Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)

Pharmaceutical name: Ibuprofen

Advil is an NSAID. Exactly how it works is not known. It may block certain substances in the body that are linked to inflammation. NSAIDs treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation. They do not treat the disease that causes those symptoms.

Therapeutic actions:
Ibuprofen is an NSAID which works through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), thus inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. There are at least 2 variants of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2). Ibuprofen inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2. It is analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities are achieved principally through COX-2 inhibition; whereas COX-1 inhibition is responsible for its undesired effects on platelet aggregation and the GI mucosa. The role of the individual COX isoforms in the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and gastric damage effects of NSAIDS is uncertain and different compounds cause different degrees of analgesia and gastric damage.

What is it used for?:
- Relief of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
- Relief of mild to moderate pain.
- Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

Contraindications and cautions:
- allergy to any ingredient in Advil;
- previous severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, trouble breathing, growths in the nose, dizziness) to aspirin or an NSAID (eg, ibuprofen, celecoxib);
- recent or forthcoming heart surgery;
- last 3 months of pregnancy.

Side effects:
Serious side effects: severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; trouble breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody or black, tarry stools; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; depression; severe vomiting; fast or irregular heartbeat; unusual joint or muscle pain; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; unusual tiredness or weakness; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea; shortness of breath; stiff neck; sudden or unexplained weight gain; swelling of hands, legs, or feet; fainting; unusual bruising or bleeding; change in the amount of urine produced; vision or speech changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Less serious side effects: constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; gas; headache; heartburn; nausea; stomach pain or upset.

Interactions:
- Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aspirin, corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), heparin, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) may increase the risk of stomach bleeding;
- the risk of Advil 's side effects may be increased by probenecid;
- Advil may increase the risk of side effects of cyclosporine, lithium, methotrexate, or quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin);
- Advil may decrease effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril) or diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide).