Use Of Ibuprofen In Children

Ibuprofen is the most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in Finland for the relief of temporary pain, which also has antipyretic properties. But is the use of ibuprofen safe in children, meaning that parents can also administer this drug to the youngest members of the family, for example, to relieve the symptoms of the flu?

What is ibuprofen and what is it used for?

In addition to paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, ibuprofen is the most commonly used analgesic with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties. It inhibits central nervous system prostaglandin synthesis, which plays a significant role in the onset of fever, pain, and inflammation.

Ibuprofen is recommended to be used to relieve occasional mild to moderate pain and reduce fever for a limited period of time. In addition, it is used to relieve pain and swelling after injuries and surgery. The most common side effects with ibuprofen are gastrointestinal symptoms such as gastric ulcer with long-term use. Other side effects include nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, skin symptoms, and elevated liver enzymes.

Dosage of ibuprofen in children

For children, the primary painkiller for treating temporary pain and reducing fever is paracetamol, but NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can also be used if paracetamol does not relieve pain or reduce fever adequately. Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months of age without a doctor’s prescription. If your child has any illness or hypersensitivity or is taking other medicines, the suitability of ibuprofen should always be confirmed by a pharmacist or doctor.

Ibuprofen is available as tablets, oral suspensions and suppositories. The recommended dosage varies depending on weight and level of pain. The normal dose for adults and children over 12 years of age is 200-400 mg and for children younger than 5-10 mg per kilogram 1-3 times a day, but your doctor may prescribe lower or higher doses.

The duration of action of ibuprofen depends on the dose. According to researchers, it reduces fever in up to 90 percent of children. According to another statistic, at least 75 percent of these children remain feverish for four hours.

Can ibuprofen be combined with other drugs?

Ibuprofen can be combined with other medicines as directed by your doctor, but this is generally not recommended. For example, the use of ibuprofen is generally not recommended for children taking medicines containing corticosteroids.

Many parents alternate the use of paracetamol and ibuprofen when a child is ill, although there is no specific scientific evidence for the benefits of combining the two drugs. However, they can generally be used safely at the same time, as long as the dosing instructions are not exceeded. Some doctors also recommend the concomitant use of iburofen and paracetamol, especially in adults, for example to relieve certain pain and inflammatory conditions. According to some sources, two drugs are also more effective than one in treating a child’s fever.