If you need to take ibuprofen for more than 6 months, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to protect your stomach from any side effects. If you forget to take ibuprofen tablets, capsules, granules or liquid Always take ibuprofen tablets, capsules, granules and liquid with food or a drink of milk to reduce the chance of an upset stomach. Do not take it on an empty stomach. Wash hands after each application. Do not exceed the stated dose. Review treatment after 2 weeks, especially if the symptoms worsen or persist. Patients with asthma, an active peptic ulcer or history of kidney problems should consult their doctor before use, as should patients already taking aspirin or other painkillers.

Please stop using ibuprofen gel immediately and tell your doctor if you experience any of the following effects: Ibuprofen is contraindicated during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and should be used with caution in the first 2 trimesters. Adults and children of 12 years and over:Use 2 - 5cm of gel (50 - 125mg of ibuprofen) on the affected area. Use every 4 hours, if you need to. The usual dose for adults is one or two 200mg tablets or capsules 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. Summary of Product Characteristics: Fenbid 5% Gel. Amdipharm Mercury Company Ltd. Revised September 2012.Consult your doctor before use if you are asthmatic, have active peptic ulcer, kidney problems or are taking aspirin or other pain killers.

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

If you’re taking granules, the usual dose for adults is one sachet 2 or 3 times a day. Some people might need to take it 4 times a day. Summary of Product Characteristics: Fenbid Forte 10% Gel. Amdipharm Mercury Company Ltd. Revised September 2012.

Summary of Product Characteristics: Ibuleve Speed Relief Gel. Diomed Developments Ltd. Revised October 2010. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk, 9th edition (2011) ed. Briggs, G., Freeman, R. and Yaffe, S. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.Ibuprofen takes 1 to 2 days to work when putting it directly onto your skin. Always test ibuprofen gel on a small area first, and use 1-4 cm of product in each application. Apply the gel as a thin layer over the affected area and gently rub the gel in until it is completely absorbed. Do not use more gel than is recommended, and make sure you wash your hands after use! If you need to take ibuprofen tablets, capsules, granules or liquid for a long time and you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach. The dose should not be repeated more frequently than every four hours and no more than 4 times in any 24 hour period.