Cuprofen for children (ibuprofen)

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion or abdominal pain.
- Skin rashes.
- Bleeding from the stomach or intestine.
- Stomach or duodenal ulcer.
- Retention of water in the body tissues (fluid retention), resulting in swelling (oedema).
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Depression.
- Confusion.
- Drowsiness.
- Balance disorders involving the inner ear (vertigo).
- Sensation of ringing or other noise in the ears (tinnitus).
- Visual disturbances.
- Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity).
- Allergic reactions such as severe skin rashes, swelling of the lips, tongue and throat (angioedema) or narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm).
- Kidney, liver or blood disorders.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines your child is already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before givng this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any new medicines in combination with this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Ibuprofen should not be taken in combination with painkilling doses of aspirin (above 75mg per day) or any other oral NSAID, (eg naproxen, diclofenac) as this increases the risk of side effects on the stomach and intestines. People taking selective inhibitors of COX-2 such as celecoxib or etoricoxib should not take ibuprofen for the same reason.

There may be an increased risk of ulceration or bleeding from the gut if ibuprofen is taken with corticosteroids such as prednisolone.

There may also be an increased risk of bleeding from the gut if ibuprofen is taken with the following medicines:

- anti-blood-clotting (anticoagulant) medicines such as warfarin
- antiplatelet medicines to reduce the risk of blood clots or 'thin the blood', eg low-dose aspirin, dipydridamole, clopidogrel
- SSRI antidepressants, eg fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram
- venlafaxine.

There may be an increased risk of side effects on the kidneys if ibuprofen is taken in combination with any of the following medicines:

- ACE inhibitors, eg enalapril
- ciclosporin
- diuretics, eg furosemide
- tacrolimus.

Ibuprofen may reduce the removal of the following medicines from the body and so may increase the blood levels and risk of side effects of these medicines:

- digoxin
- lithium
- methotrexate.

Ibuprofen may oppose the blood pressure lowering effects of certain medicines to treat high blood pressure, such as the following:

- amlodipine
- ACE inhibitors such as captopril
- beta-blockers such as atenolol.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Other brands of ibuprofen that are taken by mouth:

Anadin ibuprofen	Anadin ultra	Arthrofen
Brufen	Calprofen	Cuprofen
Fenbid spansules	Fenpaed	Galprofen
Hedex ibuprofen	Ibufem	Librofem
Migrafen	Nurofen	Nurofen for children
Orbifen for children

Ibuprofen tablets, capsules, caplets and suspensions are also widely available without brand names, ie as the generic medicine.

Ibuprofen is also available as creams, gels and sprays that are applied to the skin to relieve muscle and joint pain:

Cuprofen gel	Fenbid gel	Ibugel
Ibuleve	Ibumousse	Ibuspray
Mentholatum ibuprofen gel	Nurofen gel	Phorpain gel
Proflex cream	Radian B ibuprofen gel/massage stick

The quantity and strength of ibuprofen supplied in the container or packet will determine whether it is only available on prescription, or can be bought from pharmacies only, or from other retail outlets such as supermarkets and garages.

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