NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

BRUFEN®
Ibuprofen film-coated tablet 400 mg

Although Brufen can relieve the difficulty in swallowing or

What is in this leaflet symptoms of pain and inflammation, breathing
it will not cure your condition. • hives, itching or skin rash
Please read this leaflet carefully • stomach ache, fever, chills,
before you start taking Brufen Brufen contains the active nausea and vomiting
ingredient ibuprofen. Ibuprofen • fainting.
This leaflet answers some common belongs to a group of medicines
questions about Brufen. called non-steroidal anti- If you are allergic to aspirin or
inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs). NSAID medicines and take
It does not contain all the available Brufen, these symptoms may be
information. It does not take the Ask your doctor if you have any severe.
place of talking to your doctor or questions about why this
pharmacist. medicine has been prescribed for Do not take Brufen if you are in
you. your third trimester of pregnancy.
All medicines have risks and Your doctor may have prescribed it It may affect your developing baby if
benefits. Your doctor has weighed for another reason. you take it during this time.
the risks of you taking Brufen
against the benefits they expect it Many medicines used to treat Do not take Brufen if you have (or
will have for you. headache, period pain and other have previously) vomited blood
aches and pains contain aspirin or or material that looks like coffee
If you have any concerns about NSAID medicines. If you are not grounds.
taking this medicine, ask your sure if you are taking any of these
doctor or pharmacist. medicines, ask your pharmacist. Do not take Brufen if you are (or
have previously) bled from the
Keep this leaflet with the This medicine is available only with rectum (back passage), have
medicine. You may need to read it a doctor’s prescription. black sticky bowel motions
again. (stools) or bloody diarrhoea.
Brufen is not addictive.
Do not take Brufen if you have a
What Brufen is used condition resulting in an
Before you take increased tendency to bleed.
for
Brufen Do not take Brufen if you have a
Brufen relieves pain and reduces peptic ulcer (i.e. stomach or
inflammation (swelling or redness) When you must not take duodenal ulcer), a recent history
that may occur: it of one, or have had peptic ulcers
before.
• in different types of arthritis Do not take Brufen if you have an
including rheumatoid allergy to: Do not take Brufen if you have, or
arthritis, osteoarthritis and have a history of, ulcerative
• any medicine containing
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis colitis or Crohn's disease.
ibuprofen
• in muscle and bone injuries • any of the ingredients listed
such as sprains, strains, Do not take Brufen if you have
at the end of this leaflet
low back pain (lumbago), severe heart failure, liver failure
• aspirin or any other NSAID
rheumatism, and tendonitis, or kidney disease.
medicine.
such as tennis elbow
• from swelling and pain after Do not give this medicine to a
Some of the symptoms of an
setting broken or dislocated child under the age of 12 years.
allergic reaction to these medicines
bones Safety and effectiveness in children
may include:
• menstrual cramps (period younger than 12 years have not
pain) been established for Brufen 400 mg
• asthma, wheezing or coated tablets.
• following surgery shortness of breath
• due to dental pain. • swelling of the face, lips, Do not take this medicine after
tongue which may cause the expiry date printed on the
Brufen also relieves fever (high
temperature). pack or if the packaging is torn or

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shows signs of tampering. Tell your doctor if you currently • aminoglycosides, medicines
If it has expired or is damaged, have an infection. used to treat certain
return it to your pharmacist for If you take Brufen while you have infections
disposal. an infection, it may hide some of the • gingko biloba, a herbal
signs and symptoms of an infection. medicine used to improve
If you are not sure whether you This may make you think, memory
should start taking this medicine, mistakenly, that you are better or • quinolone antibiotics,
talk to your doctor. that it is not serious. medicines used to treat
certain infections
Before you start to take Tell your doctor if you plan to • zidovudine, a medicine
have surgery. used to treat HIV
it • cholestyramine, a medicine
Tell your doctor if you have If you have not told your doctor used to treat high
allergies to any other medicines, about any of the above, tell cholesterol
including aspirin or other NSAID him/her before you start taking • sulfonylureas, medicines to
medicines, foods, preservatives Brufen. treat diabetes
or dyes. • voriconazole or fluconazole,
Taking other medicines medicines to treat certain
Tell your doctor if you are fungal infections
pregnant or plan to become Tell your doctor or pharmacist if
• mifepristone, a medicine
pregnant or are breast-feeding or you are taking any other
used to terminate a
plan to breast-feed. medicines, including any that you
pregnancy.
Like most NSAID medicines, Brufen get without a prescription from
is not recommended while you are your pharmacy, supermarket or
These medicines may be affected
pregnant or breast-feeding. health food shop.
by Brufen or may affect how well it
works. You may need different
Tell your doctor if you have or You should also tell any health
amounts of your medicines, or you
have had any of the following professional who is prescribing a
may need to take different
medical conditions: new medication for you that you are
medicines.
taking Brufen
• heart disease or high blood Your doctor and pharmacist have
pressure Some medicines and Brufen may
more information on medicines to
interfere with each other. These
• diabetes be careful with or avoid while taking
include:
• heart failure this medicine.
• swelling of ankles or feet
• aspirin, salicylates or other
• heartburn, indigestion,
stomach ulcer or any other
•
NSAID medicines
warfarin or clopidogrel,
How to take Brufen
stomach problems
medicines used to
• bowel or gastrointestinal Follow all directions given to you
prevent/stop blood clots
problems by your doctor or pharmacist
• lithium, a medicine used to
• vomiting blood or bleeding carefully.
treat changes in mood and
from the rectum (back They may differ from the information
some types of depression
passage) contained in this leaflet.
• SSRIs such as fluoxetine,
• severe skin reactions such
medicines used to treat
as Stevens-Johnson If you do not understand the
depression
syndrome instructions on the pack, ask
• medicines used to treat
• chicken pox your doctor or pharmacist for
high blood pressure or
• asthma or hay fever help.
other heart conditions
• other difficulties with • diuretics, also called fluid
breathing tablets How much to take
• visual disturbances • methotrexate, a medicine
• liver or kidney disease Your doctor will tell you how
used to treat arthritis and many Brufen tablets to take each
• tendency to bleed or other some types of cancer
blood problems day and when to take them.
• corticosteroids, such as
• aseptic meningitis prednisone, cortisone
• if you drink alcohol Adults
• medicines used to treat
• runny or blocked nose, heart failure or irregular The usual dose of Brufen is 1200mg
sneezing, facial pressure or heartbeats such as digoxin to 1800 mg daily. This dose may be
pain • ciclosporin or tacrolimus, increased for short periods of time,
• if you feel dehydrated medicines used to treat in severe conditions, up to a
• if you are a current smoker certain problems with the maximum dose of 2400 mg daily.
• nasal polyps immune system or to help
• high cholesterol. prevent organ transplant
rejection

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It is usual for elderly patients to be For menstrual cramps (period pain), If you get an infection while
prescribed a smaller dose of Brufen Brufen is usually taken at the first taking Brufen, tell your doctor.
than younger adult patients. sign of pain or menstrual bleeding Brufen may hide some of the signs
(whichever comes first). Treatment of an infection and may make you
Period pain should be continued for a few days think mistakenly, that you are better
until the pain goes away. or that it is not serious. Signs of an
The usual dose of Brufen tablets is infection may include fever, pain,
400 mg to 800 mg at the first sign of If you are not sure how long to swelling and redness.
menstrual bleeding. Then, 400 mg take your Brufen, talk to your
every 4 to 6 hours as necessary. doctor. Tell your doctor if, for any
Do not take more than 1600 mg reason, you have not taken your
(four 400 mg tablets) in one day. medicine exactly as prescribed.
If you forget to take it
Otherwise your doctor may think
Children If it is almost time for your next that it was not effective and change
dose, skip the dose you missed your treatment unnecessarily.
The dose of Brufen will depend on and take your next dose when
the age and weight of your child, you are meant to. Otherwise, take
and their illness. Your doctor will Tell your doctor if you feel the
it as soon as you remember, and medicine is not helping your
tell you how much Brufen to give then go back to taking your condition.
your child. medicine as you would normally. This will help your doctor to
determine the best treatment for
Brufen 400 mg film coated tablets Do not take a double dose to you.
are not recommended for children make up for the dose that you
under 12 years of age. missed. Keep all your doctor’s
This may increase the chance of appointments so that your
How to take it you getting an unwanted side effect. progress can be checked.
Swallow the tablets whole with a
If you are not sure what to do, ask Things you must not do
full glass of water, with or
your doctor or pharmacist.
without food.
Do not take any other medicines
It does not matter if you take this
If you have trouble remembering to relieve pain and reduce
medicine before or after food.
when to take your medicine, ask inflammation while you are taking
Taking with food may help reduce
your pharmacist for some hints. Brufen without first telling your
the possibility of an upset stomach.
doctor. These include:

When to take it While you are using • aspirin (also called

acetylsalicylic acid)
Take your medicine at about the
same time(s) each day.
Brufen • other medicines containing
Taking it at the same time(s) each ibuprofen, the active
day will have the best effect. It will Things you must do ingredient in Brufen
also help you remember when to • any other NSAID medicine.
If you are about to be started on
take it.
any new medicine, remind your Do not take Brufen to treat any
doctor and pharmacist that you other complaints unless your
How long to take it are taking Brufen. doctor tells you to.
Do not take Brufen for longer
than your doctor says. Tell any other doctors, dentists, Do not give your medicine to
and pharmacists who treat you anyone else, even if they have
Depending on your condition, you that you are taking this medicine. the same condition as you.
may need Brufen for a few days, a
few weeks or for longer periods. If you are going to have surgery, Do not stop taking your medicine
tell the surgeon or anaesthetist or lower the dosage without
As with other NSAID medicines, if that you are taking this medicine. checking with your doctor.
you are taking Brufen for arthritis, it It may affect other medicines used
will not cure your condition but it during surgery. NSAID medicines
can slow down blood clotting. Things to be careful of
should help to control pain, swelling
and stiffness. Be careful driving or operating
If you become pregnant while machinery until you know how
It usually begins to work within a taking this medicine, tell your Brufen affects you.
few hours but several weeks may doctor immediately. This medicine may cause dizziness,
pass before you feel the full effects drowsiness, fatigue and visual
of the medicine. If you have If you are about to have any disturbance in some people. If you
arthritis, Brufen should be taken blood tests, tell your doctor that have any of these symptoms, do not
every day for as long as your doctor you are taking this medicine. drive, operate machinery or do
prescribes. It may interfere with the results of
some tests.

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anything else that could be All medicines can have side effects. being short of breath, and
dangerous. Children should be Sometimes they are serious, most looking pale
careful when riding bicycles or of the time they are not. You may • yellowing of the skin and/or
climbing trees. need medical attention if you get eyes, also called jaundice
some of the side effects. • dark coloured urine
Be careful when drinking alcohol • unusual weight gain,
while you are taking this If you are over 65 years of age you swelling of ankles or legs
medicine. may have an increased chance of • tingling of the hands and
If you drink alcohol, certain side getting side effects. feet
effects may be worse. • symptoms of sunburn (such
Do not be alarmed by the as redness, itching,
following lists of side effects. swelling, blistering) which
In case of overdose You may not experience any of may occur more quickly
them. than normal.
If you take too much Ask your doctor or pharmacist to
• severe or persistent
headache
(overdose) answer any questions you may • fast or irregular heartbeats,
Immediately telephone your have. also called palpitations.
doctor or the National Poisons
Information Centre (0800 POISON Tell your doctor or pharmacist if The above list includes serious side
or 0800 764 766) for advice, or go you notice any of the following effects that may require medical
to Accident and Emergency at and they worry you: attention.
the nearest hospital, if you think • nausea or vomiting
that you or anyone else may have • loss of appetite If any of the following happen,
taken too much Brufen. Do this • heartburn or pain in the stop taking Brufen and tell your
even if there are no signs of upper part of your stomach doctor immediately or go to
discomfort or poisoning. You may • cramps, wind, constipation Accident and Emergency at your
need urgent medical attention. or diarrhoea nearest hospital:
• headache • vomiting blood or material
If you take too much Brufen you
• sleepiness or drowsiness that looks like coffee
may:
• dizziness grounds
• buzzing or ringing in the • bleeding from the rectum
• feel sick or vomit (back passage), black
ears or other trouble
• have stomach pain hearing sticky bowel motions
• have convulsions • runny or stuffy nose (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
• have a slow or fast • sleeplessness (insomnia) • swelling of the face, lips or
heartbeat tongue which may cause
• feeling tired (fatigue).
• have ringing in your ears difficulty in swallowing or
• feel drowsy These side effects are usually mild. breathing
• feel dizzy or even become • asthma, wheezing,
unconscious Tell your doctor immediately if shortness of breath
• vomit blood or material that you notice any of the following: • chest pain/tightness
looks like coffee grounds • sudden or severe itching,
• bleed from the rectum (back • hallucinations skin rash, hives
passage), black sticky • changes in mood, for • severe blisters and bleeding
bowel motions (stools) or example depression, in the lips, eyes, mouth,
bloody diarrhoea confusion, nervousness nose and genitals (Stevens
• have a headache and/or • severe pain or tenderness Johnson Syndrome)
experience rapid, in the stomach • fever, generally feeling
uncontrollable movements • eye problems such as unwell, nausea, stomach
of the eyes. blurred vision or loss of ache, headache and stiff
colour vision or sore red neck, extreme sensitivity to
eyes or itching bright light
Side effects • signs of frequent or • severe skin rash with fever
worrying infections such as • pustules (boils and
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as fever, severe chills, sore abscesses) on the skin
soon as possible if you do not throat or mouth ulcers • fever, rash, lymph node
feel well while you are taking • bleeding or bruising more enlargement,
Brufen. easily than normal, reddish • convulsions
This medicine helps most people or purplish blotches under
with pain and inflammation, but it the skin Brufen may be associated with an
may have unwanted side effects in • signs of anaemia, such as increased risk of heart attack
a few people. tiredness, headaches, (myocardial infarction) or stroke.

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Blood disorders and kidney • colloidal silicon dioxide
problems may occur with Brufen. • croscarmellose sodium
• hypromellose
The above list includes very serious • lactose monohydrate
side effects. You may need urgent • magnesium stearate
medical attention or hospitalisation. • microcrystalline cellulose
• purified talc
Other side effects not listed • sodium laurilsulfate
above may occur in some people.
• titanium dioxide.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if
you notice anything that is
Brufen film-coated tablets contains
making you feel unwell.
sulfites and sugars as lactose.

After using Brufen If you want to know

Storage more
Keep your tablets in the pack Should you have any questions
until it is time to take them. regarding this product, please
If you take the tablets out of the contact your pharmacist or doctor.
pack they may not keep well.

Keep your tablets in a cool dry

Who supplies this
place where the temperature medicine
stays below 25°C.
Brufen is supplied in New Zealand
by:
Do not store Brufen or any other
medicine in the bathroom or near
Viatris Ltd Ltd,
a sink. Do not leave it on a
PO Box 11-183,
window sill or in the car.
Ellerslie,
Heat and dampness can destroy
Auckland.
some medicines.
www.viatris.co.nz
Telephone: 0800 168 169
Keep it where children cannot
reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and- Date of Information
a half metres above the ground is a 12 May 2023
good place to store medicines. (Based on datasheet dated 12 May
2023).
Disposal
BRUFEN® is a Viatris company
If your doctor tells you to stop
trade mark.
taking this medicine or the expiry
date has passed, ask your
pharmacist what to do with any
medicine that is left over.

Product description
What it looks like
Brufen 400 mg tablets are white,
pillow shaped, film-coated tablets.

Ingredients
Active ingredient:
Brufen tablets contain 400 mg of
ibuprofen as the active ingredient.

Inactive ingredients:
Brufen also contains:

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