Ibuprofène pour la douleur et l'inflammation

About ibuprofen

Anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen are also called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or sometimes just 'anti-inflammatories'. Ibuprofen is used to treat painful conditions such as arthritis, sprains and strains, period (menstrual) pain, migraine headaches, dental pain, and pain after surgical operations. It eases pain and reduces inflammation. Ibuprofen can also be used to relieve cold and 'flu-like' symptoms including high temperature (fever). It can be taken by adults and by children over the age of 3 months.

Ibuprofen works by blocking the effect of natural chemicals called cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes. These enzymes help to make other chemicals in the body, called prostaglandins. Some prostaglandins are produced at sites of injury or damage, and cause pain and inflammation. By blocking the effect of COX enzymes, fewer prostaglandins are produced, which means pain and inflammation are eased.

Ibuprofen is available on prescription, and you can also buy a number of preparations which contain ibuprofen without a prescription at pharmacies and other retail outlets.

Ibuprofen is also available as a gel which can be applied directly to your skin to help relieve muscle and joint pain - there is more information about this in a separate medicine leaflet called Ibuprofen gel for pain relief.

Before taking ibuprofen

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking ibuprofen, it is important that your doctor, dentist, or pharmacist knows:

• Si vous avez déjà eu un ulcère de l'estomac ou du duodénum, ou si vous souffrez d'un trouble inflammatoire de l'intestin tel que la maladie de Crohn ou la colite ulcéreuse.

• Si vous souffrez d'asthme ou de tout autre trouble allergique.

• Si vous êtes enceinte, si vous essayez d'avoir un enfant ou si vous allaitez.

• Si vous avez des problèmes de fonctionnement du foie ou des reins.

• Si vous souffrez d'une maladie cardiaque ou d'un problème de vaisseaux sanguins ou de circulation.

• Si vous souffrez d'hypertension artérielle.

• Si vous avez des problèmes de coagulation sanguine.

• Si vous avez un taux élevé de sucre dans le sang ou de cholestérol.

• Si vous souffrez d'une maladie du tissu conjonctif telle que le lupus érythémateux disséminé. Il s'agit d'une maladie inflammatoire également appelée lupus ou LED.

• Si vous prenez d'autres médicaments. Cela comprend tous les médicaments que vous prenez et qui sont disponibles sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médicaments complémentaires.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un autre AINS (comme l'aspirine, le naproxène, le diclofénac et l'indométacine) ou à tout autre médicament.

How to take ibuprofen

• Before you start taking ibuprofen, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about ibuprofen and will provide you a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• The usual dose for adults and children of 12 years of age or more, is 200-400 mg of ibuprofen three or four times daily if needed. The dose will be different to this, however, if you have been prescribed a tablet which releases ibuprofen slowly (called a modified-release tablet) - these tablets are usually taken only once a day, or sometimes twice a day.

• There are several different brands of tablets and capsules available, so always remember to check the label of the pack to make sure you are taking the recommended amount.

• If you are giving ibuprofen liquid medicine to a child, the dose you will need to give depends on your child's age. Check the label on the medicine bottle carefully to make sure that you are giving the correct amount for the age of your child. The following children's doses are provided as a guide (using 100 mg/5 ml ibuprofen oral suspension):
  

  • 3-5 months: 50 mg (2.5 ml) three times daily.

  • 6-11 months: 50 mg (2.5 ml) three or four times daily.

  • 1-3 years: 100 mg (5 ml) three times daily.

  • 4-6 years: 150 mg (7.5 ml) three times daily.

  • 7-9 years: 200 mg (10 ml) three times daily.

  • 10-11 years: 300 mg (15 ml) three times daily.

• Ibuprofen is best taken with food. This will help to protect your stomach from side-effects such as indigestion.

• If you have been prescribed a modified-release form of ibuprofen (Brufen Retard® brand), swallow the tablet or capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or break the tablets.

• If you have been prescribed a sachet containing ibuprofen granules (Brufen® Effervescent Granules), mix the contents of the sachet into a glass of water to make a fizzy drink. Drink it straightaway after mixing it.

• Si vous oubliez de prendre une dose, prenez-la dès que vous vous en rendez compte, à moins que la dose suivante ne soit prévue. Si c'est le cas, prenez la dose prévue, mais ne prenez pas la dose oubliée. Ne prenez pas deux doses en même temps pour compenser une dose oubliée.

Tirer le meilleur parti de votre traitement

• Your doctor will try to prescribe you the lowest dose for the shortest time to reduce the risk of side-effects. If you need to take ibuprofen for a long time, your doctor may want to prescribe another medicine along with it to protect your stomach from irritation. If you have bought ibuprofen 'over the counter', take it as a short course of treatment - you should stop taking it once the painfulness or the high temperature (fever) has gone.

• Try to keep any regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress, and is especially important if you are taking ibuprofen for a long-term condition.

• If you have asthma, symptoms such as wheeze or breathlessness can be made worse by anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. If this happens to you, you should stop taking ibuprofen and see your doctor as soon as possible.

• There is known to be a small increased risk of heart and blood vessel problems in people taking some anti-inflammatory painkillers, particularly if taken long-term. If you are concerned about this, speak with a healthcare professional for more information. If you are prescribed ibuprofen, your doctor will prescribe the lowest suitable dose for the shortest time in order to reduce the risk. If you have purchased ibuprofen, do not take more than the recommended dose.

• If you buy any medicines, always check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with any other medicines you are taking. Also, do not take ibuprofen with any other anti-inflammatory painkiller, some of which are available in cold and flu remedies which can be bought 'over the counter'.

• Si vous devez subir une opération ou un traitement dentaire, indiquez à la personne chargée du traitement les médicaments que vous prenez.

Can ibuprofen cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with ibuprofen. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Important: if you experience any of the following less frequent but possibly serious symptoms, stop taking ibuprofen and contact your doctor for advice straightaway:

• Si vous avez des difficultés respiratoires telles qu'une respiration sifflante ou un essoufflement.

• Si vous présentez des signes de réaction allergique tels qu'un gonflement autour de la bouche ou du visage, ou une éruption cutanée avec démangeaisons.

• Si vous avez du sang ou des selles noires, si vous vomissez du sang ou si vous avez de fortes douleurs à l'estomac.

Some studies have shown that ibuprofen may increase the risk of developing serious skin infections when used in children with chickenpox. Therefore, paracetamol is usually recommended in chickenpox and ibuprofen should not be used.

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes qui pourraient être dus au médicament, demandez conseil à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien.

How to store ibuprofen

• Conservez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur et de la lumière directes.

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments