Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or analgesic, that is, a drug with anti-inflammatory and analgesic action. In certain diseases, pain and inflammation are no longer a protective or warning function. In such cases, the use of analgesics, for example, with the active ingredient ibuprofen, is appropriate.
Medical effect and application
Ibuprofen is a drug with anti-inflammatory and analgesic action. Pain and inflammation are extremely unpleasant, yet they also have protective and warning functions, which may be of vital importance. The messenger substances (prostaglandins) released in the process transmit pain signals to the brain or activate immune cells, which fight invading pathogens. Ibuprofen is used for the symptomatic treatment of pain, fever and inflammation, acute joint inflammation (arthritis), including gout attacks, as well as chronic joint inflammation, especially rheumatoid arthritis and chronic polyarthritis, irritation in osteoarthritis and spondyloarthritis (degenerative joint diseases and spinal diseases), inflammatory rheumatic diseases of the spine, e.g. Bekhterev’s disease, osteoarthritis of the spine, osteoarthritis of the spine, osteoarthritis of the spine, osteoarthritis of the spine. e.g. ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory diseases in soft tissue rheumatism as well as painful injury-related inflammations and swellings. Ibuprofen is available on the market in various dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, granules, children’s juices, suppositories or ointments. The active ingredient ibuprofen is subject to compulsory pharmacy prescription and can be purchased over-the-counter in pharmacies up to a certain dosage. Preparations with a higher active ingredient content of ibuprofen, e.g., for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, require a prescription from a physician.
Drug Interactions
Special caution may be needed when taking ibuprofen and other medications at the same time; in particular, ibuprofen may either potentiate or weaken the effects of other medications. Combination with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics should be avoided. With concomitant administration of ibuprofen and oral corticosteroids, anticoagulant drugs, e.g., Marcumar, SSRIs (used to treat depression), or antiplatelet agents, e.g., ASA, there is a risk of bleeding or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract. If these factors occur, therapy with ibuprofen should be discontinued immediately. Habitual use of ibuprofen and analgesics in general, especially a combination of preparations containing different analgesic agents, may lead to permanent kidney damage and kidney failure. Ibuprofen must not be taken in case of allergy to the active ingredient or any other ingredient of ibuprofen, asthma attacks suffered in the past, nasal mucosal swelling or allergic reactions of the skin after use, certain blood formation disorders, cerebral hemorrhage, gastric or duodenal ulceration or bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding or gastric rupture in the past while taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), severe kidney or liver dysfunction, severe heart muscle weakness, in the last trimester of an existing pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and children and adolescents under 15 years of age. Treatment with ibuprofen of patients with hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smokers and elderly patients should be carried out under medical supervision in justified cases. Only under strict consideration of the benefit/risk ratio should ibuprofen be used in certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease, or some congenital disorders of hematopoiesis, such as acute intermittent porphyria. Special medical attention is required after major surgery, in cases of known allergies, such as previous skin reactions to other drugs, hay fever, chronic swelling of the nasal mucosa, bronchial asthma, chronic respiratory disease, impaired liver or kidney function, and when taking ibuprofen.
Risks and side effects
Taking ibuprofen may cause headache, dizziness, nervousness, stomach pain, gastric mucosal bleeding, gastrointestinal ulcers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.In particular, the use of ibuprofen in suppository form may cause irritation of the mucous membranes, pain during defecation and bloody mucus secretions. In the event of severe allergic reactions, such as skin rashes, redness and itching of the skin, mucosal lesions or rarely occurring severe hypersensitivity reactions, such as respiratory distress up to cardiovascular failure and shock, the treatment with ibuprofen must be discontinued immediately and the attending physician must be informed immediately, who will initiate appropriate medical measures. Especially higher doses of ibuprofen may cause central nervous disturbances with fatigue, irritability and dizziness. In individual cases, the ability to react is altered to such an extent that active participation in road traffic and the ability to work on and with machines are impaired. This applies in particular to simultaneous consumption of alcohol. Alcohol should generally be avoided during treatment with ibuprofen, as this may lead to unpredictable interactions. The above risks and side effects may or may not occur in every patient. If ibuprofen is taken for a long time, regular medical checks of the blood count, kidney function and liver values are necessary. Especially in elderly persons, medical monitoring and, if necessary, dose adjustment of ibuprofen are required due to the more frequent occurrence of side effects.
