Is it possible for pregnant women to take Ibuprofen: instructions for use at different stages of pregnancy, side effects. Using Ibuprofen without harm to a pregnant woman and child Ibuprofen for children instructions for use for pregnant women

During her pregnancy, a woman must be responsible for both her health and the life of her unborn baby. But a period of 9 months creates many difficulties for a woman. She becomes vulnerable to the most unexpected diseases, which are accompanied by pain, fever, and inflammation. Therefore, a natural question arises: how to get rid of the disease without harming the baby? Today there are many drugs that are conditionally safe during gestation and have a good analgesic effect. One of them is Ibuprofen. But this remedy can both help and harm, so let's figure out whether Ibuprofen can be taken during pregnancy.

Ibuprofen is a popular non-hormonal drug with a pronounced analgesic effect. It was developed 60 years ago, and has proven its effectiveness over a long period of use. The main effect of the drug is to influence the enzymes that are responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins - compounds that provoke pain, fever, and inflammation.

In addition to its therapeutic effect, Ibuprofen has proven to be a drug well tolerated by most patients. It occupies one of the leading positions in the list of important drugs, since it has less toxicity compared to similar drugs.

Important! To reduce pain and inflammation in muscles and joints, preference is given to Ibuprofen gel during pregnancy. In this form, it is practically not absorbed into the bloodstream and the risk of harming the fetus is minimal.

Prescribing Ibuprofen in early pregnancy

Is it safe to take Ibuprofen during the gestational period? This is a pressing question for all women who are looking for an effective and reliable drug to isolate the source of inflammation and pain. Since the instructions state that pregnancy is a contraindication for use, the answer to this important question remains ambiguous.

But a special note in the annotation that in the 1st and 2nd trimester the use of Ibuprofen is acceptable if the benefit outweighs the risk of complications, leaves a narrow corridor for prescribing Ibuprofen in individual cases.

Prescribing Ibuprofen during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is rather an exception to the rule and can be one-time use. For example, with a sharp increase in body temperature or severe pain.

In all other cases where long-term anti-inflammatory therapy is required, alternative solutions should be considered. Such restrictions are caused by the fact that the active substance of the drug - ibuprofen - can negatively affect the development of organs and systems of the embryo, as well as cause the threat of miscarriage.

The use of Ibuprofen during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester no longer has a toxic effect on the fetus, since it is sufficiently strong. But the prescription of this drug must be justified by the serious condition of the woman.

If the pregnancy proceeds with disturbances, or there is a threat of its termination, then it is advisable to avoid Ibuprofen. And the treatment of infectious diseases is carried out with herbal preparations and traditional medicine recipes.

On a note! Studies have shown that taking Ibuprofen during the planning stage or in the first days after conception complicates normal implantation of the fertilized egg and can cause miscarriage.

Taking Ibuprofen in late pregnancy

It is strictly prohibited to take ibuprofen during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester. This is due to the property of the drug to suspend the synthesis of prostaglandin, which stimulates the myometrium. Its deficiency can contribute to a decrease in amniotic fluid, post-term pregnancy and prolonged delivery.

In addition, long-term use of Ibuprofen in the later stages often leads to damage to the baby’s cardiovascular system, and in some cases, to his intrauterine death. The fetus may be diagnosed with cardiopulmonary toxicity and renal failure. And the mother in labor increases the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.

Ibuprofen: instructions during pregnancy

The instructions for Ibuprofen should be strictly followed during pregnancy. According to the information posted in it, this drug is used as an antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drug. Ibuprofen is produced in convenient forms, which makes its use as comfortable and effective as possible.

Composition and medicinal varieties of Ibuprofen

The active substance of the drug is ibuprofen. Its concentration, as well as the list of excipients, is determined by the dosage form of Ibuprofen in the form of tablets, gel, suppositories, syrup.

• Ibuprofen tablets - during pregnancy are prescribed in low doses of 200-400 ml. They contain corn starch, cellulose, and silicon dioxide. The pills are produced in a round shape, white in color, with a convex surface. The therapeutic dose is concentrated in the blood 1-2 hours after administration. The drug is quickly eliminated by the kidneys.
• Ibuprofen suspension is a dosage form for children. Contains ibuprofen, as well as orange flavor, xanthine gum, glycerol, polysorbate. The maximum daily dose for pregnant women is 2.4 g. This is the safest form of Ibuprofen during early pregnancy.
• Ibuprofen suppositories are another pediatric form of the drug that is acceptable for women during pregnancy. One suppository contains 60 ml of ibuprofen and 500 ml of solid fat. Used rectally.
• Ibuprofen ointment - during pregnancy, used for external application for muscle or joint pain of rheumatic origin or as a result of injury. Contains 50 ml of active substance per 1 g of drug. Additionally, the drug contains carbopol, polyethylene glycol, methylparaben, and alcohol. It is produced in the form of a soft, colorless mass with a characteristic odor.

Indications for the use of Ibuprofen during pregnancy

The following diseases and conditions of a woman may be the reason for prescribing Ibuprofen during pregnancy:

• Attacks of headache or toothache.
• Neuralgia.
• Pain localized in the musculoskeletal center.
• Colds, flu.
• Inflammatory diseases (gout, rheumatism, osteoporosis).

Ibuprofen in the form of ointment is indicated for:

• Inflammation of tendons, joints or muscles as a result of injury (for example, sprain, bruise).
• Exacerbation of rheumatic disease.
• Radiculitis, lumbago.
• Swelling of the upper tissues near the source of inflammation.

Important! In obstetric practice, Ibuprofen is used in emergency cases when it is necessary to suspend labor.

Contraindications and side effects of Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen, in addition to its potential danger to pregnancy, has the ability to negatively affect other organs. Therefore, direct contraindications to its use are:

• Intolerance to the active substance or other components.
• Establishment of an asthma attack, Quincke's edema, angioedema after taking ibuprofen or aspirin in the pregnant woman's history.
• Stomach ulcer.
• Perforation of the intestinal wall in the past after taking non-steroidal drugs, including Ibuprofen.
• Severe pathology of the heart, kidneys or liver.
• Third trimester of pregnancy.
• Hemophilia and hemorrhagic diathesis.
• Diagnosed hyperkalemia.

Ibuprofen in the form of an ointment is contraindicated for skin diseases (eczema, dermatosis), purulent wounds or damage to the mucous membranes.

Special attention should be paid to adverse reactions after taking Ibuprofen. Their list is so large that the desire to take this drug during pregnancy is sharply reduced.

What may worry a woman after treatment with Ibuprofen:

• Hematopoietic disorders: agranulocytosis, anemia, bleeding, hemorrhagic hematomas.
• Throat damage: ulcers, pain, irritation.
• Immune dysfunction: urticaria, swelling (tongue, mouth, eyelids), anaphylactic shock, anaphylaxis, bronchospasm, asthmatic attack, epidermal necrolysis.
• Malfunctions of the nervous system: aseptic form of meningitis, migraine.
• Cardiovascular pathologies: heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension.
• Gastrointestinal dysfunction: nausea, pain, bloating, internal bleeding, exacerbation of Crohn's disease, colitis, vomiting.
• Sensory impairment: hearing loss, damage to the optic nerve.

In addition to these adverse reactions, women may develop renal failure, decreased hemoglobin levels, and ulcerative stomatitis. And when Ibuprofen ointment is applied externally, redness, rash, and itching may appear on the skin.

Important! In women with lupus erythematosus, taking even one tablet of Ibuprofen for headaches during pregnancy can cause the development of aseptic meningitis.

Drug interactions of Ibuprofen with other drugs

• Aspirin: The combination of these two drugs increases the side effects of Ibuprofen.
• Warfarin and other anticoagulants: Ibuprofen significantly enhances the effect of these drugs.
• Corticosteroids: the risk of internal bleeding increases.
• Cardiac glycosides: cardiac function may deteriorate and glomerular infiltration of the kidneys may decrease.
• Quinolic antibiotics: there is a risk of seizures.

Important! It is unacceptable to take other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs together with Ibuprofen.

Dosage and duration of treatment, overdose of Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen can only be taken in short courses of up to 5 days. The tablets are swallowed without damaging the shell. It is advisable to take the pills with plenty of plain water.

During pregnancy, it is advisable to use the lowest dose while maintaining the therapeutic effect. For adults weighing more than 30 kg, the daily dose is no more than 1200 ml. It is divided into three doses of 400 ml.

Ibuprofen ointment is applied to a clean area of ​​skin, avoiding contact with mucous membranes. A small amount of the drug is applied to the skin and gently rubbed. No more than 4 rubbings are allowed per day. The duration of treatment can range from three days to 2 weeks.

The dosage and duration of taking Ibuprofen in the form of suppositories and syrup is determined by the doctor individually, taking into account the woman’s weight.

Important! Long-term use of Ibuprofen during pregnancy can provoke fluid retention and hypertension. Therefore, all women who have prerequisites for the development of gestosis should avoid this remedy.

If the dosage of Ibuprofen is exceeded, the woman may experience complications requiring medical attention.

Signs of overdose:

• Severe nausea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Noise in ears.
• Disorientation in space.
• Brown stool (with internal bleeding).
• Attack of suffocation.

If the following symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Effective and safe analogues of Ibuprofen

Based on the substance ibuprofen, there are many analogues of this drug, both domestic and foreign. They differ in dosage, release form, and additional components.

Among the most effective analogues of Ibuprofen are:

• Nurofen.
• Arviprox.
• No pain.
• Arofen.
• Bofen.
• Ibuprex.
• Ibun Forte
• Eurofast.
• Ibufen.
• Ivalgin et al.

Important! Replacing Ibuprofen with its analogue during pregnancy should be done after consultation with a doctor.

Ibuprofen during pregnancy - reviews

For pregnant women, Ibuprofen often turns out to be a real panacea. Girls speak with gratitude about this drug, telling how it helped them cope with severe toothache, exacerbation of rheumatism, and migraine attacks. But most women were able to survive with its help a serious complication during pregnancy - symphysitis. This pathology is accompanied by uncontrollable pain during movement, which is caused by inflammation in the symphysis pubis.

There are also many reviews that talk about various adverse reactions in the form of vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and allergies. But individual intolerance and non-compliance with the dosage in these cases cannot be excluded.

If you need to take Ibuprofen during pregnancy, you should exercise caution. In non-critical situations, it is better to stick to the dosage for children. Of course, a one-time dose of Ibuprofen for toothache during pregnancy is unlikely to lead to serious complications, but there is no need to take risks in a “special” situation.

Video “Ibuprofen in the third trimester”

Procreation is an honorable and very responsible mission that has been entrusted to a woman since the appearance of life on Earth. How much happiness and joyful troubles a little creature brings into the house, having absorbed the features of its parents. But before this happiness enters the house in the arms of one of its parents, for 9 months it will be tightly connected with its mother, in whose womb conception took place on one of the happiest days in the family. For an expectant mother, this is a very important period, because pregnancy does not protect her from sorrows and illnesses. But many drugs, even those that we are used to taking almost daily for the slightest reason (for example, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Paracetamol, Analgin and some others), can be harmful to the baby or provoke pregnancy failure. Therefore, expectant mothers often wonder whether it is dangerous to take Ibuprofen, so sincerely beloved by doctors, during pregnancy? How can taking it affect the health of the fetus?

Can I take Ibuprofen during pregnancy?

The news of pregnancy, especially if it is long-awaited, begged for, begged from God, lifts a woman literally to heaven. But over time, the feeling of euphoria subsides somewhat, and it is replaced by not always joyful everyday life. Restructuring of the female body, changes in hormonal levels make a woman even more vulnerable to various diseases. It’s not for nothing that doctors strongly recommend taking care of yourself during pregnancy, getting more rest, and avoiding hypothermia and overwork, which reduce an already weakened immune system.

But few women, being a good housewife and homemaker, on whose shoulders lies the care of her husband and family, can afford to do nothing. And even if the expectant mother is single, she has no less worries, because she is forced to be both the mistress of the house and the breadwinner. Well, women just can’t keep themselves warm and calm. Trips to the store, to the market, to work, chores and worries about the life and health of loved ones do not pass without a trace, and at some point the pregnant woman begins to feel unwell: headaches appear, the temperature rises, terrible fatigue and body aches set in . Such symptoms may be a sign of severe fatigue and overwork, or may indicate an infection that has entered the woman’s body.

Complaints during pregnancy include toothache. Even those women who did not have any special dental problems before conceiving a baby may experience them during pregnancy. There can be several causes of toothache in pregnant women. This is a natural change in hormonal levels during this period, and changes in metabolism (violations of phosphorus-calcium metabolism), and the subsequent deficiency of vitamins and minerals, some of which the fetus takes for itself, and an exacerbation of existing diseases of the teeth and gums.

Pain and fever are the domain of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which many of us have long since replaced the old analgesics. And at first glance, there is no particular difference in the drugs, because both groups have analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects expressed to varying degrees. And if there is no difference, then the person is guided by the price and safety of the medicine.

Today, the most affordable and safest drug that helps with pain and fever is Ibuprofen, and according to doctors, this drug is also distinguished by the rarest development of side effects. In theory, if a drug has few side effects and they occur rarely, the drug is unlikely to cause significant harm to the body. It is not for nothing that it has become so widely used.

But we have already said that those drugs that we use successfully and without consequences in everyday life may not be so safe during pregnancy. With regard to Ibuprofen, the drug's manufacturers do not see any particular danger to the expectant mother and the child in her womb, so use during pregnancy is not ruled out. But at the same time, they are limited to the reservation that the drug can be used only as directed or with the permission of the attending physician.

Such disclaimers, understandably, alarm pregnant women who previously sought salvation from pain and fever in this particular drug, and they begin to actively wonder whether Ibuprofen is harmful for pregnant women or whether the disclaimer is just a way to play it safe and not be responsible for the consequences of taking NSAIDs future mothers?

To understand these issues, you need to understand what Ibuprofen is, in what cases its use is recommended and what are the features of its use during pregnancy. Let's also try to understand what the risks may be when taking the medicine regularly.

Active ingredients

Ibuprofen

Indications for use of Ibuprofen during pregnancy

Ibuprofen, like any anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug, is considered the most gentle medicine for inflammation, pain, and fever. Compared to hormonal drugs, NSAIDs are considered safer and have virtually no severe side effects that would have to be dealt with for a long time. It is not surprising that such drugs have found wide use in all cases where relief from pain and tissue inflammation is required.

The indications for the use of Ibuprofen, one of the NSAIDs, include the following pathologies:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (a systemic disease that affects small joints and is accompanied by pain, inflammation of cartilage and muscle tissue, and degenerative processes in them).
• Osteoarthritis (vascular disease with the gradual destruction of cartilage and bone tissue, which is accompanied by tissue swelling and sharp pain in the affected area with any movement).
• Ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic systemic pathology, the symptoms of which include increasing pain and inflammation in the lumbar spine over time),
• Gout (a feature of the disease are regular attacks of arthritis, the symptoms of which are inflammation and swelling of tissue in the joint area, tissue hyperemia, pain).
• Radiculitis (an inflammatory process involving the nerve roots located in the area of ​​the spine and entering its openings; it is characterized by severe piercing pain).
• Bursitis (inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the joints, accompanied by pain).
• Neuralgia (damage to the peripheral nerves, accompanied by inflammation and pain in the affected area, although the appearance of referred pain is not excluded),
• Myalgia (muscle pain that appears as a result of hypertonicity, and often turns into an inflammatory process).

As you can see, Ibuprofen is considered one of the effective drugs for degenerative-inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the neuromuscular system. Its ability to relieve inflammation and pain is also used in the treatment of injuries (for example, tissue inflammation due to impact, damage to the skin, muscles and bones during wounds and fractures as part of complex therapy). Moreover, gynecologists quite often prescribe the drug for painful periods (as part of monotherapy for the condition or as part of a complex treatment regimen for algodismenorrhea).

During pregnancy, some of the diseases described above may occur, but taking Ibuprofen in this case will be justified if the drug is prescribed by the attending physician, taking into account the woman’s situation. But there are some other diseases that can bother the expectant mother, complicating the course of pregnancy and fraught with the risk of early termination.

Pregnancy is a period when the load on a woman’s body increases noticeably. On the one hand, changes in hormonal levels and metabolism, causing a decrease in immunity. On the other hand, there is an increase in the load on many vital organs, and in particular on the digestive organs. It is not surprising that during pregnancy the risk of developing inflammatory processes of various localizations increases.

It will not be necessary to dwell once again on the fact that a pregnant woman’s existing chronic diseases are aggravated. So, in addition to everything, new pathologies may appear, such as adnexitis (inflammation of the appendages) or proctitis (inflammation of the rectal mucosa).

Adnexitis can develop against the background of activation of opportunistic microflora, which is part of the internal environment of the body, or it can be provoked by more dangerous infections, usually sexually transmitted. The disease can occur during pregnancy or worsen during this period (if the diagnosis was made earlier) against the background of a general decrease in immunity. But be that as it may, this disease poses a threat to the mother and baby in her womb, since it significantly increases the risk of miscarriage, spreading to other organs of the reproductive system.

To combat the infection that has become the causative agent of the disease, doctors prescribe antibiotic therapy. And symptoms such as severe squeezing pain and inflammation remain the task of antispasmodics and NSAIDs, among which the most popular and frequently prescribed is Ibuprofen.

Another disease that expectant mothers often suffer from is proctitis. Inflammation of the intestines in them is usually provoked by constipation, which is considered the scourge of pregnant women. The baby growing in the womb gradually begins to put pressure on the digestive organs, the normal functioning of which is disrupted as a result. The expectant mother begins to suffer from heaviness in her stomach and constipation.

Inflammatory diseases of the stomach, liver and pancreas, as well as intestinal dysbiosis, can also contribute to digestive disorders. Stagnant processes in the rectum, in turn, provoke inflammation of its mucous membrane.

With this pathology, a pregnant woman begins to feel pain in the rectum, which can radiate to the lower back or perineum, her temperature may rise, weakness may appear, etc. Ibuprofen during pregnancy will help a woman cope with these symptoms, but it is not considered the main medicine for treating the disease.

So far, we have talked about serious and dangerous diseases that a woman can encounter during pregnancy, but women do not encounter them as often as the ubiquitous respiratory infections. And again, for fever and body aches during pregnancy, doctors quite often suggest Ibuprofen.

It is clear that treatment of infectious pathologies with NSAIDs alone is not effective, especially when it comes to fungal and bacterial pathologies. Here the drug will only help relieve the main symptoms, for example, a dangerous increase in temperature. But in case of viral pathologies, Ibuprofen not only helps to reduce fever (and the temperature can rise even above 39 degrees, which is dangerous for both the mother and the fetus) and relieve headaches, but also allows the body to gather the strength it needs to fight with viruses. But we know that the best cure for viruses is the good functioning of the immune system.

Well, headaches in pregnant women can be caused not only by colds and viruses. Constant worries about your family, the course of pregnancy, and various dangers that await a woman during this period cause nervous tension and, as a result, migraines. Again, Ibuprofen can help with headaches during pregnancy.

It is clear that this is not the only drug that helps in this situation. But the low risk of side effects again moves it to the top of the list of preferences at a time when any disturbances in the body of the expectant mother necessarily affect the health and condition of the fetus in her womb.

For the same reason, dentists can recommend Ibuprofen during pregnancy for toothache (nervous pain caused by caries and inflammation of the roots of the tooth, after treatment or tooth extraction), inflammation of the gums and other pathologies that may occur in pregnant women. This drug is considered more preferable than Nimesil, Aspirin, Tempalgin, Ketanov and other potent drugs.

Release form

There probably aren't many home medicine cabinets that don't include a pill called Ibuprofen among the first aid medications. A package of 50 tablets, the cost of which barely exceeds twenty hryvnia, is quite a profitable purchase. And given that the medicine helps with many pathologies and health disorders, it truly is a lifesaver for many.

In pharmacies you can also find more modest packages of tablets from various manufacturers. The package may contain 1, 2 or 5 blisters containing 10 tablets. But the dosage of tablets is constant. Each of them contains 0.2 g of active ingredient.

But Ibuprofen tablets are not the only form of release of this universal NSAID. The drug in tablet form has a hard shell, which does not allow it to dissolve prematurely and harm the gastric mucosa. It is not intended for grinding.

The dosage of one tablet is designed for a patient’s weight of 20 kilograms or more. It is clear that for the treatment of young children this form of release of a relatively safe medicine is inconvenient. For young patients under 6 years of age, a different form of the drug is provided. Children's "Ibuprofen" is presented in the form of a suspension for internal use, which is available in bottles of different sizes: from 90 to 125 ml (5 options in total).

Sometimes this form of the drug is called syrup. It is used to treat children from six months of age (and sometimes earlier if the baby has a fever after vaccination) and up to 12 years of age. In principle, children's Ibuprofen can also be taken during pregnancy, if this form seems more convenient for the expectant mother, but the effective dosage will need to be discussed with the doctor, taking into account the fact that 5 ml of the drug contains 0.1 g of ibuprofen.

The suspension can be used not only internally, but also rectally (into the rectum in the form of microenemas for proctitis and adnexitis) or externally (for diseases of muscles and joints). Sometimes in the pharmacy you can find such a form of medicine as suppositories, which is also intended for administration into the rectum. The dosage of suppositories is designed for the treatment of children under 2 years of age and is used in babies starting from 3 months.

For muscle or nerve pain and inflammatory-degenerative joint diseases, internal administration of NSAIDs may not produce the desired effect. In this case, local treatment is more relevant, which is carried out using the drug “Ibuprofen” in a form intended for external use in the area of ​​pain and inflammation: ointment, cream or gel.

Despite the fact that these are forms for external use, their use is permissible only in the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy, and then with the permission of the doctor observing the woman during this period. In the third trimester, the use of external forms of Ibuprofen is considered extremely undesirable.

, , ,

Pharmacodynamics

We mentioned that Ibuprofen is one of the most popular NSAID drugs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a class of drugs that in small dosages have an analgesic (anti-pain) and antipyretic (antipyretic) effect, but with increasing doses they begin to exhibit a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. The effect of taking NSAIDs is somewhat lower than that of using corticosteroids, but these drugs do not have the side effects characteristic of hormonal drugs.

The pharmacodynamics of Ibuprofen corresponds to the mechanism of action of most NSAIDs. The active substance of the drug is considered an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase isoenzymes 1 and 2, which are actively involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins, in addition to other functions, are characterized by the role of mediator in inflammatory processes, i.e. they contribute to the maintenance and spread of inflammation.

Ibuprofen inhibits the production of COX isoenzymes and slows down reactions involving them, which leads to a decrease in the production of prostaglandins and relief of the inflammatory process. Inhibition of prostaglandin E2, which affects the cells of the hypothalamus and disrupts the process of thermoregulation, provides the drug with an antipyretic effect. Inhibition of COX and prostaglandins is a reversible process, therefore, after the end of the drug’s effect, all reactions in the body are restored. Over time, prostaglandin synthesis decreases naturally.

The use of ibuprofen for gout is due to its ability to inhibit the phagocytosis of crystals of uric acid salts, which accumulate in the joints during the disease.

The drug has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects due to the inhibition of COX. Moreover, its antipyretic effect is more effective than that of the equally popular paracetamol and drugs based on it. The analgesic effect of the drug follows from its other properties, and as an NSAID, ibuprofen is especially relevant for pain caused by inflammatory processes

, , ,

Pharmacokinetics

Once in the stomach when taken orally, ibuprofen does not stay there for a long time and is quickly absorbed into the blood in the intestinal lumen. The drug begins to act even faster when administered into the rectum, while avoiding the irritating effect of NSAIDs on the walls of the stomach and duodenum. When applied topically, the medicine easily penetrates the skin and soft tissues, accumulating in the affected tissues and penetrating into the blood.

When absorbed in the intestine, the maximum content of the active substance in the blood is observed after 1-1.5 hours, and in the joint fluid - after 2.5-3 hours. The half-life of the drug is 2 hours. The anti-inflammatory effect of the drug lasts for 8 hours. The analgesic effect for non-inflammatory pain usually lasts 2-3 hours.

The drug is metabolized in the liver, but is excreted from the body through the kidneys. During pregnancy, some women begin to have serious kidney problems, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy, so Ibuprofen can cause some harm to such patients, creating additional stress on the patient's kidneys. True, this aspect is taken into account in the “contraindications for use” section of the instructions for the drug, and expectant mothers should definitely pay attention to this information.

, , ,

Use of Ibuprofen during pregnancy during pregnancy

The time during which a little man grows and develops in a woman’s womb is a period when a woman also needs to be especially careful when taking various medications. After all, even those drugs that are considered relatively safe during pregnancy (for example, the same “Ibuprofen”), in some situations can cause irreparable harm.

When they talk about the safety of Ibuprofen during pregnancy, they mainly mean the 2nd trimester, when the risk of miscarriage or premature birth is relatively low. This is the safest period when the main vital systems of the fetus are formed, so taking medications is less likely to cause developmental disorders in the child.

It must be said that no toxic or teratogenic effect on the fetus was observed with Ibuprofen. Studies show that taking the drug is not capable of causing fetal death in the womb or causing mutations that will subsequently cause disability. But scientists do not rule out that the drug, when used regularly, can provoke minor disorders, such as abnormalities in the structure of the heart or abdominal wall in a child.

There is no general opinion among experts regarding the possibility of using Ibuprofen during early pregnancy. In small quantities, it is considered harmless to the fetus and any developmental disorders of the child can be expected only with long-term use, so doctors do not prohibit taking the drug at this time, but only ask to limit its use as much as possible. For example, take 1 NSAID tablet only for high temperatures and pain that cannot be relieved with safe folk remedies.

But the restriction of the use of Ibuprofen during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is associated not only with this. There is a suspicion that taking the drug may become a risk factor for involuntary miscarriage. True, the statistics of such cases are based mainly on miscarriages that occurred almost immediately after conception during the first couple of weeks. Therefore, doctors treat it with doubt, suspecting that such failures could be provoked by a drug taken before conception on the eve of ovulation. The changes it made in the endometrium of the uterus could cause the organ to reject a fertilized egg. They could also cause a disruption in the formation of tissues of the amniotic egg (placenta), as a result of which they were unable to hold the embryo.

Be that as it may, there is a danger in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, and it cannot be ignored. Paracetamol, which can be taken for headaches and toothaches, as well as to reduce fever, is considered less dangerous during this period. True, he is unlikely to cope with severe pain in his teeth and gums. It is not for nothing that doctors strongly advise treating teeth even before pregnancy, and not only because carious cavities are a source of infection for the mother and her unborn baby, but also due to the fact that the treatment options for moderate and severe pain during pregnancy are limited.

Ibuprofen is also dangerous in the last 3 months of pregnancy. Although it is not an antispasmodic, it is capable of inhibiting the process of contraction of the walls of the uterus, which significantly complicates the birth process. When the time comes for childbirth, the woman’s body increases the production of estrogen, which increases the sensitivity of receptors in the uterus to acetylcholine. It is acetylcholine that causes contraction of the walls of the uterus during childbirth, which allows the fetus to move through the birth canal. It is believed that ibuprofen can block the hormones necessary to stimulate labor, so it is not recommended to use it after 30 weeks of pregnancy.

Another unpleasant feature was noticed with the drug. During the prenatal period, the pulmonary artery of the fetus is connected to the aortic arch via the ductus arteriosus, which ends in an opening in the atrial septum. Thus, the venous blood of the fetus can mix with arterial blood, which is a necessity while the child is in the womb, where he cannot breathe with the help of his lungs and thus receive the oxygen the body needs. Thanks to him, the blood bypasses the lungs.

After the birth of a child, when the baby begins to breathe independently, the need for a duct, which was named Botallov after the name of its discoverer, disappears. Typically, the hole through which the venous and arterial vessels communicated heals within a few hours or days of the baby’s life. Taking Ibuprofen by a mother during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester can cause premature closure of the duct. After all, it is the prostaglandins that ibuprofen blocks that inhibit the closure of the duct. If the ductus closes prematurely due to a lack of prostaglandins, the fetus may develop pulmonary hypertension, which often results in right ventricular failure and early death.

Women may develop oligohydramnios while taking Ibuprofen. For a child, this risks impaired renal function, which can develop into renal failure. There is also a risk of severe and prolonged bleeding during labor due to the anticoagulant effect of NSAIDs. Moreover, a decrease in blood viscosity can be observed even when taking low doses.

It is clear that such passions during pregnancy are unlikely to be caused by taking an Ibuprofen tablet once for a headache or toothache. It’s another matter if the expectant mother in the later stages solves many of her problems with the help of this drug. In the third semester of pregnancy, even topical forms pose a danger, although in this case the absorption of the drug into the blood is less than with oral administration.

And yet, before turning to ibuprofen for help unless absolutely necessary, you should think a hundred times about the possible consequences for yourself and the child. Doctors prescribe Ibuprofen during pregnancy during this period only in serious situations that threaten the life and health of the woman, if it is not possible to treat with even safer medications. In this case, the course of treatment should be minimal to avoid the consequences of long-term use of the medication.

You should not relax when taking Ibuprofen during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester. It’s one thing if an expectant mother relieves a severe headache or toothache with ibuprofen, it’s another thing if she treats any ailment with the drug. During pregnancy, it is generally advisable to use pills less. For example, tea with raspberry jam or a decoction of currant branches helps with colds and fever. And you can cope with headaches and the same cold with the help of linden or mint tea. A salt solution helps with tooth pain, and muscle and joint pain subsides if you apply a cabbage or plantain leaf to the affected area.

A course of treatment with Ibuprofen can be prescribed by a gynecologist if a woman is at risk of involuntary termination of pregnancy due to contraction of the uterine walls caused by hormonal imbalances. It is indicated during the period when the fetus is not yet viable. This is a necessary measure to maintain pregnancy, which can be prescribed in the 2nd trimester.

But let's return to the contraindications to the use of Ibuprofen. Despite the fact that from the 14th week of pregnancy until the 30th week, Ibuprofen is considered a relatively safe medicine, not every woman can afford it. Exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases, blood diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction will most likely become an obstacle to such treatment. And ignoring contraindications will lead to a deterioration in the condition of the expectant mother, which is very undesirable during pregnancy, when the stress on the body is already high. A weakened body may simply not be able to cope with the mission entrusted to it, various vital organs will begin to malfunction, and doctors may decide to purposefully terminate a pregnancy that threatens the woman’s life and health.

Contraindications

This section of the instructions for any medications cannot be ignored not only by pregnant women, but also by any other person. After all, it deals with pathologies and conditions in which even a medicine that is safe under normal conditions can cause serious harm to human health.

Before you take the first and subsequent Ibuprofen tablets during pregnancy (this also applies to other forms of release), you need to know that doctors advise you not to take the drug in the following cases:

• with exacerbation of erosive and ulcerative pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract of any localization (erosive gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, etc.),
• with severe gastrointestinal bleeding, which is usually diagnosed by bloody vomiting and diarrhea,
• if a woman has a history of taking acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and has experienced a symptom complex called the aspirin triad: attacks of bronchial asthma, rashes in the form of urticaria, runny nose (rhinitis),
• the form in the form of rectal suppositories is not used in the case of inflammatory bowel pathologies occurring in an acute form,
• if the patient has been diagnosed with hypokalemia or lack of potassium in the body,
• in case of bleeding disorders, when the risk of bleeding increases, including hereditary pathologies,
• in case of serious diseases of the liver and kidneys, when their functionality is greatly weakened, which can lead to disruption of the metabolism of ibuprofen and its retention in the body, and this is a risk factor for the development of side effects and intoxication of the body,
• in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance and other components of the dosage form,
• if intolerance reactions have occurred in the past while taking other NSAIDs.

For some diseases, taking the drug is not prohibited if the medicine is taken in a low dosage and irregularly. We are talking about inflammatory and erosive-ulcerative pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract in remission, about diseases of the liver and kidneys with sufficient functionality of the organs (and a frequent companion of pregnant women is kidney inflammation - pyelonephritis), about blood diseases such as leukopenia and anemia. In this case, care should be taken not to aggravate existing diseases and worsen the condition. Some side effects of the drug may be dangerous for people with hearing or vision impairments.

, , ,

Side effects of Ibuprofen during pregnancy

We have already clarified the question of why you should not ignore contraindications to the use of Ibuprofen and other drugs during pregnancy. It's time to get acquainted with the side effects that a woman may experience while taking the medicine. Most often, the symptoms described below occur due to oral medication.

Taking oral forms of the drug may be accompanied by reactions from the digestive system. Nausea (less often vomiting), pain and discomfort in the abdomen, increased gas formation, and stool disturbances (usually diarrhea) may occur. If a woman has already been diagnosed with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, if there is a risk of their exacerbations, the appearance of erosions and ulcers on the mucous membranes of the organs, perforation of the walls of the stomach and intestines, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. There were cases of complaints of severe dryness and soreness of the oral mucosa, the appearance of small wounds on the gums, and the development of stomatitis. Inflammation of the tissues of the pancreas and liver caused by taking NSAIDs is possible.

The respiratory system may react to taking NSAIDs with the appearance of shortness of breath; with increased sensitivity to the drug, bronchospasm is possible. The cardiovascular system may suffer from increased blood pressure and heart rate. In women with weak hearts, taking the drug may cause or worsen heart failure.

Taking the drug may also be accompanied by headaches and dizziness, the appearance of incomprehensible anxiety and irritability, sleep disturbances (insomnia or, conversely, increased drowsiness). Some patients may experience hallucinations, confusion, or aseptic meningitis, but this usually happens against the background of existing diseases of the nervous system or autoimmune pathologies.

Taking NSAIDs can also negatively affect the condition of the urinary system. The development of cystitis, polyuria, and edema syndrome caused by impaired renal function is possible. In women with kidney pathologies, frequent use of Ibuprofen can cause the development of acute organ failure.

Doctors do not rule out the possibility of developing blood pathologies while taking NSAIDs: anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, etc. Patients may also complain of tinnitus and hearing impairment, blurred vision, dry eye mucosa, swelling of the face and eyelids, and increased sweating.

When using an ointment or gel topically, mostly allergic reactions can be expected. If a woman is found to be hypersensitive to NSAIDs, then it is even possible to develop bronchospasm, but usually everything is limited to redness and swelling of the skin, the appearance of a rash on it, and sensations such as tingling or burning at the site of application of the drug.

We have listed the side effects that are characteristic of most NSAIDs, but Ibuprofen during pregnancy is considered the safest of the drugs in this class because the symptoms listed above occur much less frequently when taking it (less than 1% of patients) than when using others non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. It must be said that side effects of Ibuprofen usually develop either against the background of existing diseases in the patient, or with regular and long-term use of high doses, or as a result of the individual characteristics of the body, which simply rejects the medicine.

Directions for use and doses

If the dosage and duration of use is so important for the drug “Ibuprofen”, since it affects its safety for the expectant mother, then it is worth considering this issue in more detail. Since in the treatment of headaches or toothaches, as well as elevated body temperature, pregnant women most often turn to this form of drug release, such as tablets, let’s talk about them first of all.

It must be said that the instructions for the drug do not have a strict time frame for taking the medicine. As for the intervals between taking the drug and eating food, there are no special instructions on this. Doctors recommend taking the tablets outside of meals, although this has little effect on the pharmacokinetics of the drug. If a woman has inflammatory or ulcerative diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to take tablets with meals.

According to the instructions, adult patients with various diseases can be prescribed the drug in a single dosage of 2 to 4 tablets (400-800 mg). The frequency of taking the drug is 2-4 times a day. The maximum daily dose is 4 tablets.

But as practice shows, 1-2 tablets are enough to reduce fever and treat moderate pain. The interval between doses of the medicine should not be less than 4 hours.

During pregnancy, you need to take Ibuprofen in the minimum effective dosage. Usually, for headaches, taking 1 tablet 2 or 3 times a day is enough. To combat a high temperature, 3-4 doses may be required, and to reduce the dose of medication, you need to wipe the body with a damp cloth soaked in cool water.

Doctors advise taking the medicine for no more than 5 days in a row to relieve pain, and for colds – from 1 to 3 days.

If a woman prefers a suspension, then it is best to take it after meals. Considering that 5 ml of suspension contains 100 mg of ibuprofen at one time, you need to take 10-20 ml of the drug. We leave the interval between doses the same as for tablets.

To treat muscle, neurological and joint pain, you can use external agents with ibuprofen, although in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy you will have to stop using such drugs. A strip of gel (ointment, cream) 5 to 10 cm long is squeezed out of the tube onto the site of the lesion and thoroughly rubbed into the skin. Up to 4 procedures can be performed per day, but during pregnancy it is better to adhere to the minimum dosage and use the drug no more than 3 times a day. The course of treatment is usually 2-3 weeks, but a woman expecting a baby should discuss the duration of treatment with her doctor.

Overdose

Probably, few people can be surprised by the statement that taking high doses of drugs can cause a phenomenon called overdose, characterized by the appearance of unpleasant symptoms from various organs and systems. Ibuprofen, although considered a more or less safe medicine, is still no exception in this case.

True, during pregnancy, when any medications must be used with extreme caution and in minimal doses, the risk of overdose with Ibuprofen is minimal; a woman should still have an idea of ​​what she might encounter if she accidentally takes an overdose of the drug.

According to research, the risk of overdose occurs if a person takes a dose of more than 80 mg of ibuprofen for every kilogram of weight, i.e. for a woman whose weight is within 60 kg, a dose of 2400 mg (12 tablets) will be excessive. But even with this dose, overdose symptoms do not always occur.

If symptoms nevertheless appear within 4 hours after taking the medicine, then most likely the matter will be limited to nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, diarrhea (a rather rare symptom). Less commonly, patients complain of tinnitus, headaches and signs of gastrointestinal bleeding.

More serious and dangerous symptoms occur with severe poisoning (15 tablets or more). The victim experiences dizziness, loss of spatial orientation, visual impairment, decreased blood pressure and body temperature, confusion, drowsiness, ataxia, breathing problems, and acute renal failure. In rare cases, patients fall into a lethargic sleep or coma.

Treatment of mild overdose involves gastric lavage and taking activated charcoal if a little time has passed since taking the medicine. If absorption into the blood has already occurred, alkaline solutions are used, which promote rapid excretion of acidic metabolites of ibuprofen in the urine. Severe cases of overdose are treated in a hospital setting with forced diuresis, hemodialysis and other effective procedures.

It is clear that during pregnancy a woman is unlikely to take the drug in doses that can cause severe intoxication of the body, dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. But the consequences of even a mild overdose can be disastrous, because the listed fleeting symptoms in the mother cannot be compared with the danger that high doses of the medicine pose for the unborn baby.

, , , , , ,

• They cannot be taken in combination with acetylsalicylic acid, which is a known anticoagulant. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs may reduce the specific effects of low doses of this drug, but as the dose increases, the risk of side effects from both drugs increases significantly.
• NSAIDs are not prescribed with drugs of the same class. Including drugs with a similar mechanism of action. It also increases the chance of side effects.

Let us now consider the interaction of Ibuprofen with other drugs and the undesirable effects that may occur with such a combination of drugs:

• Simultaneous use of non-hormonal Ibuprofen and anti-inflammatory steroid drugs increases the risk of bleeding.
• Ibuprofen, like other NSAIDs, may reduce the effectiveness of drugs used to treat hypertension. The simultaneous use of angiotensin II antagonists or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with NSAIDs can negatively affect the condition of the kidneys, especially if the woman has a history of problems with this organ.
• Diuretics can increase the toxic effects of NSAIDs on the kidneys, which can lead to malfunction of the organ.
• The simultaneous use of NSAIDs with anticoagulants that reduce blood viscosity enhances this specific effect. This means that the combined use of Ibprofen and Warfarin or any other anticoagulant is a risk factor for severe, difficult-to-stop bleeding.
• Use with antiplatelet agents and SSRIs increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
• In patients taking cardiac glycosides, Ibuprofen, like other NSAIDs, can potentiate cardiac dysfunction by affecting the glomerular filtration of the kidneys and increasing the concentration of glycosides in the blood, which leads to an overdose of the latter and an increase in their toxicity.
• Taking lithium with drugs can lead to an increase in the concentration of the latter in the blood plasma, which subsequently leads to the appearance of neurological and psychopathic symptoms.
• “Ibuprofen” is capable of increasing the concentration in the blood of the cytostatic drug methotrexate, an overdose of which has a toxic effect on the kidneys, provoking the development of renal failure, inhibits hematopoiesis, causes inflammatory reactions in the liver, irritation of the mucous membranes, nausea and vomiting, and the appearance of dangerous neurological symptoms.
• Ibuprofen, when taken together, increases the nephrotoxicity of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine.
• If in the future a woman does not want to have children and resorts to oral contraception, she needs to know that any NSAIDs reduce the effectiveness of the antigestagen Mifepristone, used for emergency termination of pregnancy. The interval between doses of drugs should be at least 8-12 days.
• Taking Ibuprofen may increase the nephrotoxicity of the immunosuppressant tacrolimus.
• Ibuprofen can cause intoxication of the body when taken simultaneously with an antiviral drug called zidovudine, which may cause hematomas on the body and accumulation of blood in the joint capsules, but these symptoms are more common in patients with hemophilia.
41

Best before date

When taking medications for headaches or toothaches, we rarely pay attention to their expiration date. There is only a desire to quickly get rid of a painful symptom, which outweighs the fear of getting poisoned by a medicine whose shelf life has already expired.

During pregnancy, such behavior can be called extremely unreasonable. After all, a woman should think not only about herself, but also about that little creature who is tightly tied to her by the umbilical cord and is not yet able to protect herself from troubles. You need to understand that only a drug that has not expired can be considered relatively safe.

So, the shelf life of Ibuprofen tablets and ointment is 3 years, gel and suspension – 2 years. But if the bottle of suspension has been opened, it must be used within six months.

Analogues of "Ibuprofen"

It must be said that tablets called “Ibuprofen” are the most inexpensive type of NSAID with this active ingredient, which is considered the safest during pregnancy along with paracetamol. Previously, it was very popular to prescribe Aspirin for fever and pain, but recent studies have shown the teratogenic effect of this drug on the fetus, and doctors have refused to prescribe it to pregnant women.

As for other drugs whose active ingredient is ibuprofen, there are quite a few of them. Here are the names of some of them that can replace the popular “Ibuprofen” during pregnancy:

• "Arviprox" tablets 200 mg
• "Arofen" children's suspension 100 mg/5 ml
• "Bolinet" in the form of effervescent tablets 200 mg
• Suspension "Bofen" 100 mg/5 ml
• Suspension "Brufen" and "Brufen forte" 100 and 200 mg of ibuprofen in 5 ml
• Capsules "Gofen", "Eurofast", "Ibunorm" 200 mg
• Suspension “Ibunorm baby” 100 mg/5 ml
• Capsules and tablets "Ibuprex" 200 mg
• Capsules "Ibuprom Sprint" and children's suspension "Ibuprom For Children" and "Ibuprom For Children Forte" 100 and 200 mg of ibuprofen in 5 ml
• Tablets "Ibutex" 200 mg
• Suspensions "Ibufen" and "Ibufen forte" 100 and 200 mg/5 ml
• Capsules "Ibufen Junior" 200 mg.
• Tablets "Ivalgin" 200 mg
• Children's suspension "Imet" 100 mg/5 ml
• Tablets "Irfen" and "Caffetin Lady" 200 mg
• Suspension "Nurofen" and "Nurofen Forte" 100 and 200 mg of ibuprofen in 5 ml
• Tablets and capsules “Nurofen” or “Nurofen Express” 200 g
• Orafen suspension 100 mg ibuprofen per 5 ml

This is a list of drugs with safe dosages during pregnancy. All of them contain the active ingredient ibuprofen and differ only in prices and auxiliary components.

But for the treatment of headaches and fever, a gentle drug such as paracetamol is quite suitable. It is an antipyretic with a mild analgesic and mild anti-inflammatory effect. In addition to tablets of the same name containing 200 or 325 mg of paracetamol, 325 mg capsules, syrup and suspension containing 120 mg of paracetamol per 5 ml are produced under the same name.

All these forms of the drug can be taken during pregnancy, but again without abuse, because both paracetamol and ibuprofen during pregnancy cannot be taken in large doses and for a long time. If there are drugs in the house such as Panadol, Tylenol, Rapidol, Milistan, the active ingredient of which is paracetamol, during pregnancy they can also be used for pain and fever, but the safe dosage will need to be discussed in any case with a doctor. But you need to understand that for severe muscle and joint pain, paracetamol preparations can do little to help, or their dosage will have to be significantly increased, which is undesirable during pregnancy, and in this case you should immediately turn to ibuprofen.

At the pharmacy, the expectant mother can also be offered combination drugs containing 2 active ingredients: ibuprofen and paracetamol. One of these drugs is Ibuklin. On the one hand, the drug has a rather attractive composition, because it combines the effective antipyretic effect of paracetamol and the pronounced anti-inflammatory effect of ibuprofen, plus it also copes well with pain of varying localization and intensity.

But on the other hand, if you take Ibuklin in tablets intended for the treatment of adults, you need to know that each tablet contains 400 mg of ibuprofen and 325 mg of paracetamol, i.e. in fact, the woman takes 3 tablets at once: 2 ibuprofen and 1 paracetamol. This dosage of the drug can be considered harmless only in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, if taken once.

During pregnancy, it is better for caring mothers to use ibuprofen or paracetamol separately in low dosages, and Ibuklin can be taken for children, because one tablet of this form contains only 100 mg of ibuprofen and 125 mg of paracetamol, which is considered a completely acceptable dose, even if taken 2 at a time tablets in case of emergency.

], , , ,

Ibuprofen is one of the most popular and effective non-hormonal drugs that relieves pain, stops inflammation, and reduces body temperature. Despite the fact that more and more drugs appear every year, and it becomes more difficult to understand them, this remedy has been used for more than 50 years. How safe is it during pregnancy?

How the drug works

Ibuprofen is taken to relieve almost any pain that a person experiences. This could be a headache or toothache, neuralgia, pain during the menstrual cycle in women, bruises and sprains, and joint diseases. The drug is practically indispensable for colds and infectious diseases, as it reduces temperature and alleviates feverish conditions.

Ibuprofen during early and late pregnancy

Expectant mothers, due to the peculiarities of their condition, easily catch a cold while walking, in a clinic, in a store, and even at home, especially if it is cold outside and the heating season has not yet begun. Like any person, a pregnant woman may have a headache, toothache or backache. To protect yourself from any sudden pain or cold, and to prevent them from developing further, you need to have a drug on hand that will help in such cases.

The instructions for Ibuprofen say that pregnant women can take it with caution and under the supervision of a specialist. But it all depends on the duration of pregnancy: in the first trimester it is not recommended to use the medicine, in the second it is possible after consultation with a doctor, in the third it is absolutely forbidden.

Forms of release and prescription of doctors

Rarely does a drug have such a variety of forms and dosages as Ibuprofen. It comes in the form of:

• tablets;
• capsules;
• gel;
• suspensions;
• children's candles.

The danger of one-time use of the medicine before 28 weeks is minimal. Many scientific experiments have confirmed that the substance ibuprofen does not cause any harm to the baby’s health, does not provoke bleeding and does not pose a threat of miscarriage. Why should the drug not be taken in the last trimester? The fact is that Ibuprofen can weaken the contraction of the uterine muscles and block the action of hormones responsible for the birth process. This increases the risk of labor disruption, and there is a danger of premature birth or, conversely, post-term pregnancy.

It will be useful for expectant mothers to know that Ibuprofen can be taken during breastfeeding - it does not affect the quality of milk. And the drug in the form of suppositories and suspensions is used to treat children from three months of age.

Types of Ibuprofen - photo gallery

Ibuprofen gel is applied topically Ibuprofen suspension has a pleasant orange flavor Ibuprofen in the form of suppositories is prescribed to children Ibuprofen capsules have the same dosage as tablets
Ibuprofen in tablet form is the most popular

Release forms and use of Ibuprofen during pregnancy - table

Contraindications, side effects and other important warnings from the instructions

Contraindications include the following conditions:

• individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• stomach and duodenal ulcers, inflammatory bowel diseases;
• blood clotting disorder;
• gastrointestinal bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage;
• severe diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver;
• infected wounds, inflammatory skin diseases (for gel);
• third trimester of pregnancy.

Ibuprofen has a long list of side effects:

• irritation of the oral mucosa, ulcers on the gums, stomatitis;
• irritation of the gastric mucosa, which can lead to heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain;
• headache, nervousness, sleep problems, depression;
• difficulty breathing, bronchospasm;
• hearing and vision impairment;
• increased blood pressure and heart rhythm disturbances;
• anemia, blood clotting disorder;
• kidney inflammation, cystitis, edema;
• rash and itching on the skin, allergic, Quincke's edema;
• increased sweating;
• when used externally - hyperemia, tingling or itching of the skin, rash, swelling, burning sensation.

There is no need to be panicky about such a large list of negative reactions. When using Ibuprofen, the possibility of their occurrence is much lower than with other popular drugs of similar action. Research conducted in the UK suggests that if the dosage is followed, the likelihood of their occurrence is minimal.

It is important to remember that any ailment that appears in a pregnant woman can affect the health of the baby. The occurrence of at least one side effect is a reason to visit a doctor.

It is not recommended to take Ibuprofen and other medications with similar effects at the same time, as their effectiveness decreases and the risk of negative consequences increases. It is unsafe to prescribe painkillers with drugs that affect blood clotting - the likelihood of bleeding increases, as well as with alcohol-containing medications - the risk of toxic poisoning increases many times over. Ibuprofen may increase the effects of medications that lower blood sugar.

If a pregnant woman taking Ibuprofen needs another medication, the interactions between these drugs should be discussed with a doctor. The specialist will take into account all the dangers and evaluate how possible this is in each specific case.

Risk assessment

All over the world, expectant mothers use information created by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the risks of taking medications. The FDA has assigned Ibuprofen Category B, which means it is relatively safe during pregnancy. This means that the medication falls under one of two criteria:

• According to animal tests, no risk to the fetus has been identified, and no controlled studies have been conducted in pregnant women;
• During animal testing, side effects occurred, but clinical trials in humans did not confirm the risk to the child.

In the third trimester, Ibuprofen is assigned category D, which suggests a danger to the fetus. The use of such drugs is permissible only when the therapeutic benefit outweighs the risk.

How long can I take Ibuprofen?

You can only take Ibuprofen once during pregnancy. At the same time, any health problems require mandatory consultation with a doctor. The drug does not affect the progression of the disease, but eliminates pain and inflammation, the cause of which must be established.

A single dose of ibuprofen is not dangerous and will not affect the fetus in any way. Regular use in high doses is dangerous.

Candidate of Medical Sciences, veteran of the Russian Medical Server Discussion Club forum LupusDoc

https://forums.rusmedserv.com/showthread.php?t=45957

Ibuprofen analogues and other drugs that can replace the drug

Ibuprofen has analogues, that is, drugs with the active substance ibuprofen.

The most famous analogues of Ibuprofen - table

In addition to analogues, there are other drugs that act in a similar way. They can replace Ibuprofen if there are contraindications or allergies to the medication.