Ibuprofen for children

Ibuprofen is one of the most popular medicines for pain relief or temperature reduction in case of fever. This medication is produced by many manufacturers and is offered in several forms suitable for children of different ages.

What drug to choose for a baby, and which one should not be given to a child 5 years old, how does ibuprofen work on the body of babies and what side effects can it provoke? What doses of Ibuprofen should not be exceeded in childhood, so as not to harm the child, and what analogues can be substituted for it? Such questions are relevant for any mother, because high fever or pain occurs in all children.

Release form

Ibuprofen is presented in pharmacies with the following options:

Suppositories. They have a smooth surface, a white tint and an elongated shape. These rectal suppositories are sold in a pack of 10.
Suspension. Such a preparation has a tart-sweet taste, smells like an orange and is packaged in plastic or glass bottles of 100 ml. A spoon or syringe is attached to the bottle to accurately measure the orange (Ibuprofen-Akrihin) or white-cream medicine.
5% ointment. It is represented by a yellowish-white or white homogeneous mass, which has a slight peculiar smell. One tube contains 25 grams of ointment.
Pills. They are produced by different companies in two dosages. These tablets have a round shape and have a pink, white-yellow or white shell. One pack contains from 10 to 50 tablets.
5% gel. It is produced in the form of a light yellow or colorless transparent substance that has a specific odor. One tube can contain from 20 to 100 g of gel.
Capsules. They have a white body and a green lid, and inside such gelatin capsules there is a white-yellow or white powder. They are sold in packs of 10-100 pieces.

Composition

The main component of any form of medication, due to which the drug has a therapeutic effect, is called ibuprofen. Its amount in different types of medication is different:

One candle contains 60 mg.
From 5 ml of the suspension, 100 mg are obtained.
1 g of ointment or gel contains 50 mg.
One tablet contains 200 or 400 mg.
1 capsule contains 200 mg.

The excipients in different forms of Ibuprofen are also different:

In candles, these are only solid fats, and there are no other chemical additives.
The suspension contains citric acid, orange flavor, glycerol, sorbitol and other substances.
The ointment includes macrogol 400, dimexide and macrogol 1500.
The tablets may contain ingredients such as sucrose, stearic acid, beeswax, corn starch, hypromellose, and others.
Additional components of the gel are lavender oil, ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol, neroli oil, dimexide and other substances.
The capsules contain magnesium stearate, talc, gelatin, croscarmellose sodium and other compounds.

Operating principle

Once in the child's body, ibuprofen affects the formation of substances called prostaglandins. They are responsible for the development of the inflammatory process and the conduction of pain impulses, therefore the main effects of the drug are to reduce the activity of inflammation and pain relief.

In addition, these compounds are responsible for the increase in body temperature in response to infection by viruses, bacteria or other factors, so the use of Ibuprofen helps in the fight against fever.

The action of the drug develops 20-40 minutes after its application, and the duration of the therapeutic effect depends on the form used, dosage and age of the patient. For example, rectal suppositories have a very long-lasting effect (up to 8 hours), and the antipyretic effect of tablets or capsules lasts up to 3-4 hours.

Indications

Ibuprofen is a popular symptomatic drug for painful sensations of a different nature. It is prescribed for children with ear pain due to otitis media, painful teething, pain in muscles or ligaments with injuries, from headaches with VSD and in other situations. The medication is great for moderate to mild pain.

In addition, the drug is often used as an antipyretic agent. It is prescribed for chickenpox, flu, colds, sore throats and other diseases, one of the symptoms of which is fever. No less often it is recommended to give it to children who have a fever after vaccination.

In addition, the drug is often used as an antipyretic agent. No less often it is recommended to give it to children who have a fever after vaccination.

The medicine is also in demand as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is prescribed for arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, inflammatory complications after surgery and in other cases. Especially often for such problems, local forms are used - gel and ointment.

From what age is it allowed to take?

Ibuprofen is contraindicated in children under 3 months of age. For three-month-old toddlers, the medicine is prescribed in the form of suppositories or suspension. In this case, suppositories are recommended to be used up to 2 years of age, and the suspension - up to 12 years. In addition, prescribing medication for babies 3-6 months old must be monitored by a pediatrician.

The solid form is not used in children under 6 years old or in older children, but weighing less than 20 kg. Such restrictions apply to tablets and capsules containing 200 mg ibuprofen. The drug with a dosage of 400 mg in 1 tablet is prescribed for adolescents 12 years of age and older. The use of 5% gel is recommended from 6 years of age, and 5% ointment - only from 12 years.

Contraindications

The drug is not prescribed:

With ulcerative or inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as with bleeding from the intestines or stomach.
If you are intolerant of any ingredient of the drug or allergic to other anti-inflammatory drugs with a non-steroidal structure.
With blood diseases.
In case of impaired liver or kidney function.
With hearing loss.
With an increase in the amount of potassium in the blood.

The suspension is also contraindicated in glucose-galactose malabsorption and is used with caution in children with diabetes. Gel and ointment are not prescribed for eczema, weeping dermatoses and skin lesions. The presence of any chronic disease in a child requires increased attention of the doctor when using Ibuprofen.

Side effects

Ibuprofen often causes negative gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, abdominal pain, loose stools, heartburn, and others.
The medicine can provoke itchy skin, bronchospasm, rash, Quincke's edema, or another form of allergy.
When treated with Ibuprofen, children often complain of headaches or dizziness. In some patients, mothers note an agitated state, drowsiness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
Occasionally, the medication increases blood pressure or provokes tachycardia.
The drug can affect blood formation, resulting in a decrease in the number of blood cells.
Sometimes treatment with such a remedy interferes with kidney function and also causes problems with vision or hearing.

Instructions for use and dosage

Suppositories Ibuprofen are injected into the rectum for 1 suppository, and the frequency of use depends on the age of the small patient. If the child is 3-9 months old, then the daily dose is 180 mg of the medicine, that is, 3 suppositories. For babies 9-24 months, four times the use is permissible - up to 240 mg of ibuprofen per day. The medicine in this form is applied at intervals of 6-8 hours.
Suspension, capsules and tablets should be given to the child after meals or during meals. So in most cases it is possible to avoid the negative effects of such forms of medication on the digestive system. In this case, the tablets are washed down with water and not crushed, and the capsules are swallowed without opening.
The suspension often separates during storage (part of the drug settles), therefore, this form of drug should be shaken before each use. A child under one year old is given 2.5 ml of medication at a time, but babies 3-6 months old are prescribed a double dose, and children 6-12 months old can be given medication up to 4 times a day. For children over one year old, the drug is prescribed three times in this dose: at 1-3 years old - 5 ml each, at 3-6 years old - 7.5 ml each, at 6-9 years old - 10 ml each, at 9-12 years old - 15 ml each ml.
A child 6-12 tablets Ibuprofen is given 1 tablet 200 mg up to four times a day (the pause between doses should be at least 6 hours). For children over 12 years old, a single dose can be increased to 400 mg, but the medication in this dosage is allowed to be taken a maximum of three times a day. The same mode of application is used when prescribing a medicine in capsules.
When the temperature rises in response to vaccination, a child of 3-24 months is injected with 1 suppository once, and if necessary, after 6 hours, put another candle. If a suspension is used in such a situation, then the baby is given a liquid preparation in a dosage suitable for his age, and if necessary, the same amount of medicine is given again after 6 hours.
The duration of the use of Ibuprofen for fever without consulting a pediatrician should not exceed 3 days. If the temperature is still elevated after three days of treatment, you should consult a doctor.
For pain, Ibuprofen is taken up to 5 days in a row. Longer therapy with such a remedy should be monitored by a specialist. If the medication has not eliminated the painful sensations, you need to choose another treatment with the pediatrician.
The gel should be applied to the affected areas and then rubbed gently until it is completely absorbed. The dose of such a remedy for a 6-12-year-old child is a strip 2-4 centimeters long, and for a teenager over 12 years old - a strip from 4 to 10 cm.The frequency of using the gel is up to 3 times a day for children under 12 years old and up to 4 times for patients over 12 years old. The duration of treatment with this form is 2-3 weeks.
Ointment is applied to the skin of a child over 12 years of age, applying a strip of such a medicine, depending on the extent of the lesion, 5 to 10 cm long. Next, the drug is thoroughly rubbed in until it is completely absorbed. Reapplication is performed with an interval of 4 hours or more. It is recommended to use the medicine a maximum of 4 times a day for no longer than 3 weeks.

Overdose

If a child receives a higher dose of Ibuprofen than is recommended for their age, it can cause headache, nausea, tachycardia, stomach pain, and other negative symptoms. In such a situation, you should immediately show the little patient to the doctor.

Interaction with other drugs

The drug is often combined with other medicines, for example, with antibiotics, if Ibuprofen is used for ear pain caused by purulent otitis media. For inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, the drug is combined with potions, drops and cough syrups.

However, Ibuprofen has the ability to affect many other medications, such as taking glucocorticoids, other pain relievers, diuretics, or anticoagulants. Therefore, it is necessary to prescribe such a drug together with any other means with caution. Combine Ibuprofen with other antipyretics or alternate them only after consulting a doctor.

Terms of sale

All Ibuprofen variants are over-the-counter over-the-counter products. The price of a drug depends on both the manufacturer and the form of the drug. For example, 10 candles or 100 ml of suspension costs an average of 60-70 rubles, and the price of tablets is much lower and often amounts to about 20 rubles for 20 pieces.

Storage conditions and shelf life

It is recommended to keep any form of Ibuprofen at home in a place hidden from young children, where moisture and sunlight do not get. Storage of the drug in tablets, capsules, suppositories, gel or suspension is allowed at room temperature, and the ointment must be kept in a cool place (at temperatures below +15 degrees). The shelf life of the tablets is 3 years, all other forms are 2 years. After opening, the suspension should be stored for no longer than six months.

Reviews

The use of Ibuprofen is generally responded positively. Mothers confirm that this medicine effectively relieves pain and lowers the temperature. Side effects of Ibuprofen, according to the parents, are quite rare and often include negative gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches or allergies.

Doctors also note that the medication is effective and allowed for children. Dr. Komarovsky calls it one of the drugs of choice for fever in a young child, along with paracetamol drugs.

For nursing babies, suppositories are more often chosen and this form is praised for the absence of additional harmful chemical components. In addition, the suppositories last longer than the suspension, the bittersweet taste of which is sometimes not pleasant to the little patient.

However, the suspension is also very popular, since this form of Ibuprofen is easy to give even to a nursing baby. Its only drawback is the packaging, since a glass bottle can be broken, and such a drug often does not have a lid protection from children.

Tablets are chosen mainly for children over 8-10 years old, who can easily swallow such a medication. They are small in size, and the shell is sweet, so there is usually no difficulty in taking them in children. The advantages of such Ibuprofen include the low cost of the drug in comparison with similar drugs.

Analogs

One of the most popular Ibuprofen analogs is Nurofen. This medication contains the same active substance, is also available in several forms (suppositories, suspension, tablets, gel, capsules) and can be used from 3 months of age.

It differs from Ibuprofen only in auxiliary ingredients and a higher price.

Also, instead of Ibuprofen, the doctor may prescribe other medicines that have anti-inflammatory effects, reduce fever and help with pain. Such means can be:

Paracetamol preparations. For the smallest, Tsefekon D candles are prescribed, allowed from 1 month, or Panadol, used in children older than 3 months. Suspensions with paracetamol are also popular (Calpol, Children's Panadol, Efferalgan), which are also prescribed to infants from 3 months of age. The doctor should calculate the dose of such medicines for babies.
Products containing diclofenac sodium. They are often used for painful sensations caused by the inflammatory process. Children can be prescribed Voltaren candles (they are used at any age) or Diclofenac tablets, which are prescribed from 6 years old.
Analgin. Such an anti-inflammatory agent is available in suppositories (used from 3 months), tablets and ampoules. Injections of such a medication are used as an emergency aid for fever, which is dangerous for the baby.
Medicines containing nimesulide. Among them, the most popular are Nimesil and Nise. Nimesil is available in sachets with granules and is prescribed for children 12 years of age and older. Nise in suspension or tablets is prescribed from the age of 6.
Means that contain ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time. Such drugs are Brustan, Next and Ibuklin tablets. The latter can be used in children from 3 years old.

Topically applied Ibuprofen can be substituted with medications in the form of a gel, cream, or ointment that have the same therapeutic effect. These include Dolgit, Voltaren Emulgel, Diclofenac, Nise, Nurofen and other medicines.

Which is safer - Ibuprofen or Paracetamol?

Both of these medicines from the group of anti-inflammatory drugs with a non-steroidal structure are allowed for children and are prescribed for both fever and pain.

At the same time, Paracetamol is more often prescribed for babies in the first year of life at high temperatures, since it is considered safer (less likely to cause side effects).

If, in addition to fever, the baby has pain or signs of an inflammatory process, it is better to prefer Ibuprofen. In addition, such a medicine begins to act faster than Paracetamol and retains the effect for a longer period.

The Komarovsky locator will tell you about the action of ibuprofen in the video below.