Ibuprofen belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). See the Health A-Z topic about NSAIDs for more information about this type of medicine.
Ibuprofen is made by many different pharmaceutical manufacturers, who each give their product a different brand name.
The packaging should state whether the product contains ibuprofen or not, and how much. This will usually be in mg (milligrams). For example, one ibuprofen tablet may contain 200mg of ibuprofen.
Ibuprofen with other medicines
In some products, ibuprofen is combined with other ingredients. For example, it is sometimes combined with a decongestant (a type of medicine that provides short-term relief for a blocked nose) and sold as a cold and flu remedy.
Types of ibuprofen
Ibuprofen products are available as:
- tablets
- caplets
- an oral suspension (liquid)
- gels
- sprays
- mousses
The gels, sprays and mousses can be rubbed into the skin to relieve muscle aches and pains.
