Ibuprofen for cold and flu

When you catch a cold or the flu virus, the illness puts you to bed, the outside world ceases to exist, because it flows from the nose, it tortures incessant sneezing, shivering, the head, throat and joints ache. Only one thought comes to mind, what would it take to ease your condition. Now, with various symptoms associated with fever, pain, doctors are prescribed ibuprofen, and we are accustomed to aspirin. So, is it possible to drink ibuprofen for a cold?

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Indications Ibuprofen for cold and flu

Ibuprofen is on the list of the most important medicines of WHO. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug designed to relieve pain, heat, inflammation. Indications for its use are head, menstrual, tooth pains, in the joints, muscles, back, neuralgia. With a cold and flu, it is prescribed to relieve fever, it blocks the inflammatory process, reduces temperature, eliminates pain.

[5], [6], [7]

Release form

Ibuprofen exists in such forms as tablets, suspensions, gels, ointments, rectal suppositories. The latter, like suspensions, are convenient for children. During colds for adults, pills are used.

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Pharmacodynamics

The action of ibuprofen is aimed at inhibiting prostaglandins - physiologically active substances that increase the sensitivity of receptors to mediators of pain at the central and peripheral level. Its antipyretic effect is based on removing the excitation of the center responsible for the thermoregulation of the body, and begins in half an hour after application, and the peak of action is reached after 3 hours. The anti-inflammatory effect is due to the inhibition of a group of enzymes (cyclooxygenases) involved in the synthesis of prostanoids. This leads to a decrease in the intensity of the inflammatory process. There is evidence that ibuprofen is able to stimulate the formation of interferon, and therefore it has an immunomodulating property.

[9], [10]

Pharmacokinetics

Getting inside, 80% of the drug is absorbed into the stomach. When taken on an empty stomach, the active substance is concentrated in the blood in 45 minutes, and after meals - in 1,5-2,5 hours. Metabolized, mainly in the liver, after which 60% of it is converted into an active form. Most of the substance is excreted from the body by the kidneys, a small part - with bile. The complete elimination period is a day.

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Dosing and administration

The tablet preparation is prescribed as a short-term course for adults and children after 12 years at a dose of 600 mg (3 pcs.) Per day, but not more than 1200 mg. The tablet is taken after a meal and washed down with a sufficient volume of water, the next - after 4-6 hours. The course is usually 5 days. The method of application of the agent in a suspension intended for children depends on their body weight and age. How in this case to take ibuprofen for a cold? Before use, the bottle must be shaken to make the composition uniform. Breastfed 3-6 months with a weight of 5-7.6 kg is recommended 2.5ml of the drug, if necessary repeat the dose again, but not earlier than 6 hours later. In the interval of six months-a year the frequency of reception can be increased up to 3-4 times. In the subsequent periodicity is 3 times, and the dose in 1-3 years (weight 10-15 kg) - 5ml, 4-6 years (16-20kg) - 7.5ml, 7-9 years (21-29kg) - 10ml, 10 -12 years (30-40kg) - 15ml.

[15], [16]

Use Ibuprofen for cold and flu during pregnancy

Ibuprofen is allowed to treat colds and flu in the first two trimesters of pregnancy as agreed with the doctor, but in the third it is highly undesirable. In the practice of gynecologists, there were cases of lung defects of the child's heart, and also, when taking the drug a month before the birth, caused kidney failure in the fetus. A more safe alternative for pregnant women is paracetamol: it has less pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, but it is effective in anesthetizing and lowering the temperature.

Contraindications

An obstacle to the treatment of ibuprofen may be an individual sensitivity to either it or to the auxiliary substances present in its composition. Other contraindications for use include:

• combination of bronchial asthma with polyposis of the nose;
• ulcer of digestive organs during exacerbation, ulcerative colitis;
• giraxemia;
• kidney failure;
• tendency to bleeding, poor blood coagulability;
• intolerance to fructose;
• infant age is up to 3 months.

It requires careful application to hypertensive patients, patients with gastritis, nephrotic syndrome, with long-term intake of other NSAIDs, and in suspension to diabetics, because there is sugar in it.

Side effects Ibuprofen for cold and flu

In some cases ibuprofen can cause side effects, manifested as nausea, heartburn, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, hepatitis. Also, there are possible violations from the central nervous system: headache, insomnia, anxiety. There may be noise in the ears, blurred vision, increased sweating, palpitations, increased blood pressure. Allergic reaction is not ruled out.

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Overdose

A single dose of the drug that can lead to an overdose is 400 mg. It can manifest in the form of nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach, excessive drowsiness or nervous overexcitation and even seizures. In laboratory indicators, this is evidenced by a violation of blood coagulability, an increase in potassium. Treatment of overdose is symptomatic, as well as in the control of vital body functions.

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Interactions with other drugs

Ibuprofen should not be used with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. May increase side effects. Unfavorable interaction with diuretics - kidney failure may develop. Simultaneous reception in vasodilators reduces the effect of the latter, and with hypoglycemic drugs, including insulin, enhances their effect. Caffeine increases the analgesic properties of ibuprofen.

Storage conditions

The ideal storage conditions for the drug is a dark place with an air temperature of no higher than 25 ^° C. For children, it should be inaccessible.

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Shelf life

The drug has a shelf life of 3 years. As for the suspension, it is available in print for half a year.

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Ibuprofen or paracetamol for colds? What's better?

Both analgesics have the right to apply for colds and even simultaneously for a short period. Ibuprofen quickly begins to act and its effect lasts longer. Paracetamol has not so much side effects, it is less harmful to the gastric mucosa. In paracetamol, there is no anti-inflammatory effect, so for a cold, which is characterized by an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx, trachea is more suitable ibuprofen. For pregnant and lactating women, paracetamol is preferable if it is impossible to do without their use.

Reviews

According to the opinions of people, there is a high degree of confidence in this drug, its effectiveness in eliminating the unpleasant symptoms of cold and flu is noted. It quickly reduces the temperature, it is recommended to use it in children in case of an increase in body temperature after vaccination.