Cautions with other medicines
Ibuprofen does not mix well with some prescription medicines.
Check with your child's doctor or a pharmacist before giving your child ibuprofen if they're taking any other medicines, including:
- medicines that help to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin
- other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, diclofenac, mefenamic acid or naproxen
- medicines for high blood pressure
- steroid medicines such as betamethasone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone
- quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin or ofloxacin
- antidepressants such as citalopram, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, paroxetine or sertraline
- lithium, a medicine for mood disorders
Giving ibuprofen with other painkillers
Paracetamol for children is a safe painkiller to give children alongside ibuprofen. However, do not give ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time.
You need to give these medicines 1 at a time (unless your child's doctor or nurse gives you different instructions).
For high temperature
If you've given your child ibuprofen and they still have a high temperature after 1 hour, you could try paracetamol instead.
If this helps bring down their temperature, carry on giving them paracetamol only (following the instructions that come with the medicine).
Call your child's doctor if you've tried both paracetamol and ibuprofen and they have not helped.
Do not alternate between paracetamol and ibuprofen to treat a high temperature without advice from a doctor or nurse.
Do not give more than the maximum daily dose of either medicine.
For pain (including teething)
If you've given your child ibuprofen and they're still in pain 1 hour later, you could try giving paracetamol.
If they're still in some pain after giving paracetamol you can alternate between doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen. Only give 1 medicine at a time.
It may help to keep a diary of the time and dose of each medicine you give. Follow the instructions on the leaflet that comes with each medicine. Do not give the medicine for more than 3 days (or 1 day if they're under 6 months) without speaking to a doctor.
Do not give more than the maximum daily dose of either medicine.
If you've tried alternating between paracetamol and ibuprofen and it has not helped, or your child becomes distressed, speak to your doctor about what may be causing their pain.
Important
Never give aspirin to a child under the age of 16, unless their doctor prescribes it.
Mixing ibuprofen with herbal remedies and supplements
It's not possible to say whether complementary medicines, herbal remedies and supplements are safe for children to take with ibuprofen. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.
Important: Medicine safety
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.