You can use ibuprofen to:
- Ease mild to moderate pain, for example, toothache, migraines and period pains.
- Ease the pain and inflammation caused by rheumatic disease and musculoskeletal disorders, for example, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
- Reduce a fever (also known as pyrexia).
- Ease the pain and swelling caused by sprains and strains, for example, sports injuries.
Use in children
Ibuprofen may be given to children from three months of age who weigh at least 5kg to relieve pain, inflammation and fever (pyrexia).
Sometimes your GP or other healthcare professional may recommend ibuprofen for younger children. For example, babies two to three months of age can take ibuprofen to control a fever following immunisation if paracetamol is unsuitable. Ibuprofen may also be given to children with rheumatic conditions such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Sometimes an injection of ibuprofen is given to premature babies to treat a patent ductus arteriosus (when a blood vessel in the heart does not close normally after birth).
Glossary
- Blood vessel
- Blood vessels are the tubes in which blood travels to and from parts of the body. The three main types of blood vessels are veins, arteries and capillaries.
- Disease
- A disease is an illness or condition that interferes with normal body functions.
- Fever
- A fever is when you have a high body temperature (over 38C or 100.4F).
- Heart
- The heart is a muscular organ. Its function is to pump blood around the body.
- Inflammation
- Inflammation is the body's response to infection, irritation or injury. It causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
- Migraine
- A migraine is a type of recurring headache. It is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.
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