What you need to know about Ibuprofen Chewable Tablets

Ibuprofen is a very common medicine that your doctor will give you or that you can buy from the pharmacy when your child has a fever or body ache. Since it is especially difficult for young children to swallow pills, it is often given in chewable tablets. But rather than just giving this medicine, it is more important for your and your child's safety to know a little about it. Today, let's talk about all about these Ibuprofen chewable tablets.

What exactly is Ibuprofen?

Simply put, Ibuprofen is a pain reliever. This means it helps control mild to moderate pain in the body, for example, headaches, toothaches, and muscle aches. Not only that, it is also used to reduce inflammation and fever in the body. In medicine, we call these drugs NSAID (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) . You may be familiar with this drug under brand names like Advil, Motrin, and Brufen.

Things you need to tell your doctor before using this medicine

Before using ibuprofen, you should definitely tell your doctor if you or your child have any of the following conditions. Don't forget this, because it is very important for your safety.

• Bleeding disorders: If you have a bleeding disorder.
• Heart disease: If you have recently had a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, that is, within two weeks, if you have had a previous heart attack, if you have other heart disease or heart failure.
• High Blood Pressure: If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• Kidney or liver disease: If you have any kidney or liver disease.
• Respiratory diseases: If you have lung diseases like asthma.
• Stomach problems: Stomach ulcers or a history of stomach bleeding.
• Other medications: If you are taking blood thinners (e.g. Warfarin, Aspirin) or steroids like Prednisone.
• Allergies: If you have an allergy to ibuprofen, aspirin, other NSAID medications, or any other medicine or food.
• Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• Phenylketonuria (PKU): Some chewable tablets may contain aspartame. So if you or your child has a rare condition called Phenylketonuria (PKU), tell your doctor about it too.

How exactly do I use this medicine?

Since this is a chewable tablet, it is important to know the correct way to use it.

• Chew well: The tablet should be chewed or crushed completely before swallowing. Do not swallow the tablet whole.
• With or without food: This medicine can be taken before or after meals. However, if you experience stomach upset or heartburn, it is best to take it with a meal.
• When giving to children: When giving this medicine to children, talk to your doctor to find out the exact dosage for their age and weight. Do not give this medicine to children under 2 years of age without medical advice.

What if I miss a dose of medication?

If you are a person who takes this medicine at the same time every day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.

Other things that can cause problems with ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a medication that can interact with some other medications, so be aware of the table below.

This list is not complete, so be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and traditional medicines you are taking.

Things to consider when taking the medicine

• With other painkillers: When taking ibuprofen, do not take other NSAID painkillers, such as aspirin or naproxen, without your doctor's advice. These can also be found in over-the-counter cold medicines, so read the label carefully.
• Stomach bleeding: This medicine can cause stomach ulcers or bleeding without warning in some people. Smoking, drinking alcohol, being older, and having poor health can increase this risk. See a doctor right away if you have symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting blood or something that looks like coffee grounds, or black stools .
• Heart attack and stroke risk: The risk of heart attack and stroke may be slightly increased when ibuprofen is used long-term and in high doses. This risk is greater if you already have heart disease.
• Skin reactions: Some people may develop serious skin reactions a few weeks or months after starting the medication. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop red or purple blisters on your skin along with fever, body aches, sores inside your mouth, or swelling of your face or lips.
• Drowsiness: This medication may make some people feel drowsy or dizzy. Therefore, avoid activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how your body reacts to the medication.

Side effects of the medicine

Like any medicine, Ibuprofen can have side effects.

How do you store and dispose of medication?

Keep this medicine out of the reach of children and pets . Store at room temperature (20-25 degrees Celsius). Do not use expired medicine. When throwing away expired or unwanted medicine, check the label or ask your doctor if it is okay to throw it in the trash. If throwing it in the trash, remove the pills from the container, mix them with something like used tea leaves, coffee grounds, or soil, put them in a bag, and then close it tightly.

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