What Is Ibuprofen? What Do I Use Ibuprofen for?

How does ibuprofen work? Where did it come from? What can you use ibuprofen for? Here you’ll find answers to commonly asked questions about ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), also referred to as an anti-inflammatory – a type of medicine that’s commonly used to relieve pain and bring down fever.

Ibuprofen has many different brand names1 and you’ll find products containing ibuprofen sold in supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores. You’ll also find ibuprofen formulations designed for both adults and children.

How does ibuprofen work?

Ibuprofen helps relieve pain caused by inflammation, which occurs when the body produces increased amounts of molecules called prostaglandins when you have an illness or injury.

When prostaglandins are released, they make nearby nerves more sensitive to pain – which helps your body realise something is wrong. So for example, when you put your hand on something sharp, the nearby nerves tell your brain, which sends a message that your hand hurts.

Prostaglandins also make tissues inflamed and swollen – they are one of the reasons why you get a sore throat when you are sick and why a sprained ankle becomes swollen and painful.

Because ibuprofen blocks the production of prostaglandins throughout the body, it can be used to help relieve body pain caused by inflammation.

What are the different types of ibuprofen available?

Ibuprofen comes in a range of different formulations. The two most common are oral formulations, which can be swallowed with water, and topical formulations, which are applied to the skin.

After you swallow an ibuprofen tablet or caplet, it ends up in your stomach where it begins to dissolve. As the tablet or caplet dissolves, ibuprofen is released from the tablet or caplet and absorbed into your bloodstream. Once ibuprofen is absorbed into the bloodstream, it travels throughout the body, and can start blocking prostaglandins from being made, which helps reduce pain and inflammation.

In recent years, different formulations of ibuprofen have been developed. Two examples are ibuprofen lysine and ibuprofen sodium dihydrate. The ibuprofen sodium dihydrate formulation is absorbed up to twice as fast as standard formulations of ibuprofen.

There are also formulations especially designed for children’s use. Children’s liquid formulations or soft chewable capsules are available. Children’s liquid ibuprofen can be used from 3 months and the soft chewable capsules can be used from 7 years of age.

Topical ibuprofen – Topical ibuprofen comes as a gel and is applied directly onto painful parts of the body as directed on the label. It is absorbed into the skin at the site of pain.

What is ibuprofen used for?

At over-the-counter doses, ibuprofen is used to provide temporary relief of pain and/or inflammation associated with:

Headaches (e.g. migraines, tension headaches)
Muscle pain (e.g. strains and sprains, sport injuries)
Cold and flu symptoms
Period pain
Back pain
Dental pain
Joint pain (e.g. arthritic pain)
Sinus pain

Ibuprofen also reduces fever.

Ibuprofen vs paracetamol: types of pain relievers

Pain relievers available in your supermarket or pharmacy can be divided into two groups:

Those that mainly act at the site of the pain
Those that are thought to mainly act centrally – in the brain

Ibuprofen, aspirin, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work by blocking pain signals mainly at the site of pain.

Paracetamol is a different kind of pain reliever that is thought to act mainly in the central nervous system (the brain).

What’s the difference? ibuprofen vs paracetamol

	Ibuprofen	Paracetamol
Type of medicine	Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)	Analgesic
How it works	Blocks pain signals mainly at the site of pain	Thought to work mainly centrally (via the brain) to reduce intensity of pain signals
Common brand names	Nurofen, Advil, Bugesic, Rafen,Herron Blue	Panadol, Lemsip Max, Dymadon, Febridol, Herron Gold

History of ibuprofen

Ibuprofen was discovered and developed in the 1950s and 1960s by the research arm of the UK-based Company Boots, led by Dr Stewart Adams and Dr John Nicholson. Boots sold their ibuprofen product to Reckitt Benckiser in 2005.

What is an NSAID?

NSAIDs (short for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), also called anti-inflammatories help relieve pain and reduce inflammation by blocking the production of pain-causing chemicals called prostaglandins.

There are many types of NSAIDs available in both supermarkets and pharmacies. Over-the-counter NSAIDs that you can select for yourself include aspirin, diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen.

Other NSAIDs are available with a prescription from your doctor.

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Important information

This medicine may not be right for you. Read the label before purchase. Follow the directions for use. Incorrect use could be harmful. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.

This article is for general information only and not intended as a substitute for medical advice. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health-related matters, always consult your health professional.