Ibuprofen is an everyday painkiller for a range of aches and pains, including back pain, period pain, toothache. It also treats inflammation such as strains and sprains, and pain from arthritis.

It's available as tablets and capsules, and as a syrup that you swallow. It also comes as a gel, mousse and spray that you rub into your skin.

Ibuprofen is combined with other painkillers in some products. It's an ingredient in some cold and flu remedies, such as Nurofen Cold and Flu.

You can buy most types of ibuprofen from pharmacies and supermarkets. Some types are only available on prescription.

For under-17s, read our information on ibuprofen for children

• Ibuprofen takes 20 to 30 minutes to work if you take it by mouth. It takes 1 to 2 days to work if you put it on your skin.
• Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body.
• For strains and sprains, some doctors and pharmacists recommend waiting 48 hours before taking ibuprofen as it may slow down healing. If you're unsure speak to a pharmacist.
• Ibuprofen is typically used for period pain or toothache. Some people find ibuprofen better than paracetamol for back pain.
• Always take ibuprofen tablets and capsules with food or a drink of milk to reduce the chance of an upset stomach. Do not take it on an empty stomach.
• If you're taking tablets, take the lowest dose for the shortest time. Do not use it for more than 10 days unless you've spoken to your doctor. Do not use the gel, mousse or spray for more than 2 weeks without talking to your doctor.
• Ibuprofen is called by different brand names, including Nurofen, Brufen and Calprofen (syrup). Ibuprofen gel can be called Fenbid, Ibugel and Ibuleve.

Some brands of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup contain aspartame, colourings (E numbers), gelatin, glucose, lactose, sodium, sorbitol, soya or sucrose, so they may be unsuitable for some people.

Do not take ibuprofen by mouth or apply it to your skin if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to ibuprofen or any other medicines in the past
• have had allergic symptoms like wheezing, runny nose or skin reactions after taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as naproxen
• are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant
• have high blood pressure that's not under control

To make sure ibuprofen (by mouth or on your skin) is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

• had bleeding in your stomach, a stomach ulcer, or a hole (perforation) in your stomach
• a health problem that means you have an increased chance of bleeding
• liver problems, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis or liver failure
• heart disease or severe heart failure
• kidney failure
• Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• chickenpox or shingles - taking ibuprofen can increase the chance of certain infections and skin reactions

If you're over 65 ibuprofen can make you more likely to get stomach ulcers. Your doctor will prescribe you a medicine to protect your stomach if you're taking ibuprofen for a long term condition.

The usual dose for adults is one or two 200mg tablets 3 times a day. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of up to 600mg to take 4 times a day if needed. This should only happen under supervision of a doctor.

If you take ibuprofen 3 times a day, leave at least 6 hours between doses. If you take it 4 times a day, leave at least 4 hours between doses.

If you have pain all the time, your doctor may recommend slow-release ibuprofen tablets or capsules. It's usual to take these once a day in the evening or twice a day. Leave a gap of 10 to 12 hours between doses if you're taking ibuprofen twice a day.

For people who find it difficult to swallow tablets or capsules, ibuprofen is available as a tablet that melts in your mouth, granules that you mix with a glass of water to make a drink, and as a syrup.

Swallow ibuprofen tablets or capsules whole with a glass of water or juice. You should take ibuprofen tablets and capsules after a meal or snack or with a drink of milk. It will be less likely to upset your stomach.

Do not chew, break, crush or suck them as this could irritate your mouth or throat.

What if I forget to take it?

If you are prescribed ibuprofen as a regular medicine and forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as normal.

Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

Taking too much ibuprofen by mouth can be dangerous. It can cause side effects such as:

• feeling and being sick (nausea and vomiting)
• stomach pain
• feeling tired or sleepy
• black poo and blood in your vomit – a sign of bleeding in your stomach
• ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
• difficulty breathing or changes in your heart rate (slower or faster)

The amount of ibuprofen you put on your skin depends on the product you're using – check the package leaflet carefully for how much to use.

Gently massage the ibuprofen into the painful area 3 or 4 times a day. Leave at least 4 hours between applications, and do not put it on more than 4 times in 24 hours.

Never use ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray on your eyes, mouth, lips, nose or genital area. Do not put it on sore or broken skin. Do not put plasters or dressings over skin you've applied ibuprofen to.

What if I forget to put it on?

Don't worry if you occasionally forget to use it, just carry on using it when you remember.

What if I put on too much?

Putting too much ibuprofen on your skin is unlikely to cause problems.

What if I accidentally swallow the gel?

If you swallow ibuprofen gel or mousse by accident, you may get symptoms including:

• headaches
• being sick (vomiting)
• feeling sleepy

It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine.

But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor.

Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you take them together, ibuprofen plus aspirin or naproxen may increase the chance of you getting side effects like stomach ache.

NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies – for example, cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.

Common side effects

The common side effects of ibuprofen taken by mouth happen in more than 1 in 100 people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:

• headaches
• feeling dizzy
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• wind
• indigestion

Serious side effects

Call a doctor straight away if you have:

• black poo or blood in your vomit – these can be signs of bleeding in your stomach
• swollen ankles, blood in your pee or not peeing at all – these can be signs of a kidney problem
• severe chest or stomach pain – these can be signs of a hole in your stomach or gut
• difficulty breathing, or asthma symptoms that become worse

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to ibuprofen.

These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

You're less likely to have side effects when you apply ibuprofen to your skin than with tablets, capsules and syrup because less gets into your body. However, you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin.

Applying ibuprofen to your skin can also cause your skin to become more sensitive than normal to sunlight.

These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen gel, mousse and spray. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

What to do about:

• headaches – make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Don't drink too much alcohol. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
• feeling dizzy – if ibuprofen makes you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Avoid coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. If the dizziness doesn't get better within a couple of days, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
• feeling sick (nausea) – stick to simple meals. Do not eat rich or spicy food.
• being sick (vomiting) – have small, frequent sips of water. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Don't take any other medicines to treat vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
• wind – try not to eat foods that cause wind (like lentils, beans and onions). Eat smaller meals, eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. There are pharmacy medicines that can also help, such as charcoal tablets or simethicone.
• indigestion – if you get repeated indigestion stop taking ibuprofen and see your doctor as soon as possible. If you need something to ease the discomfort, try taking an antacid, but do not put off going to the doctor.

Ibuprofen isn't normally recommended in pregnancy – especially if you're 30 or more weeks – unless it's prescribed by a doctor. This is because there might be a link between taking ibuprofen in pregnancy and some birth defects, in particular damage to the baby's heart and blood vessels.

There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage.

Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking ibuprofen. It will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine. There may be other treatments that are safer for you.

Paracetamol is the best painkiller to take during pregnancy.

For more information about how ibuprofen can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.

Ibuprofen and breastfeeding

Ibuprofen is safe to take by mouth or use on your skin if you are breastfeeding.

Ibuprofen doesn't mix well with some medicines.

Ibuprofen applied to the skin is less likely to interfere with other medicines than if it's taken by mouth.

For safety, tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking ibuprofen by mouth or using it on your skin:

• blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin
• anti-inflammatory painkillers such as aspirin, diclofenac, mefenamic acid and naproxen
• medicines for high blood pressure
• steroid medicines such as betamethasone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin or ofloxacin
• antidepressants such as citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, venlafaxine, paroxetine or sertraline
• diabetes medicines such as gliclazide, glimepiride, glipizide and tolbutamide