Should I use this page, or skip it?
Use this page if you are considering ibuprofen for pain, swelling or fever and need to know whether it is a sensible first choice. Skip it and call 999 for a severe allergic reaction, chest pain, vomiting blood, or black stools with feeling very unwell. Skip it and use paracetamol if a pharmacist has already told you to avoid anti-inflammatories.
This page cannot decide that ibuprofen is safe for you. The pack and a pharmacist can. Do not copy a milligram dose from a website.
What is ibuprofen, and when does it help?
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It eases pain, reduces swelling, and can lower a high temperature. That combination makes it useful for sprains, strains, period pain, dental pain, and some arthritis flares. It is sold in shops and pharmacies, and it is also prescribed.
It is not a better paracetamol for every problem. If there is little inflammation, paracetamol may be enough and is gentler on the stomach. If the problem is a stomach ache, ibuprofen is usually the wrong tool.
Gel and tablet forms are both ibuprofen. Gels act more locally. Tablets affect the whole body, including the stomach and kidneys.
How should I take it, if it is suitable?
Take the lowest dose that controls symptoms, for the shortest time, with or after food. Do not exceed the amount on the pack or prescription. Do not combine it with another NSAID such as naproxen, aspirin used as a painkiller, or “combination” cold remedies that already contain an anti-inflammatory, unless a clinician has set that plan.
Leave the gap between doses that the pack states. If pain continues, ask a pharmacist about adding paracetamol rather than stacking ibuprofen.
Read the leaflet. Own-brand packs are still ibuprofen.
Who should not self-start ibuprofen?
Check with a pharmacist or GP first if you have or have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding, indigestion that is more than occasional, asthma, kidney, heart or liver problems, or high blood pressure. Check if you take anticoagulants, steroids, or medicines for blood pressure. Check if you are pregnant — the NHS advises against ibuprofen in pregnancy unless a clinician recommends it.
Older people and anyone who is dehydrated are more likely to get kidney side effects. A short course for a sprain is different from daily use for months. Long-term NSAIDs belong under clinical review.
If ibuprofen has ever triggered wheeze, rash, or facial swelling, do not take it again.
What warning signs mean I should stop?
Stop and get advice for new stomach pain, indigestion, vomiting blood, or black, tarry stools. Those can mean stomach irritation or bleeding. Stop and get urgent help for sudden wheeze, swelling of the face or throat, or a severe rash.
Ibuprofen can also affect the kidneys and blood pressure. Unexplained swelling of the ankles, a sudden drop in how much you pee, or feeling very unwell needs medical advice, not another dose.
Call 999 if you collapse, cannot breathe, or are vomiting large amounts of blood.
How does this sit with arthritis, gout and migraine?
For osteoarthritis, ibuprofen can help a flare if it is safe for you, but exercise and pacing still matter more than a tablet. For gout, anti-inflammatories are sometimes used in an attack — that should be a clinician’s choice, especially if the joint is hot and you have fever, because infection must be excluded. For migraine, some people use ibuprofen early in an attack; sudden worst-ever headache is not a migraine to self-treat.
A pharmacist is the right first conversation for a short course. A GP is the right conversation if you need painkillers most days.
Who is this page not for?
This page is not for children unless a clinician or the children’s pack is in front of you — use an age-appropriate product. It is not permission to take ibuprofen for unexplained chest pain, a hot joint with fever, or pregnancy symptoms. It is not a comparison of every NSAID brand.
If you only need a fever-down and you have a sensitive stomach, start with paracetamol and a pharmacist, not a supermarket bulk pack of ibuprofen.
Common questions about ibuprofen and anti-inflammatory painkillers
- What is the difference between ibuprofen and paracetamol?
- Both can ease pain and fever. Ibuprofen also reduces inflammation, which can help sprains, period pain and some arthritis. Paracetamol is gentler on the stomach and suits more people. Adults can often take them together if one is not enough. Do not combine ibuprofen with another anti-inflammatory such as naproxen unless a clinician has said to.
- Why should I take ibuprofen with food?
- It can irritate the stomach lining. Taking it with or after food reduces that risk. If you need it often, or you get indigestion, speak to a pharmacist or GP rather than pushing the dose up.
- Who should avoid ibuprofen?
- People with a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, some types of asthma, significant kidney, heart or liver disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure may be advised to avoid it. The NHS also advises against ibuprofen in pregnancy unless a clinician has specifically recommended it. Always check if you take other medicines.
- Can I take ibuprofen for a stomach ache?
- Usually no. It can irritate the stomach and may make tummy pain worse. Paracetamol is generally a gentler choice for that. Persistent tummy pain still needs a proper check, not a painkiller as the only plan.
- Can I take ibuprofen if I have asthma?
- Some people with asthma can take it; some cannot, because NSAIDs can trigger wheeze. If ibuprofen has ever made your breathing worse, do not take it again. If you have never had it, ask a pharmacist before trying it, especially if your asthma is not well controlled.
- Is ibuprofen safe in pregnancy?
- The NHS advises you not to take ibuprofen in pregnancy unless a doctor, midwife or pharmacist has told you to. Paracetamol is usually the first-choice painkiller in pregnancy. Do not self-start ibuprofen because a period-pain pack is in the cupboard.
- Can I use ibuprofen gel instead of tablets?
- Gels and creams put the medicine on the painful area and usually have fewer whole-body effects than tablets, but they are still ibuprofen. Read the pack, do not use on broken skin, and still check if you have been told to avoid NSAIDs. A pharmacist can say whether a gel is suitable.