about five hours.
Headache ibuprofen
Does ibuprofen help with headaches? The answer is only yes. A disease such as tension headachein which a person has the feeling that his head is squeezed by something. The pain is aching and dull, of medium intensity, and can cover the whole head or only a specific part (occiput, parietal region, forehead). There is a tension headache always during the day and can intensify even after a little physical exertion. This disease is characteristic of people engaged in mental work, as it is caused by mental overstrain.
Headache tension happens:
- episodic - up to 15 seizures happen per month, which last at least 30 minutes;
- chronic - more than 15 attacks occur per month.
How to take ibuprofen for headache? If it is episodic, then during the attack should take 400 mg. If such attacks occur more often 15 times a month, then it is recommended to take the drug three times a day. 400 mg for 21 days. From a tension headache that is chronic, the patient’s fate can only ease the course use of antidepressants, and Ibuprofen will be ineffective in this case.
Ibuprofen for migraine
There are many causes of an attack of such a neurological disease.Migraine can begin in the event that a person is nervous or even ate something wrong. This pathological condition has three phases. When the first phase occurs, anxiety and anxiety appear in the person. The second is characterized by unbearable pain on one side of the head only. Usually it happens bursting and gradually increasing. A person begins to annoy everything: light, smells, sounds. During the last phase, a headache subsides gradually.
If a migraine occurs, it is desirable to take such pills in the first phase, so that during the second pain will not be so intense. The greatest effect is achieved if you take 200 or 400 mg of the drug two hours after the onset of the attack. If the second phase has already arrived, then 400 mg of the drug should be taken immediately. This can significantly reduce the duration of the attack, and the head will not hurt so much. If the seizure does not go away after 5-6 hours, then it is recommended to drink the same amount of medication.
How to drink ibuprofen?
In pharmacies, such a drug is available without a prescription, but it is not recommended to take it without a prescription. Tablets have many contraindications and have side effects, so you need read the instructions carefullyto prevent overdose. With extreme caution, ibuprofen is used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Dosage
Since Ibuprofen tablets are prescribed to both adults and children, it is necessary to strictly follow the dosage in accordance with the age.
Adolescents over 12 years old and adults should take no more than 3-4 tablets of 200 mg per day. If this dose does not bring the desired effect and the pain does not disappear, then the doctor may prescribe two tablets (400 mg) three times a day. For rapid absorption of the drug, the first dose should be taken in the morning before a meal. But it is advisable to take Ibuprofen after meals, as this allows to reduce side effects. You can not take more than 6 tablets per day.
Children from 6 to 12 years old, weighing more than 20 kg per day must take up to 4 tablets, making between intervals of 6 hours. Babies should be given no more than 10 mg of the drug per day.
More than 5 days pills can not be taken. If for any reason the drug was missed, in no case should you take a double dose the next time, since there is a high probability of overdose. If there is no effect from taking Ibuprofen three days after the start of treatment, it is best not to hesitate, but to see a doctor. Also, medical care may be required and the appearance of side effects.
During pregnancy and during breastfeeding, only a doctor prescribes the drug. This medicine is not capable of harming the fetus, and it practically does not pass into breast milk, but it should be taken immediately after feeding the baby so that its concentration is as low as possible.
Side effects
The drug is usually better tolerated by Aspirin, Indomethacin and Diclofenac. However, ibuprofen may cause the following side effects:
- heartburn, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation;
- Quincke swelling, skin rash, itching;
- increased sweating, fever, anemia, allergic rhinitis;
- dizziness, insomnia, irritability, headache, anxiety;
- tachycardia, heart failure, blood pressure may rise;
- pain and dry mouth;
- anaphylactic shock;
- bronchospasm or shortness of breath;
- hearing loss or ringing (noise) in the ears;
- drowsiness, depression, hallucinations, confusion;
- quite rare - blurred vision or double vision in the eyes, eyelid edema, dry eye, conjunctiva;
- changes in the composition of the blood - thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia.
When the above phenomena appear, it is necessary to stop taking the drug and consult a doctor.
When is ibuprofen contraindicated?
Ibuprofen tablets contraindicated in the following cases:
- if the patient suffers from bronchial asthma;
- hypocoagulation of blood and hemophilia;
- in the presence of hemorrhagic diathesis;
- in the postoperative period, when coronary artery bypass surgery was performed on the heart;
- with individual intolerance to NSAIDs, which is manifested by urticaria, rhinitis or bronchospasm;
- in case of exacerbation of inflammatory and ulcerative-erosive processes in the stomach and intestines;
- if intracranial hemorrhages have occurred, as well as bleeding in the intestine or stomach;
- with an excess of potassium in the body, serious kidney damage and liver failure;
- if there is hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- pregnancy.
Can an overdose occur?
This possibility exists if ibuprofen take in the wrong dosage. This can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, abdominal pain, tinnitus, abnormal heart rhythm, and in severe cases, respiratory arrest and coma.
In this situation, the patient must wash the stomach, give a diuretic and activated charcoal. If necessary, the doctor prescribes symptomatic therapy.
So ibuprofen is high-performance and fast-acting drug, relieving from various pains, especially from headache. In order for him to bring the desired result, it is necessary to familiarize himself with contraindications and side effects before taking it.