What is Ibuprofen?
Category: Over the Counter Drugs
Most popular types: Ibuprofen Prescription Advil Ibu Show all
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug used to relieve pain and swelling. It is thought to have lower levels of side effects than other NSAIDS and is widely found throughout over-the-counter painkiller medications.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migraine | 3905 | 197 | |
| Pain | 1952 | 568 | |
| Degenerative disc disease | 1584 | 153 | |
| Psoriatic arthritis | 902 | 23 | |
| Endometriosis | 669 | 31 | |
| Ankylosing spondylitis | 576 | 14 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 79 | |
| Moderate | 122 | |
| Mild | 209 | |
| None | 851 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Ibuprofen
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Stomach pain | 78 | |
| Nausea | 22 | |
| Gastric ulcer | 12 | |
| Acid reflux | 11 | |
| Stomach discomfort | 11 | |
| Heartburn | 9 |
Why patients stopped taking Ibuprofen
Multiple reasons could be selected
| Reason | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor's advice | 387 | |
| Did not seem to work | 332 | |
| Other | 278 | |
| Side effects too severe | 229 | |
| Course of treatment ended | 123 | |
| Personal research | 45 | |
| Change in health plan coverage | 13 | |
| Expense | 9 |
Duration
Stopped taking Ibuprofen
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 197 | |
| 1 - 6 months | 164 | |
| 6 months - 1 year | 117 | |
| 1 - 2 years | 116 | |
| 2 - 5 years | 173 | |
| 5 - 10 years | 143 | |
| 10 years or more | 218 |
What people switch to and from
Patients started taking Ibuprofen after stopping:
| Treatment | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Tramadol (Ultram) | 7 | |
| Naproxen (Naproxen Prescription) | 6 | |
| Gabapentin (Neurontin) | 3 | |
| Meloxicam (Mobic) | 3 | |
| Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (Norco) | 2 |
Patients stopped taking Ibuprofen and switched to:
| Treatment | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Naproxen (Naproxen Prescription) | 23 | |
| Meloxicam (Mobic) | 21 | |
| Tramadol (Ultram) | 16 | |
| Celecoxib (Celebrex) | 14 | |
| Diclofenac (Voltaren) | 13 |
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