Ibuprofen: safety and efficiency of its use in wide clinical practice

Abstract

The paper presents data on the pharmacokinetics of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen and a review of the evidence base that suggests its clinical efficacy and safety in different categories of patients and discusses new, potentially possible indications for the use of this drug. Ibuprofen has marked anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects, which along with its good tolerability, predictability of side effects, and a low risk of complications, allows it to be widely use in clinical practice. There are various ibuprofen formulations on the drug market. There may be not only an oral formulation of ibuprofen, but its topical (gel), rectal (suppositories), and parenteral (solution for intravenous injection) ones. More than 40 years' experience with ibuprofen used as an over-the-counter drug in wide clinical practice in approximately 80 countries worldwide serves as an illustrative example of the efficacy and safety of this agent.

Keywords

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• over-the-counter drugs
• ibuprofen
• efficacy
• tolerance
• side effects
• pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen
• dosage forms