Analgestic: Ibuprofen for pain relief

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal,anti-inflammatory drug which is most commonly used for alleviatingthe pain associated with conditions such as arthritis, fevers or someother inflammatory problems. It is a drug which was discovered in the1960s, derived from the propionic acid. It was discovered by AndrewRM Dunlop, together with his colleagues Stewart Adams, JohnNicholson, Vonleigh Simmons, Jeff Wilson and Collin Burrows.

During the initial years after the drugwas patented, it was branded as Brufen. Today, it is widely-availableunder many brand names including Motrin, Nurofen, Advil and Nuprin.

Ibuprofen for Pain Relief

The dosage of Ibuprofen depends on thepurpose behind its usage. Thus, if can range anywhere up to 1,200mg,considered to be the maximum one can safely handle daily, when itcomes to taking over-the-counter ibuprofen.

However, most people cannot get thisdrug in doses larger than 800mg per tablet. However, if one's medicaltreatment demands this, a person can take up to 3200mg of Ibuprofenon a daily basis, even though this is necessary only in dire cases.

While other, similar drugs, likeaspirin are broken down in solutions, Ibuprofen remains sold and can,therefore, be found in other forms such as gels, commonly used byathletes, applied topically on the injured or painful areas of thebody. When used in this form, Ibuprofen cannot lead to digestiveproblems it can cause when consumed orally.

In some countries in Europe, as well asin Australia and New Zealand, Ibuprofen can be obtained in its lysinesalt form, administered intravenously for the same purposes as allother forms of this medication are used. Here, the dosage ranges from500 to 1500g, being less aggressive to the kidneys than Indomethacin,for example, is known to be.

However, taking into consideration thatthis drug is widely-available since it can be purchasedover-the-counter, without a prescription, people need to be verycareful with it because overdosing can lead to serious health issues.People are advised to inform themselves about the characteristics ofthis drug before actually taking it. For instance, knowing thatIbuprofen should not be taken with Aspirin since the combination canlead to heart attacks or strokes is a piece of information that cansave one's life. There are many other useful facts like these andmost of them are mentioned below.

Adverse Effects from Ibuprofen

Almost all side-effects related to thisdrug take place once a person takes excessive amounts of it. Mostfrequent symptoms which signify this are abdominal pain, nausea,vomiting, headaches, dizziness, ringing in ears, nystagmus anddrowsiness.

However, in some cases, the symptoms ofoverdose can become more severe that these ones, beinggastrointestinal bleeding, seizures, metabolic acidosis,hyperkalaemia, low blood pressure, bradycardia, tachycardia, atrialfibrillation, hepatic dysfunction, coma, acute renal failure,respiratory problems, cardiac arrest and cyanosis. Usually, theseverity of the symptoms increases with the dosage and the timepassed after taking the drug in quantities larger than recommended.In general, the side-effects related to this medication are the sameas most of the ones that have been reported with other non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs.

Using Ibuprofen over a longer period oftime is not recommended, since such forms of usage have been relatedto heart attacks and strokes. Also, you are not advised to take thismedication if you have undergone heart bypass surgery lately. Thefirst signs of an overdose or an adverse reaction to this medicationare chest pain, balance and coordination issues, slurred speech,vision problems, general weakness and fatigue and stomachache.

Some of the most serious unwantedeffects of this medication are black, bloody or tarry stools or bloodfound in your vomit or cough.

Some people should not take Ibuprofenwithout previously consulting with their doctors. These people arethose who have suffered from heart attacks, strokes or blood clots inthe past, as well as those who have heart disease, congestive heartfailure and hypertension in their medical history. Additionally,people who have suffered from stomach ulcers or intestinal bleedingare supposed to avoid this medication. The same piece of advice isdirected towards people who suffer from kidney or liver disease,polyps in the nose, asthma or systemic lupus erythematosus. Finally,smokers should not take this medication without their doctor'sconsent.

Pregnant women should not take thismedication, especially during the last trimester, since the drugpasses through the placenta. Also, the drug can reach breast milk sodo not breastfeed while taking Ibuprofen or abstain from using itwhile breastfeeding.

All in all, Ibuprofen is a drug mostcommonly used for pain relief. However, taking into considerationthat people can take larger doses than those which are considered tobe safe, you are highly advised to consult with your health providerbefore opting for Ibuprofen in the first place, informing him/herabout the purposes behind taking the drug, as well as about yourmedical history.