Motrin Oral - IBUPROFEN

Warnings  
This drug may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. Also, related drugs rarely have caused blood clots to form, resulting in heart attacks and strokes. This medication might also rarely cause similar problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the benefits and risks of treatment, as well as other possible medication choices.

If you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects, stop taking ibuprofen and seek immediate medical attention: black stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech.

Uses 
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which relieves pain and swelling (inflammation). It is used to treat headaches, muscle aches, backaches, dental pain, menstrual cramps, arthritis, or athletic injuries. This medication is also used to reduce fever and to relieve minor aches and pains due to the common cold or flu.

This drug works by blocking the enzyme in your body that makes prostaglandins. Decreasing prostaglandins helps to reduce pain, swelling, and fever.

How to use Motrin Oral

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using ibuprofen and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions regarding the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with a full glass (8 oz or 240 ml) of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking this drug.

If stomach upset occurs while taking this medication, take it with food, milk, or an antacid. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. If repeat doses are needed, they are usually given 6 or 8 hours apart; or as directed by your doctor.

When ibuprofen is used in children, the dose is based on your child's weight. Read the product instructions to find the appropriate dose for your child's weight. Consult the pharmacist or doctor if you have questions or if you need help in choosing the appropriate dosage form.

In certain conditions (e.g., arthritis), it may take up to two weeks, taken regularly, before the full benefits of this drug take effect.

If you are taking this drug on an "as needed" basis (not on a regular schedule), remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has significantly worsened, the medicine may not work as well.

If you use this medication for migraine headache, and the pain is not relieved or worsens after the first dose, tell your doctor immediately.

For nonprescription ibuprofen products: If you are treating yourself or giving this medication to a child for undiagnosed fever or pain, consult the doctor immediately if symptoms do not improve within 24 hours, worsen or last for more than 3 days, or if new symptoms appear.

To reduce your risk of stomach bleeding and other side effects, take this medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Do not take the over-the-counter product for more than 10 days unless otherwise directed.

Before taking ibuprofen, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to aspirin or other NSAIDs (e.g., naproxen, celecoxib); or if you have any other allergies.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe kidney disease, aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), recent heart bypass surgery (CABG).

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, poorly controlled diabetes, stomach/intestine/esophagus problems (e.g., bleeding, ulcers, recurring heartburn), heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, history of heart attack), high blood pressure, stroke, swelling (edema, fluid retention), dehydration, blood disorders (e.g., anemia), bleeding or clotting problems, asthma, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), history of an allergic reaction with symptoms of lip/tongue/throat swelling (angioedema), any allergies in addition to those listed above.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.

This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Limit alcohol and stop smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths or sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.

Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially stomach bleeding and kidney effects.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during the first 6 months of pregnancy. It is not recommended for use during the last 3 months of pregnancy due to the potential for harm to an unborn baby and interference with normal labor/delivery. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

This medication passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe stomach pain, coffee ground-like vomit, unusually fast or slow heartbeat, trouble breathing, extreme drowsiness, loss of consciousness, or seizures.

NOTES:

Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE:

If you are prescribed this drug on a regular schedule (not just "as needed") and you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:

Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, headache, diarrhea, constipation, drowsiness, and dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: stomach pain, swelling of the hands or feet, sudden or unexplained weight gain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: vision changes, rapid or pounding heartbeat, easy bruising or bleeding, difficult/painful swallowing.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: change in amount of urine, severe headache, very stiff neck, mental/mood changes, persistent sore throat or fever.

This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. If you notice any of the following highly unlikely but very serious side effects, stop taking ibuprofen and consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately: yellowing eyes and skin, dark urine, unusual/extreme tiredness.

An allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: cidofovir, ketorolac.

If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting ibuprofen.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: anti-platelet drugs (e.g., cilostazol, clopidogrel), oral bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate), other medications for arthritis (e.g., aspirin, methotrexate), "blood thinners" (e.g., enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin), corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), cyclosporine, desmopressin, high blood pressure drugs (including ACE inhibitors such as captopril, angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as losartan, and beta-blockers such as metoprolol), lithium, pemetrexed, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene).

Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully for other pain/fever drugs (NSAIDs such as aspirin, celecoxib, naproxen). These drugs are similar to ibuprofen, so taking one of these drugs while also taking ibuprofen may increase your risk of side effects. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

However, if your doctor has prescribed low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue to take the aspirin. Daily use of ibuprofen may decrease aspirin's ability to prevent heart attack/stroke. Talk to your doctor about using a different medication (e.g., acetaminophen) to treat pain/fever. If you must take ibuprofen, talk to your doctor about possibly taking immediate-release aspirin (not enteric-coated) while also taking the ibuprofen dose apart from your aspirin dose. Do not increase your daily dose of aspirin or change the way you take aspirin/other medications without your doctor's approval.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.