Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen, from isobutylphenylpropanoic acid, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for treating pain, fever, and inflammation. This includes painful menstrual periods, migraines, and rheumatoid arthritis. About 60% of people improve with any given NSAID, and it is recommended that if one does not work then another should be tried. It may also be used to close a patent ductus arteriosus in a premature baby. It can be used by mouth or intravenously. It typically begins working within an hour.

Common side effects includes heartburn and a rash. Compared to other NSAIDs it may have fewer side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding. It increases the risk of heart failure, kidney failure, and liver failure. At low doses it does not appear to increase the risk of myocardial infarction; however, at higher doses it may. It may result in worsened asthma. While it is unclear if it is safe in early pregnancy, it appears to be harmful in later pregnancy. Like other NSAIDs, it works by inhibiting the making of prostaglandins by decreasing the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase. Ibuprofen might be a weaker anti-inflammatory than other NSAIDs.

Ibuprofen brand names

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world. The most common being Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen.

Nurofen

Nurofen is the brand name of a range of pain-relief medication made by Reckitt Benckiser. Introduced in 1983, the Nurofen brand was acquired following Reckitt Benckiser's acquisition of Boots Healthcare in 2005. The brand is primarily marketed and sold in the United Kingdom, other parts of Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

There are 11 variants of Nurofen, all of which contain ibuprofen as an active ingredient. The ibuprofen is variously formulated as the free acid or the lysine salt, or may alternatively be in the form of a gel cap. In some cases these are marketed as being useful for treating specific types of pain such as back pain or period pain. The primary difference among the various formulations is speed and duration of ibuprofen absorption. According to the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the form of ibuprofen in Nurofen Tension Headache (ibuprofen lysine) is absorbed nearly twice as fast as the form in Neurofen Period Pain (ibuprofen free acid), with the former reaching peak blood concentrations in 38 minutes compared to 80 minutes for the latter.