efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen

What is the most important information I should know about ibuprofen?
• Take ibuprofen with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Contact your doctor if you experience bloody, black, or tarry stoolsor blood in the vomit efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. These symptoms could indicate damage to the gastrointestinaltract efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, ibuprofen mayincrease the risk of stomach bleeding efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

What is ibuprofen?
• Ibuprofen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs (NSAIDs) efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammationand pain in the body efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Ibuprofen is used to reduce the fever, pain, inflammation, and stiffnesscaused by many conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, andabdominal cramps associated with menstruation efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Ibuprofen may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ibuprofen?
• Before taking ibuprofen, tell your doctor if you
· have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs,
· have an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach,
· drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
· have liver or kidney disease,
· have a coagulation (bleeding or blood clotting) disorder,
· have congestive heart failure,
· have fluid retention,
· have heart disease, or
· have high blood pressure efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• You may not be able to take ibuprofen, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• It is not known whether ibuprofen will be harmful to an unborn baby efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Ibuprofen should not be taken late in pregnancy (the third trimester) becausea similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Do not take ibuprofen withoutfirst talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant duringtreatment efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Ibuprofen passes into breast milk in very small amounts, however it isnot expected to be harmful to a nursing baby efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Talk to your doctor before takingibuprofen if you are breast-feeding efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

How should I take ibuprofen?
• Take ibuprofen exactly as directed by your doctor efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you
• Take each dose with a full glass of water efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Take ibuprofen with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Store ibuprofen at room temperature away from moisture and heat efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. If morethan 2 hours have passed since the missed dose, skip it and take only the nextregularly scheduled dose efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Do not take a double dose efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Symptoms of a ibuprofen overdose include nausea, vomiting or stomachpain, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision,seizures, sweating, numbness or tingling, little or no urine production, andslow breathing efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

What should I avoid while taking ibuprofen?
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Ibuprofen may increase the sensitivityof the skin to sunlight efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposureto the sun is unavoidable efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, ibuprofen mayincrease the risk of stomach bleeding efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

What are the possible side effects of ibuprofen?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingibuprofen and seek medical treatment or contact your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling;
· ulcers (open sores) in the mouth;
· rapid weight gain (fluid retention);
· seizures;
· black, bloody, or tarry stools;
· blood in your urine or vomit;
· decreased hearing or ringing in the ears;
· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
· abdominal cramping, indigestion, or heartburn efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Continueto take ibuprofen and talk to your doctor if you experience
· dizziness or headache;
· nausea, gaseousness, diarrhea, or constipation;
· depression;
· fatigue or weakness;
· dry mouth; or
· irregular menstrual periods efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

What other drugs will affect ibuprofen?
• Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may interact with ibuprofen efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Talk to your doctor before taking ibuprofen if you are taking any of the followingdrugs:
· another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ketoprofen(Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox), diclofenac(Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid),indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin(Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin);
· aspirin or another salicylate (form of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid),choline salicylate, and magnesium salicylate;
· a diuretic (water pill) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril,others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), bumetanide(Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone),and amiloride (Midamor);
· an anticoagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin);
· a steroid such as prednisone (Deltasone);
· an oral diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol) or glyburide(Micronase, Diabeta); or
· lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others) efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Talk to your doctor before taking ibuprofen if you are taking any othermedicines, especially any of the ones listed above efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with ibuprofen efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about ibuprofen written forhealth professionals that you may read efficacy rx vs otc ibuprofen.

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