When a child rises in temperature, pediatricians often prescribe Ibufen syrup for children. Instructions for use recommend the use of this medicine as an antipyretic and analgesic. The drug belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In the pharmacy network, you can find 2 forms of suspension: "Ibufen" and "Ibufen D". These types of syrups have the same pharmacological effect, but the drug with the letter "D" is intended for the treatment of children.
The composition of the drug
The active component of the drug is the non-steroidal analgesic ibuprofen. In one bottle of liquid (100 ml) is 2 g of the drug. In addition, the composition of the children's syrup "Ibufen" includes additional ingredients provided for by the instructions for use. Auxiliary components may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer of the drug. The syrup does not contain sugar, some types of suspension include dyes of group E.
A suspension of white or yellow color is poured into 100 ml vials. Each packaging comes with a spoon or syringe for dosing. The taste of the ibufen syrup depends on the type of flavor. Most often you can find a drug with the smell of an orange in pharmacies. A suspension with raspberry and strawberry flavors is also available.
How does syrup affect the body?
According to the description, the ibufen syrup has an antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. This is due to the effect of ibuprofen on metabolic processes in the body. The active component of the drug inhibits the activity of arachidonic acid, and this, in turn, reduces the production of prostaglandins, which play a major role in the occurrence of inflammatory processes and a febrile reaction.
After taking the suspension inside, ibuprofen is rapidly absorbed from the digestive tract into the blood. If a child has taken medicine while eating, this may slow down absorption a little. Then the drug is processed in the liver and is removed from the body mostly with urine. Within 3 hours after administration, half the dose of the drug is excreted.
Within half an hour after the use of the children's "Ibufen", the temperature begins to decrease in the child. And after 2-3 hours, the therapeutic effect reaches a maximum.
Indications for use
If the child needs to bring down the heat and stop the pain, then the doctor can prescribe Ibufen syrup for children. The instruction for use recommends prescribing the drug in the following cases:
- viral colds;
- childhood infections accompanied by fever (except chickenpox);
- inflammation of the throat (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis);
- reaction to vaccination with fever;
- ear pain with inflammation;
- teething pains and after dental interventions;
- soreness after injuries of muscles and bones;
- headache, migraine.
To alleviate the condition of the child, reduce temperature and pain, pediatricians prescribe Ibufen syrup. Indications for use are many infectious and viral diseases, but it is important to remember that this is a medicine for symptomatic therapy. It does not affect the cause of the disease, but only removes unpleasant manifestations.
When should you not take syrup?
The drug should be given to the child only on the recommendation of a pediatrician. Not all children can use NSAIDs. Instructions for use of the syrup for children "Ibufen" prohibits the use of the medicine in the following cases:
- hypersensitivity to ibuprofen;
- blood diseases accompanied by reduced coagulation;
- allergic manifestations (bronchial asthma, urticaria, hay fever) in the anamnesis associated with taking aspirin;
- chicken pox (the use of NSAIDs can cause inflammation of the connective tissue - bacterial fasciitis);
- ulcerative processes in the digestive system;
- severe pathologies of the kidneys and liver;
- excess potassium in the body (if this deviation is confirmed by analyzes);
- pathologies with bleeding;
- intestinal inflammation;
- enzyme disorders (malabsorption of glucose-galactose and sucrose-isomaltose, fructose intolerance).
The drug is not prescribed for children under 3 months. When prescribing a medicine to a child up to one year of age, it is necessary to carefully calculate and observe the dosage. Adult women should not be treated with children's "Ibufen" during pregnancy and lactation, they need to avoid funds with ibuprofen.
Sometimes caution is required when prescribing a medicine. Reduced dosages and regular monitoring of the child's reaction to the drug may be required. Such increased precautions are necessary in the following cases:
- If the child has heart disease or high blood pressure.
- With severe pathologies of any internal organs.
- With increased bilirubin in a blood test.
- With autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma).
- If the presence of a gastric bacterium is revealed, Helicobacter pylori.
- If the child is taking glucocorticosteroids at the same time, drugs to reduce blood clotting and blood clots.
Unwanted effects
In most cases, the medicine is well tolerated by children. However, the instructions for use of the ibufen syrup warns that in rare cases, side effects from various organs and systems of the body are possible.
In allergic children, skin rashes like hives and itching, bronchospasm, runny nose may appear. Such phenomena usually occur in babies with increased sensitivity to aspirin. Typically, patients with an allergy to acetylsalicylic acid also respond poorly to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In such cases, Ibufen D must be canceled. In rare cases, more severe allergic reactions are possible, such as anaphylactic shock, angioedema, toxic epidermal necrolysis. Therefore, before using the product, you must make sure that the child is not allergic to aspirin and NSAIDs.
The baby’s gastrointestinal tract may be too sensitive to the effects of the drug. In this case, there are phenomena such as nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, diarrhea or constipation, increased gas formation. In young children, mouth sores may occur, as in stomatitis. Too long-term administration of the drug can adversely affect the condition of the liver and pancreas and provoke the development of inflammatory diseases of these organs.
If the child has problems with the heart or blood vessels, then you need to take the medicine with extreme caution. Otherwise, there is a risk of exacerbation of chronic pathology. In children prone to hypertension, an increase in pressure is possible.
An alarming side effect from the respiratory system is shortness of breath. Such a symptom may be associated with the development of bronchospasm due to an allergic reaction. In this case, you need to stop taking the medicine and visit a doctor in order to replace therapy.
A child’s central nervous system can react negatively to the drug. This is manifested by a headache, a depressed or overly excited mental state, anxiety, drowsiness. Particular care must be taken when treating patients with autoimmune diseases. Such pathologies are often accompanied by joint pain, and parents give the children Ibufen as an analgesic. This in no case can not be done without the advice of a doctor. There have been cases when aseptic meningitis developed in patients with autoimmune ailments after taking NSAIDs.
Taking the drug can provoke impaired renal function: excessive and frequent urination, cystitis, allergic nephritis, edema. There have been rare cases of acute decline in kidney function.
All drugs with ibuprofen with prolonged use affect the composition of the blood. There may be a decrease in the number of platelets and leukocytes, agranulocytosis, and a decrease in hemoglobin.
Sometimes during therapy in children there are disorders of the senses. The child may complain of temporary hearing loss, noise and ringing in the ears, blurred vision, impaired color perception.
Children may experience excessive sweating after taking the medicine. It is difficult to say whether this is a side effect or the result of a sharp drop in temperature.
If a child has any undesirable effects when taking the drug, you need to stop using the suspension and consult a doctor.
Manifestations of overdose and poisoning
Instructions for use of the syrup "Ibuprofen" ("Ibufen") warns that if you exceed the permissible dose of the drug, intoxication is possible. Overdose is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- abdominal pain;
- nausea and vomiting;
- respiratory arrest (apnea);
- heart palpitations with atrial fibrillation;
- cramps
- coma;
- drowsiness
- retardation;
- tinnitus;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- the development of metabolic acidosis.
An overdose is especially severe in children under the age of 5 years. In babies, there is a delay in breathing, convulsions, and a coma occurs quickly. A dosage of 400 mg of the active component of the syrup per 1 kg of the child’s weight is considered life-threatening. In such cases, it is important to call an emergency, wash your stomach and give activated charcoal as soon as possible. Next, the doctor will conduct a symptomatic treatment of poisoning in a hospital or home.
To avoid such situations, it is necessary not only to observe the recommended dosage, but also to store the bottle with the drug out of the reach of children. The sweet taste of the suspension usually attracts children, and they can take the medicine for regular fruit or berry syrup. Thus, poisoning often occurs.
Recommended dosage
Before use, the syrup bottle must be shaken so that the suspension becomes homogeneous. The drug is taken orally, after meals, washed down with water.
The dosage of Ibufen is prescribed by the doctor, the amount of syrup per day depends on the age and weight of the child. Per day, it is allowed to consume no more than 20-30 mg of ibuprofen per 1 kg of body weight.
Instructions for use of the syrup "Ibuprofen" ("Ibufen") recommends taking the medicine three times a day at intervals of 6-8 hours. Single doses by age are as follows:
- From 3 to 6 months - 2.5 ml of syrup.
- From 6 to 12 months - 2.5 ml (4 times a day).
- 1-3 years - 5 ml each.
- 3-6 years - 7.5 ml each.
- 7-9 years - 10 ml each.
- 10-12 years - 15 ml each.
These are approximate doses of the suspension, calculated on the average weight of the child. More precisely, the amount of the drug will be determined by the doctor, based on the body weight of the baby.
In order to avoid the development of side effects, Ibufen is not prescribed for children for a long time. To reduce the temperature, syrup can be used up to 3 days, and for the relief of pain - no more than 5 days.
A syringe dispenser is attached to the package with the bottle. With it, you can measure the right amount of syrup and put it into the child’s mouth. To do this, perform the following steps:
- Remove the bottle cap.
- Insert the end of the syringe into the vial through the opening in the neck.
- Shake the syrup.
- Turn the bottle upside down and draw the required amount of suspension into the syringe.
- Pull out the dispenser with rotating movements.
- Slowly pressing the plunger of the syringe, inject the suspension into the baby's mouth.
- Rinse the dispenser under water.
Interaction with other medicines
When treating with Ibufen, it is not recommended to take the following groups of drugs:
- Other types of NSAIDs, aspirin and glucocorticoid hormones. This may increase the likelihood of side effects.
- Diuretics and medicines for high blood pressure. Joint administration can reduce the effect of the use of "Ibufen".
- Potassium-sparing diuretics. Their combination with NSAIDs can lead to hyperkalemia.
- Quinolone antibiotics. The combination of these drugs with "Ibufen" can provoke seizures.
- Antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants and antidepressants of the SSRI group. Ibuprofen potentiates their action, which can lead to bleeding. For the same reason, it is undesirable to combine the intake of syrup with the use of antiviral tablets "Zidovudine".
- Methotrexate, lithium preparations and Digoxin. NSAIDs enhances the effect of these drugs.
- Immunosuppressants. Their joint administration with Ibufen creates a big burden on the kidneys.
Storage conditions
Instructions for use of syrup for children "Ibufen" recommends storing the bottle with the drug at a temperature of no more than +25 degrees. The cover must be tightly screwed. It is important to put the suspension in a place where it will not be accessible to children.
Unopened syrup packaging can be stored for 2 years. After the bottle was first opened, the suspension remains valid for 6 months.
Price and analogues
The price of "Ibufen" in pharmacies is about 90 rubles. The medicine is dispensed without a prescription, but it should be taken on the recommendation of a doctor.
Sometimes parents of sick children are interested in other suspensions with a similar effect. Complete analogues of the ibufen syrup for the active ingredient are the following drugs:
- children's suspension "Ibuprofen";
- syrup for children "Nurofen";
- Children's suspension "Advil".
These medicines also contain ibuprofen. The effect of these drugs is exactly the same. In pharmacies in Moscow, the Ibuprofen suspension costs between 68 and 70 rubles, which is slightly lower than the price of Ibufen. Syrup for children "Nurofen" is a more expensive drug. Its price is from 122 to 258 rubles. These analogues are the most common.
Advil baby suspension is very difficult to find in pharmacies. It is usually ordered online. The drug is very expensive, about 1,500 rubles.
A complete analogue of the drug for the active substance is the syrup "Ibufen D Forte". This is an enhanced form of the drug containing 200 mg of ibuprofen per 5 ml of suspension. The price of the drug is from 140 to 220 rubles.
You can choose children's antipyretic syrups with other active ingredients, but with a similar therapeutic effect:
- “Panadol”, “Efferalgan”, “Kalpol” (based on paracetamol);
- Nise (based on nimesulide).
Often, parents of children are interested in what is better - ibuprofen or paracetamol. If the child has a very high temperature, then it is more effective to bring down "Ibufen". Paracetamol-based syrups act more like analgesics, but they can’t relieve severe fever.
As for suspensions based on nimesulide, they often cause too sharp a drop in temperature in babies (up to 35 degrees). However, such baby syrups are more effective against inflammation than Ibufen.
Syrup Reviews
Parents of children leave positive feedback about the children's syrup "Ibufen". Moms say that this tool quickly removes the temperature in babies. Sometimes the antipyretic effect occurs already after 10-15 minutes, after the child has taken the suspension.
Mothers of young children write that syrup relieves pain when teething. Literally in a matter of minutes, discomfort disappears, the child calms down and sleeps calmly.
Children usually do not resist taking the medicine, since the suspension has a pleasant fruity or berry taste. Parents note the convenience of packaging with a syringe dispenser, it is very convenient to collect the required amount of medicine.
You can find positive reviews of pediatricians about this drug. When children receive routine vaccinations, doctors advise parents to purchase an Ibufen suspension in advance. This helps to avoid fever after vaccination.
Negative reviews are mainly associated with side effects of the drug. Some babies vomit after taking the medicine. Sometimes parents believe that this is a reaction to the taste of the suspension. In fact, this may be due to individual intolerance to the drug. So that this product does not act aggressively on the stomach, it is recommended to drink syrup with plenty of water. Some types of "Ibufen" contain dyes, children are not always well tolerated by such substances. It is better to get a suspension of white color, without shades.
Sometimes parents complain that the drug is acting too short, and then the temperature returns again. This is possible if a fever is a sign of a serious infection. It must be remembered that Ibufen is a medicine for symptomatic therapy, it is not an antibacterial drug. For example, infectious sore throat cannot be cured only by suspension, ibuprofen will only help to reduce the temperature for a while. In such cases, the syrup should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment.