Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2021 Publisher: Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Ltd, Slough, SL1 3UH, UK
This product is contraindicated:
Do not exceed the recommended dose.
If symptoms persist consult your doctor.
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
The hazards of paracetamol overdose are greater in patients with non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease. Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if the patient feels well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.
Do not take with any other paracetamol containing products. Immediate medical advice should be sought if this occurs, even if you feel well as this can result in an overdose (see section 4.9).
Undesirable effects may be minimised by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to control symptoms (see Section 4.2, and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks below) and by patients taking the dose with food (see Section 4.2).
The elderly have an increased frequency of adverse reactions to NSAIDs especially gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation which may be fatal (see Section 4.2).
Caution is required in patients with certain conditions:
Appropriate monitoring and medical advice are required for patients with a history of hypertension and/or mild to moderate congestive heart failure as fluid retention, hypertension and oedema have been reported in association with NSAID therapy.
Clinical studies suggest that use of ibuprofen, particularly at a high dose (2400 mg/day) may be associated with a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events (e.g. myocardial infarction or stroke). Overall, epidemiological studies do not suggest that low dose ibuprofen (e.g. ≤1200mg/day) is associated with an increased risk of arterial thrombotic events.
Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure (NYHA II-III), established ischaemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and/or cerebrovascular disease should only be treated with ibuprofen after careful consideration and high doses (2400 mg/day) should be avoided. Careful consideration should be exercised before initiating long-term treatment for patients with risk factors for cardiovascular events (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking) particularly if high doses of ibuprofen (2400 mg/day) are required.
The administration of NSAIDs may cause a dose dependent reduction in prostaglandin formation and precipitate renal failure. Patients at greatest risk of this reaction are those with impaired renal function, cardiac impairment, liver dysfunction, those taking diuretics and the elderly. Renal function should be monitored in these patients (see Section 4.3).
NSAIDS should be given with care to patients with a history of gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease) as these conditions may be exacerbated (see section 4.8).
Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, ulceration and perforation, which can be fatal, has been reported with all NSAIDs at any time during treatment, with or without warning symptoms or a previous history of serious GI events.
The risk of GI bleeding, ulceration or perforation is higher with increasing NSAID doses, in patients with a history of ulcer, particularly if complicated with haemorrhage or perforation (see Section 4.3) and in the elderly. These patients should commence treatment on the lowest dose available. Combination therapy with protective agents (e.g. misoprostol or proton pump inhibitors) should be considered for these patients, and also for patients requiring concomitant low dose acetylsalicylic acid, or other drugs likely to increase gastrointestinal risk (see below and 4.5).
Patients with a history of GI toxicity, particularly the elderly, should report any unusual abdominal symptoms (especially GI bleeding) particularly in the initial stages of treatment.
Caution should be advised in patients receiving concomitant medications which could increase the risk of ulceration or bleeding, such as oral corticosteroids, anticoagulants such as warfarin selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or antiplatelet agents such as acetylsalicylic acid (see Section 4.5).
When GI bleeding or ulceration occurs in patients receiving ibuprofen containing products, the treatment should be withdrawn.
Serious skin reactions, some of them fatal, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis, have been reported rarely in association with the use of NSAIDs (see Section 4.8). Patients appear to be at highest risk of these reactions early in the course of therapy, the onset of the reaction occurring in the majority of cases within the first month of treatment. Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) has been reported in relation to ibuprofen-containing products. Use of this product should be discontinued at the first appearance of signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions, such as skin rash, mucosal lesions, or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
This medicinal product can mask symptoms of infection, which may lead to delayed initiation of appropriate treatment and thereby worsening the outcome of the infection. This has been observed in bacterial community acquired pneumonia and bacterial complications to varicella. When this medicine is administered for fever or pain relief in relation to infection, monitoring of infection is advised. In non-hospital settings, the patient should consult a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.
There is limited evidence that drugs which inhibit cyclo-oxygenase/prostaglandin synthesis may impair female fertility by an effect on ovulation and is not recommended in women attempting to conceive. This is reversible on withdrawal of treatment. In women who have difficulties conceiving or who are undergoing investigation of infertility, withdrawal of the product should be considered.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
This product (like any other paracetamol containing products) is contraindicated in combination with other paracetamol containing products – increased risk of serious adverse effects (see Section 4.3).
This product (like any other ibuprofen containing products and NSAIDs) is contraindicated in combination with:
This product (like any other paracetamol containing products) should be used with caution in combination with:
This product (like any other ibuprofen containing products and NSAIDs) should be used with caution in combination with:
There is no experience of use of this product in humans during pregnancy.
A large amount of data on pregnant women indicate neither malformative, nor feto/neonatal toxicity. Epidemiological studies on neurodevelopment in children exposed to paracetamol in utero show inconclusive results. If clinically needed, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy however it should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible frequency.
Congenital abnormalities have been reported in association with NSAID administration in man; however, these are low in frequency and do not appear to follow any discernible pattern. In view of the known effects of NSAIDs on the foetal cardiovascular system (risk of closure of ductus arteriosus), use in the last trimester is contraindicated. The onset of labour may be delayed, and duration increased with an increased bleeding tendency in both mother and child (see Section 4.3). NSAIDs should not be used during the first two trimesters of pregnancy or labour unless the potential benefit to the patient outweighs the potential risk to the foetus.
Therefore if possible, the use of this product should be avoided in the first six months of pregnancy and contraindicated in the last three months of pregnancy (see Section 4.3).
Ibuprofen and its metabolites can pass in very small amounts (0.0008% of the maternal dose) into the breast milk. No harmful effects to infants are known.
Paracetamol is excreted in breast milk but not in a clinically significant amount. Available published data do not contraindicate breastfeeding.
Therefore it is not necessary to interrupt breastfeeding for short-term treatment with the recommended dose of this product.
See Section 4.4 regarding female fertility.
Undesirable effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue and visual disturbances are possible after taking NSAIDs. If affected patients should not drive or operate machinery.
Clinical trials with this product have not indicated any other undesirable effects other than those for ibuprofen or paracetamol alone.
The following table lists adverse effects from pharmacovigilance data experienced by patients taking ibuprofen alone or paracetamol alone in short-term and long-term use.
Adverse events which have been associated with Ibuprofen alone or Paracetamol alone are given below, tabulated by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse events are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
System Organ Class | Frequency | Adverse Event |
---|---|---|
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders | Very rare | Haematopoietic disorders1 |
Immune System Disorders | Uncommon | Hypersensitivity with urticaria and pruritus2 |
Very rare | Severe hypersensitivity reactions. Symptoms can include facial, tongue and throat swelling, dyspnoea, tachycardia, hypotension (anaphylaxis, angioedema or severe shock)2 | |
Psychiatric Disorders | Very rare | Confusion, depression and hallucinations |
Nervous System Disorders | Uncommon | Headache and dizziness |
Very rare | Aseptic meningitis3, paraesthesia, optic neuritis and somnolence | |
Eye Disorders | Very rare | Visual disturbance |
Ear and Labyrinth Disorders | Very rare | Tinnitus and vertigo |
Cardiac Disorders | Very rare | Cardiac failure and oedema4 |
Vascular Disorders | Very rare | Hypertension4 |
Respiratory and thoracic and mediastinal disorders | Very rare | Respiratory reactivity including: asthma, exacerbation of asthma, bronchospasm and dyspnoea2 |
Gastrointestinal Disorders | Common | Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, dyspepsia and abdominal discomfort5 |
Uncommon | peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal perforation or gastrointestinal haemorrhage, melaena, haematemesis6, mouth ulceration, exacerbation of colitis and Crohn’s disease7 gastritis, pancreatitis, flatulence and constipation | |
Hepatobiliary Disorders | Very rare | Abnormal liver function, hepatitis and jaundice8 |
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders | Common | Hyperhidrosis |
Uncommon | Various skin rashes2 | |
Very rare | Bullous reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme and toxic epidermal necrolysis2.Exfoliative dermatoses, purpura, photosensitivity | |
Not known | Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome) Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) Photosensitivity reactions | |
Renal and Urinary Disorders | Very rare | Nephrotoxicity in various forms, including interstitial nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and acute and chronic renal failure9 |
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions | Very rare | Fatigue and malaise |
Investigations | Common | Alanine aminotransferase increased, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased and liver function tests abnormal with paracetamol. Blood creatinine increased, blood urea increased. |
Uncommon | Aspartate aminotransferase increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood creatine phosphokinease increased, haemoglobin decreased and platelet count increased. |
1 Examples include agranulocytosis, anaemia, aplastic anaemia, haemolytic anaemia leucopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia and thrombocytopenia.
First signs are fever, sore throat, superficial mouth ulcers, flu-like symptoms, severe exhaustion, unexplained bleeding and bruising and nose bleeding.
2 Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. These may consist of (a) non-specific allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, (b) respiratory tract activity, e.g. asthma, aggravated asthma, bronchospasm or dyspnoea, or © various skin reactions, including rashes of various types, pruritus, urticaria, purpura, angioedema and, more rarely, exfoliative and bullous dermatoses (including toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and erythema multiforme).
3 The pathogenic mechanism of drug-Induced aseptic meningitis is not fully understood. However, the available data on NSAID-related aseptic meningitis points to a hypersensitivity reaction (due to a temporal relationship with drug intake, and disappearance of symptoms after drug discontinuation). Of note, Single cases of aseptic meningitis in patients with existing autoimmune disorders (such as systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease) during treatment with Ibuprofen, with symptoms such as: stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, fever or disorientation have been observed (see Section 4.4).
4 Clinical studies suggest that use of ibuprofen particularly at high a dose (2400mg/day) may be associated with a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events (for example myocardial infarction or stroke) (see section 4.4).
5 The adverse events observed most often are gastrointestinal in nature.
6 Sometimes fatal, particularly in the elderly.
7 See section 4.4.
8 In overdose Paracetamol can cause acute hepatic failure, hepatic failure, hepatic necrosis and liver injury (see Section 4.9).
9 Especially in long-term use, associated with increased serum urea and oedema.
Also includes papillary necrosis.
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Not applicable.
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