Ibuprofen (Page 5 of 6)

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from ibuprofen, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness of ibuprofen in pediatric patients below the age of 6 months have not been established (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY — Clinical Studies). Dosing of ibuprofen in children 6 months or older should be guided by their body weight (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Geriatric Use

As with any NSAIDs, caution should be exercised in treating the elderly (65 years and older).

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In patients taking ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, the most frequently reported adverse experiences occurring in approximately 1 to 10% of patients are: Abnormal renal function, anemia, dizziness, edema, elevated liver enzymes, fluid retention, gastrointestinal experiences (including abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, epigastric pain, flatulence, heartburn, nausea, vomiting), headaches, increased bleeding time, nervousness, pruritus, rashes (including maculopapular) and tinnitus.

Additional adverse experiences reported occasionally include:

Body as a whole — fever, infection, sepsis

Cardiovascular system — congestive heart failure in patients with marginal cardiac function, hypertension, tachycardia, syncope

Digestive system — dry mouth, duodenitits, esophagitis, gastric or duodenal ulcer with bleeding and/or perforation, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, glossitis, hematemesis, hepatitis, jaundice, melena, rectal bleeding

Hemic and lymphatic system — ecchymosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, purpura, stomatitis, thrombocytopenia

Metabolic and nutritional — weight changes

Nervous system — anxiety, asthenia, confusion, depression, dream abnormalities, drowsiness, insomnia, malaise, paresthesia, somnolence, tremors, vertigo

Respiratory system — asthma, dyspnea

Skin and appendages — alopecia, photosensitivity, sweat

Special senses — blurred vision

Urogenital system — cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, interstitial nephritis, oliguria/polyuria, proteinuria, acute renal failure in patients with pre-existing significantly impaired renal function

Other adverse reactions, which occur rarely are:

Body as a whole — anaphylactic reactions, anaphylactoid reactions, appetite changes

Cardiovascular system — arrhythmia, cerebrovascular accident, hypotension, myocardial infarction, palpitations, vasculitis

Digestive system — eructation, gingival ulcer, hepatorenal syndrome, liver necrosis, liver failure, pancreatitis

Hemic and lymphatic system — agranulocystosis, hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, lymphadenopathy, neutropenia, pancytopenia

Metabolic and nutritional — hyperglycemia

Nervous system — convulsions, coma, emotional lability, hallucinations, aseptic meningitis

Respiratory — apnea, respiratory depression, pneumonia, rhinitis

Skin and appendages — angioedema, toxic epidermal necrosis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens Johnson syndrome, urticaria, vesiculobullous eruptions

Special senses — amblyopia (blurred and/or diminished vision, scotomata and/or changes in color vision), conjunctivitis, dry eyes, hearing impairment

Urogenital — azotemia, decreased creatinine clearance, glomerulitis, renal papillary necrosis, tubular necrosis

OVERDOSAGE

The toxicity of ibuprofen overdose is dependent upon the amount of drug ingested and the time elapsed since ingestion, though individual response may vary, which makes it necessary to evaluate each case individually. Although uncommon, serious toxicity and death have been reported in the medical literature with ibuprofen overdosage. The most frequently reported symptoms of ibuprofen overdose include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and drowsiness. Other central nervous system symptoms include headache, tinnitus, CNS depression and seizures. Metabolic acidosis, coma, acute renal failure and apnea (primarily in very young children) may rarely occur. Cardiovascular toxicity, including hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia and atrial fibrillation, also have been reported.

The treatment of acute ibuprofen overdose is primarily supportive. Management of hypotension, acidosis and gastrointestinal bleeding may be necessary.
In cases of acute overdose, the stomach should be emptied through ipecac-induced emesis or lavage. Emesis is most effective if initiated within 30 minutes of ingestion. Orally administered activated charcoal may help in reducing the absorption and reabsorption of ibuprofen.

In children, the estimated amount of ibuprofen ingested per body weight may be helpful to predict the potential for development of toxicity although each case must be evaluated. Ingestion of less than 100 mg/kg is unlikely to produce toxicity. Children ingesting 100 to 200 mg/kg may be managed with induced emesis and a minimal observation time of four hours. Children ingesting 200 to 400 mg/kg of ibuprofen should have immediate gastric emptying and at least four hours observation in a healthcare facility. Children ingesting greater than 400 mg/kg require immediate medical referral, careful observation and appropriate supportive therapy. Ipecac-induced emesis is not recommended in overdoses greater than 400 mg/kg because of the risk for convulsions and the potential for aspiration of gastric contents.

In adult patients the history of the dose reportedly ingested does not appear to be predictive of toxicity. The need for referral and follow-up must be judged by the circumstances at the time of the overdose ingestion. Symptomatic adults should be carefully evaluated, observed and supported.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of ibuprofen oral suspension and other treatment options before deciding to use ibuprofen oral suspension. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS).

After observing the response to initial therapy with ibuprofen oral suspension, the dose and frequency should be adjusted to suit an individual patient’s needs.

Pediatric Patients

Fever Reduction: For reduction of fever in children, 6 months up to 2 years of age, the dosage should be adjusted on the basis of the initial temperature level (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY). The recommended dose is 5 mg/kg if the baseline temperature is less than 102.5ºF, or 10 mg/kg if the baseline temperature is 102.5ºF or greater. The duration of fever reduction is generally 6 to 8 hours. The recommended maximum daily dose is 40 mg/kg.

Analgesia: For relief of mild to moderate pain in children 6 months up to 2 years of age, the recommended dosage is 10 mg/kg, every 6 to 8 hours. The recommended maximum daily dose is 40 mg/kg. Doses should be given so as not to disturb the child’s sleep pattern.

Juvenile Arthritis: The recommended dose is 30 mg/kg/day to 40 mg/kg/day divided into three to four doses (see Individualization of Dosage). Patients with milder disease may be adequately treated with 20 mg/kg/day.

In patients with juvenile arthritis, doses above 50 mg/kg/day are not recommended because they have not been studied and doses exceeding the upper recommended dose of 40 mg/kg/day may increase the risk of causing serious adverse events. The therapeutic response may require from a few days to several weeks to be achieved. Once a clinical effect is obtained, the dosage should be lowered to the smallest dose of ibuprofen oral suspension needed to maintain adequate control of symptoms.

Pediatric patients receiving doses above 30 mg/kg/day or if abnormal liver function tests have occurred with previous NSAID treatments should be carefully followed for signs and symptoms of early liver dysfunction.

Adults

Primary Dysmenorrhea: For the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, beginning with the earliest onset of such pain, ibuprofen oral suspension should be given in a dose of 400 mg every 4 hours, as necessary, for the relief of pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: Suggested dosage: 1200 mg to 3200 mg daily (300 mg q.i.d. or 400 mg, 600 mg or 800 mg t.i.d. or q.i.d.). Individual patients may show a better response to 3200 mg daily, as compared with 2400 mg, although in well-controlled clinical trials patients on 3200 mg did not show a better mean response in terms of efficacy. Therefore, when treating patients with 3200 mg/day, the physician should observe sufficient increased clinical benefits to offset potential increased risk.

Individualization of Dosage : The dose of ibuprofen oral suspension should be tailored to each patient, and may be lowered or raised from the suggested doses depending on the severity of symptoms either at time of initiating drug therapy or as the patient responds or fails to respond.

One fever study showed that, after the initial dose of ibuprofen oral suspension, subsequent doses may be lowered and still provide adequate fever control.

In a situation when low fever would require the ibuprofen oral suspension 5 mg/kg dose in a child with pain, the dose that will effectively treat the predominant symptom should be chosen.

In chronic conditions, a therapeutic response to ibuprofen oral suspension therapy is sometimes seen in a few days to a week, but most often is observed by two weeks. After a satisfactory response has been achieved, the patient’s dose should be reviewed and adjusted as required.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis seem to require higher doses than do patients with osteoarthritis. The smallest dose of ibuprofen oral suspension that yields acceptable control should be employed.

Ibuprofen oral suspension may be used in combination with gold salts and/or corticosteroids.

All MedLibrary.org resources are included in as near-original form as possible, meaning that the information from the original provider has been rendered here with only typographical or stylistic modifications and not with any substantive alterations of content, meaning or intent.

This site is provided for educational and informational purposes only, in accordance with our Terms of Use, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner or other qualified health professional.

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.