This is the main question people come across. Firstly, you should always take ibuprofen1 from the doctor’s consult or any pharmacist’s advice and follow the instructions given on the tablet.
This is a popular belief among people that ibuprofen is only taken with food, but you can take this medicine on an empty stomach also. Still, only the low dosages of the tablets are acceptable on an empty stomach. Taking ibuprofen with an empty stomach would relieve the pain faster than taking it with food.
1. Tablets, Capsules, and Granules
When it comes to tablets, there are tablets of different strengths. Each capsule contains 200mg, 400mg, and 600mg doses. Meanwhile, slow-released tablets contain 200mg, 300mg, or 800mg of ibuprofen.
Each packet of medicine contains 600mg of ibuprofen. It is available in both liquid and solid forms. If you prefer medicine as a liquid then 10ml contains 200mg or 400mg. People usually are not aware of and concerned about the labels written on tablets. It is advised always to check the label.
2. Instructions and Rules
- Doctors always suggest adults take medicines that have a weightage of 200mg tablets and capsules at least 3 times a day. In some circumstances, doctors may prescribe a higher dose of 600mg to take 4 times a day. This should happen under the circumstances of the doctor.
- If your doctors are prescribing you any granules, then for your kind information, the usual dosage for adults is one packet twice or thrice a day. In some cases, people also take 4 times a day.
- This is important instruction: while taking the this medicine 3 times a day, leave 6 hours of gap in between, and while taking 4 times a day, leave 4 hours between doses.
- If someone has permanent pain, then they are prescribed slow-release tablets and capsules. Don’t forget to take the 10 to 12 hours gap in taking ibuprofen in a day.
3. Medication with Empty Stomach
It is a myth that ibuprofen is only taken with food or after food, but you can also take a low dosage on an empty stomach.
Sucking, breaking, crushing, or chewing the medicine can irritate your throat and mouth and can mislead your taste; instead, you should swallow your tablets or capsules with milk or water.
Some people face problems swallowing tablets due to many throat problems, so ibuprofen is also available in tablets that melt quickly in your mouth and mix easily with a glass of water, which will be able to make a drink easy to pass inside.
If you are taking medicine that easily melts in your mouth, then put it on your tongue casually, let it dissolve, and then swallow. You don’t need to drink the water, and swallowing is enough.
4. How to Take Ibuprofen Granules
You can take them by pouring the sachet into the glass full of water and making it an orange-flavored fizzy drink, stirring it, and drinking it straight away.
If you are taking it in the form of liquid, then it will come packed with a plastic syringe or spoon to measure the dose you take. It’s okay not to have a spoon or syringe to measure the medicine; you can ask the pharmacist for one.
It is important for you to know that the kitchen spoon will not give the correct measurements of the medicine.
Taking this medicine in the form of solid, liquid, or any granules with the milk or food will make the minimum stomach upset. If you are taking ibuprofen after the food lunch or dinner, then it may start working after hours.
5. Helps in Pain Relief
Ibuprofen reduces the body’s ability, which increases prostaglandin production2. If it is taken for any short-term pain or period pain, then it must be taken for one or two days, not more than that.
This medicine helps in pain relief. You can take ibuprofen for long-term pain or any health-related problems like Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, and others.
If the doctor has prescribed you to take ibuprofen for 6 months or more than 6 months then also include a medicine to protect the stomach from any type of other side effects.
6. Non-steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help in reducing pain, fever, or any other types of inflammation or any other chronic medical conditions. NSAIDs include naproxen, sodium, ibuprofen, and aspirin.
Healthcare pharmacists also prescribe the stronger and more effective NSAIDs when required.
7. If You Miss Your Dose
If you ever forget to take the ibuprofen dose, then take it as soon as you remember that you forget it before it’s time for the next dose. If you forget the dose and remember the time of your next dose, then take the next dose, but remember, do not take the dose just to make up the forgotten one.
If you are a forgetful person in a matter of doses, then it will help you to remind yourself. You can take advice from a pharmacist if you forget to take your medicines.
8. Side Effects
Taking more ibuprofen tablets without any prescription can be dangerous. It can cause many symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomachache
- Dizziness
- Blood in vomit could be a sign of bleeding in the stomach
- Ringing in ears
- Breathing problems
- Osteoarthritis
9. How to Make Use of Gel or Spray
The use of this medicine is so easy; you just have to apply the gel or spray where it is paining twice or thrice times a day and leave it for 4 hours before application.
Most of the products and medicines are to be used more than 4 times a day only when it is prescribed by the doctor. Before the application of the medicine, check the instructions on the back side of the packet.
It is important to know that the use of spray on lips, mouth, and any genital area can be very dangerous, and it can make them sore. Don’t use it on the sore or broken skin.
Most people apply medicine on their body and cover it up with dressing or any plaster, but while using ibuprofen, dressing and plaster should be avoided. Wash your hands after using it; otherwise, it can irritate your hands.
Don’t smoke near the place where you have applied gel or spray. It can easily catch the wire, so try to avoid fire from the gel or spray.
10. Things to be Considered Before Taking Tablets
Finally, here are some useful and safe conclusions about ibuprofen that can help an individual know how to take NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Always swallow the tablet with a glass of milk or water. Do not break or chew it with the help of teeth. It can irritate the mouth and throat as well.
Take this medicine only when it is prescribed by the doctor; otherwise, it also has side effects, which can lead to swelling of the face and fingers.
While taking this medicine, avoid taking alcohol and tobacco; it can harm your body and health. For adults and teenagers, it is recommended at a weight of 200mg every 4 to 6 hours. If you are taking the medicine or any NSAID tablets for a longer period, then also take the anti-inflammatory tablets so that it does not harm your stomach lining or any other part of your body.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What type of food is allowed before taking ibuprofen?
There are some foods which are good for coating the stomach and helping in prompting digestion, like crackers, rice, butter, and other foods that are completely neutral.
2. Is eating before taking the medicine good?
No, Eating completely is not good; instead, taking medicine with a glass of milk is better.
3. How to be safe from the side effects caused by taking too much ibuprofen?
Taking NSAIDs with an antacid can keep your stomach safe from the side effects caused by ibuprofen.
4. Does ibuprofen thins out the blood?
No, it is a kind of Nsaids, and Nsaids don’t thin out the blood.
5. Does ibuprofen cause harm to the stomach lining?
Yes, NSAIDs like ibuprofen can cause harm to the stomach lining and may also cause bleeding, holes in the stomach, etc.
6. Does ibuprofen clot the blood?
Ibuprofen increases the time taken to clot the blood.
7. Is there any other inflammation instead of ibuprofen?
Acetaminophen3 can be a safe alternative to ibuprofen, but it is important to use it responsibly and follow the recommended dosage guidelines to minimize the risk of liver damage. There are more common alternatives like arnica, curcumin, and bromelain.
8. Can you suggest the best natural anti-inflammatory?
The best natural anti-inflammatory includes tomatoes, olive oils, and many more.
9. Which drink reduces the inflammation?
Many natural drinks can reduce inflammation, such as baking soda and water and matcha anti-inflammatory tonic.
- KANTOR, THOMAS G. “Ibuprofen.” Annals of Internal Medicine 91.6 (1979): 877-882. ↩︎
- Powell, Andrea M., and W. Y. Chan. “Differential effects of ibuprofen and naproxen sodium on menstrual prostaglandin release and on prostaglandin production in the rat uterine homogenate.” Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Medicine 13.2 (1984): 129-137. ↩︎
- James, Laura P., Philip R. Mayeux, and Jack A. Hinson. “Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.” Drug metabolism and disposition 31.12 (2003): 1499-1506. ↩︎
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