Ibuprofen (Motrin) 600 mg, 800 mg

• Generic name: Ibuprofen
• Brand/Trade names: Advil, Motrin, Nurofen
• Dosages:
  Tablets of 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg
  Chewable tablets of 50 and 100 mg
  Capsules of 200 mg
  Suspension of 100 mg/2.5 ml and 100 mg/5 ml
• Pharmacologic category: Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
• FDA approved: September 19, 1974
• Habit forming? No
• Pregnancy risk factor: C

Ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. Ibuprofen is used to relief the symptoms of a wide range of illnesses such as headaches, backache, period pain, dental pain, neuralgia, rheumatic pain, muscular pain, migraine, cold and flu symptoms and arthritis.

Common adverse effects include: nausea, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal ulceration/bleeding, raised liver enzymes, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, salt and fluid retention, hypertension.

• Onset of action: Analgesic: 30-60 minutes; Anti-inflammatory:
• Duration of action: 4-6 hours
• Metabolism: Hepatic
• Elimination half-life:
  Children 3 months to 10 years: 1.6 ± 0.7 hours
  Adults: 2-4 hours
• Excretion: Urine (1% as free drug); some feces

• Relatively low risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Ibuprofen appears to have the lowest incidence of gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions of all the non-selective NSAIDs.
• Reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease. According to Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging, the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease may be reduced by up to 60 percent with frequent consumption of ibuprofen over two or more years, and that use for an even shorter period may reduce risk by 30 percent. Researchers in that study caution, however, that consistent use of ibuprofen can cause kidney failure. In a conflicting article published in the American Journal of Medical Science in 1990, authors believe ibuprofen itself is not an independent predictor of risk of kidney damage; however, when taken by patients 65 years or older or who have coronary artery disease, the risk factor increases.
• Less cardiovascular side effects.
• Inexpensive. Less costly than many other NSAIDs.

• High potential for Drug interactions. May diminish the cardioprotective effect of aspirin.
• Frequent dose regimen. Usually requires 3-4 times/day dosing.

• Cystic fibrosis
• Gout
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Migraine headache

Ibuprofen has three actions: anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-killing) and antipyretic (fever-reducing).

It is believed to work through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), thus inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. There are at least 2 variations of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2 ), ibuprofen inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2. It appears that its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activity are achieved principally through COX-2 inhibition; whereas COX-1 inhibition is responsible for its unwanted effects on platelet aggregation and the GI mucosa.

• 1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ibuprofen (Motrin) U.S. Prescribing Information. Available at (PDF format): Prescribing Information