Ibuprofen
Consumer Medicine Information
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Brufen. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Brufen against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Brufen is used for
Brufen relieves pain and reduces inflammation (swelling, redness or soreness) that may occur:
in different types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
in muscle and bone injuries such as sprains, strains, low back pain (lumbago), rheumatism, and tendonitis, such as tennis elbow
from swelling and pain after setting broken or dislocated bones
menstrual cramps (period pain)
following surgery
due to dental pain
Brufen also relieves fever (high temperature).
Although Brufen can relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation, it will not cure your condition.
Brufen belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs).
Your doctor may have prescribed Brufen for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Brufen has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Brufen is not addictive.
Before you take Brufen
When you must not take it
Do not take Brufen if you have an allergy to:
any product containing ibuprofen or any of the ingredients in Brufen listed at the end of this leaflet.
aspirin or any other NSAID medicine
Many medicines used to treat headache, period pain and other aches and pains contain aspirin or NSAID medicines. If you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines, ask your pharmacist.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to these medicines may include:
asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath
swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
hives, itching or skin rash
stomach ache, fever, chills , nausea and vomiting.
fainting
If you are allergic to aspirin or NSAID medicines and take Brufen, these symptoms may be severe.
Do not take Brufen if:
1. you are pregnant, or intend to become pregnant.
Brufen may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.
2. you are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed.
Brufen passes into breast milk and may affect your baby.
3. you have (or have previously) vomited blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
4. you are (or have previously) bled from the rectum (back passage), have black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea.
5. you have a condition resulting in an increased tendency to bleed
6. you have a peptic ulcer (ie stomach or duodenal ulcer), a recent history of one, or have had peptic ulcers before.
7. you have, or have a history of, Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease
8. you have severe heart failure
9. you have severe liver failure
10. you have severe kidney disease
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Brufen, contact your doctor.
Do not take Brufen if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not take Brufen if the expiry date (Exp) printed on the label has passed.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
1. you have any allergies to:
any other medicines including aspirin or other NSAID medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
2. you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Like most NSAID medicines, Brufen is not recommended to be used during pregnancy. It may also impair female fertility.
3. you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Like most NSAID medicines, Brufen is not recommended while you are breast-feeding.
4. you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
heart disease or high blood pressure
heartburn, indigestion, stomach ulcer or any other stomach problems
vomiting blood or bleeding from the back passage
severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
asthma
vision problems
liver or kidney disease
tendency to bleed or other blood problems
bowel or intestinal problems such as ulcerative colitis
heart failure
swelling of ankles or feet
diarrhoea
5. you currently have an infection
If you take Brufen while you have an infection, it may hide some of the signs and symptoms of an infection. This may make you think, mistakenly, that you are better or that it is not serious.
6. you plan to have surgery
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Brufen.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with each other. These include:
aspirin, salicylates or other NSAID medicines
warfarin or clopidogrel, medicines used to stop blood clots
lithium, a medicine used to treat some types of depression
SSRIs such as sertraline, medicines used to treat depression
medicines used to treat high blood pressure or other heart conditions
diuretics, also called fluid tablets
methotrexate, a medicine used to treat arthritis and some types of cancer
corticosteroids, such as prednisone, cortisone
medicines used to treat heart failure such as digoxin
cyclosporin or tacrolimus, medicines used to treat certain problems with the immune system or to help prevent organ transplant rejection.
Aminoglycosides, medicines used to treat certain infections
Gingko Biloba, a herbal medicine used to thin the blood
Quinolone antibiotics, medicines used to treat certain infections.
Zidovudine, a medicine used to treat HIV.
Cholestyramine, a medicine used to treat high cholesterol
sulfonylureas, medicines to treat diabetes.
voriconazole or fluconazole, medicines to treat certain fungal infections
These medicines may be affected by Brufen, or may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Brufen.
How to take Brufen
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how many Brufen tablets to take each day and when to take them.
Take the exact amount your doctor tells you to, no more or less.
Adults
Brufen 400mg tablets
The usual daily dose of Brufen tablets is one tablet taken three or four times a day. In acute conditions, your doctor may prescribe two tablets three times a day. Do not take more than six tablets in one day.
It is usual for elderly patients to be prescribed a smaller dose of Brufen than younger adult patients.
Period Pain
The usual dose of Brufen tablets is one to two tablets at the first sign of menstrual bleeding. Then take one tablet every 4 to 6 hours as necessary. Do not take more than four tablets in one day.
Children
The dose of Brufen will depend on the age and weight of your child, and the illness. Your doctor will tell you how much Brufen to give your child.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How to take it
Take Brufen tablets with or straight after food with a full glass of water.
This may help reduce the possibility of an upset stomach.
How long to take it
Do not take Brufen for longer than your doctor says.
Depending on your condition, you may need Brufen for a few days, a few weeks or for longer periods.
As with other NSAID medicines, if you are taking Brufen for arthritis, it will not cure your condition but it should help to control pain, swelling and stiffness.
It usually begins to work within a few hours but several weeks may pass before you feel the full effects of the medicine. If you have arthritis, Brufen should be taken every day for as long as your doctor prescribes.
For menstrual cramps (period pain), Brufen is usually taken at the first sign of pain or menstrual bleeding (whichever comes first). Treatment should be continued for a few days until the pain goes away.
If you are not sure how long to take your Brufen, talk to your doctor.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Brufen. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Brufen you may:
feel sick or vomit
have stomach pain
have convulsions
feel dizzy or even become unconscious
While you are using Brufen
Things you must do
If you become pregnant while taking Brufen tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Brufen.
Tell all of the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists that are treating you that you are taking Brufen.
If you are going to have surgery, make sure the surgeon and anaesthetist know you are taking Brufen.
NSAID medicines can slow down blood clotting.
If you get an infection while using Brufen, tell your doctor.
Brufen may hide some of the signs of an infection and may make you think mistakenly, that you are better or that it is not serious. Signs of an infection may include fever, pain, swelling and redness.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor if you feel the medicine is not helping your condition.
This will help your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Your doctor may want to take some blood tests from time to time. This helps to prevent unwanted side effects.
Tell your doctor if you get any visual disturbances such as blurred vision.
You may need to have an eye examination to make sure Brufen is not causing any side effects.
Things you must not do
Do not take any other medicines to relieve pain and reduce inflammation while you are taking Brufen without first telling your doctor. This includes:
aspirin (also called acetylsalicylic acid)
other medicines containing ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Brufen
any other NSAID medicine
Do not take Brufen to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give Brufen to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of:
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Brufen affects you.
As with other NSAID medicines, Brufen may cause dizziness or light-headedness, drowsiness or blurred vision in some people.
If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Brufen.
Brufen helps most people, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. As with most medicines, if you are over 65 years of age, you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
nausea or vomiting
loss of appetite
heartburn or pain in the upper part of your stomach
cramps, wind, constipation or diarrhoea
headache
sleepiness
dizziness
buzzing or ringing in the ears or other trouble hearing
sleeplessness
changes in mood, for example depression, confusion, nervousness
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
severe pain or tenderness in the stomach
eye problems such as blurred vision, sore red eyes, itching
signs of frequent or worrying infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, reddish or purplish blotches under the skin
signs of anaemia, such as tiredness, headaches, being short of breath, and looking pale
yellowing of the skin and/or eyes, also called jaundice
unusual weight gain, swelling of ankles or legs
tingling of the hands and feet
symptoms of sunburn (such as redness, itching, swelling, blistering) which may occur more quickly than normal.
severe or persistent headache
fast or irregular heartbeats, also called palpitations
These may be serious side effects of Brufen. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, stop taking Brufen and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath
sudden or severe itching, skin rash, hives
severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals (Stevens Johnson Syndrome)
fever, generally feeling unwell, nausea, stomach ache, headache and stiff neck.
Brufen may be associated with a small increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Blood disorders and kidney problems may occur with Brufen.
These may be very serious side effects of Brufen. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making your feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After using Brufen
Storage
Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the pack they may not keep well.
Keep the tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Brufen or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Brufen or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that is left over.
Product description
What Brufen looks like
Brufen is available as:
Brufen 400mg tablets: White, pillow shaped, immediate release, film-coated tablets.
Supplied in a bottle* containing 10, 20 or 50 tablets or blister pack containing 30, 40* or 60* tablets.
*Presentation not currently marketed
Ingredients
The active ingredient in Brufen tablets is ibuprofen.
Brufen does not contain gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Brufen 400mg tablets
Active ingredient:
Ibuprofen 400mg per tablet
Inactive ingredients:
Microcrystalline Cellulose
Croscarmellose Sodium
Lactose Monohydrate
Colloidal Anhydrous Silica
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Magnesium Stearate
Hypromellose
Purified Talc
Titanium dioxide
