Facts and myths about ibuprofen

For over 30 years, it has been successfully helping us fight pain and fever. Although ibuprofen is an established drug with a good safety profile, many myths have arisen around it recently. Time to separate truth from fiction …

TRUTH: Pain medications, including ibuprofen, should be washed down with water

It’s safer that way. Other fluids, such as grapefruit juice and milk, can even do harm – make the drug work harder, won’t work, or make it less effective.

MYTH: Paracetamol has a higher safety profile than ibuprofen

In the largest double-blind, randomized trial to date, conducted on a group of over 84 patients were compared with paracetamol and ibuprofen. The two drugs were shown to have similarly few side effects, particularly those affecting the gastrointestinal tract, and similar tolerability when used to treat pain and reduce fever. Moreover, it has been proven that treatment with ibuprofen does not increase the risk of Rey’s syndrome, renal failure and anaphylactic reactions.

TRUTH: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be used alternately

It is not recommended, but some recommendations allow the use of alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol, especially if the discomfort recurs despite the use of one of the drugs.

MYTH: Taking ibuprofen increases your risk of catching COVID-19

There is currently no scientific evidence to support an association between ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and an increased risk of contracting COVID 19. Such statements have been made by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Food and Drug Administration. Medicines (EMA).

TRUE: Ibuprofen is clearly more effective than acetaminophen at fighting fever and lasts longer

In a meta-analysis from 2010 summarizing 85 studies comparing ibuprofen directly with paracetamol, the advantage of ibuprofen over paracetamol in pain and fever in both children and adults was clearly demonstrated.

MYTH: Ibuprofen can only be used orally

Ibuprofen can be used orally, rectally, as well as topically in the form of an ointment, gel, cream or patch. For children and infants from the age of 3 months, preparations in the form of suspensions are available. In turn, topical buprofen is in the form of a cream or gel and should be applied directly to sore body parts.

TRUE: Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

NSAIDs are a group of drugs with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties. Their action is mainly based on inhibiting the activity of the cyclooxygenase enzyme, which is involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins, i.e. transmitters that stimulate pain receptors.

MYTH: Taking ibuprofen has been associated with worsening coronavirus infections

Based on all available information, there is currently no scientific evidence linking the use of ibuprofen to the severity of COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection. Such statements have been made by the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

TRUTH: Unlike paracetamol, ibuprofen is also anti-inflammatory

Like other NSAIDs, ibuprofen, in addition to its analgesic and antipyretic properties, also has anti-inflammatory effects, i.e. it provides targeted pain relief. In contrast, paracetamol acts mainly in the central nervous system, reducing the intensity of pain signals transmitted to the brain.

MYTH: During a pandemic, patients taking ibuprofen should stop treatment

At present, based on the information available (European Medicines Agency EMA and WHO position paper), there is no reason for patients taking ibuprofen to stop treatment. This is especially important in patients taking ibuprofen or other NSAIDs for chronic diseases.

TRUE: Ibuprofen can be used in children over 3 months of age

While other NSAIDs such as ketoprofen can also be used in children, ibuprofen remains the only NSAID that can be given to infants from 3 months of age.