IBUPROFEN - INJECTION
Common Brand Name(s): Caldolor
Phonetic Pronunciation: (eye-byou-PRO-fen)
Information last revised May 2010
What does IBUPROFEN - INJECTION look like?
Caldolor 800 mg/8 mL (100 mg/mL) IV Solution
Caldolor 400 mg/4 mL (100 mg/mL) IV Solution
Uses:
Ibuprofen is used for the short-term treatment of mild to moderate pain in adults. When used with a narcotic (such as morphine) it may be used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is also used to reduce fever. This medication is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
How To Use
If you are using this medication at home, read and learn all preparation and usage instructions from the manufacturer or from your health care professional. If you have any questions about using this medication properly, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Follow your doctor's directions carefully. This medication is diluted and then given by injection into a vein for 30 minutes. When used to treat pain, it is usually injected every 6 hours as needed. When used to reduce fever, this drug may be injected every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Learn how to store and discard needles and medical supplies safely. Consult your pharmacist for more details. Drink plenty of fluids while using this medication unless your doctor tells you otherwise. To reduce your risk of stomach bleeding and other side effects, use this medication at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose, use it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has significantly worsened, the medicine may not work as well. Tell your doctor if your pain or fever persists or worsens.
Drug Interactions
The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring. To help your doctor or pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor's approval. Some of the products that may interact with this drug include: anti-platelet drugs (such as cilostazol, clopidogrel), oral bisphosphonates (such as alendronate), other medications for arthritis (such as aspirin, methotrexate), "blood thinners" (such as enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin), cidofovir, corticosteroids (such as prednisone), cyclosporine, desmopressin, high blood pressure drugs (including ACE inhibitors such as captopril, angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as losartan, and beta-blockers such as metoprolol), lithium, pemetrexed, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene). Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully for other pain/fever drugs (NSAIDs such as aspirin, celecoxib, ketorolac, naproxen). These drugs are similar to ibuprofen, so taking one of these drugs while also taking ibuprofen may increase your risk of side effects. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. However, if your doctor has prescribed low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue to take the aspirin. Daily use of ibuprofen may decrease aspirin's ability to prevent heart attack/stroke. Talk to your doctor about using a different medication (such as acetaminophen) instead of ibuprofen to treat pain/fever. If you must take ibuprofen, talk to your doctor about possibly taking immediate-release aspirin (not enteric-coated) while also taking the ibuprofen dose apart from your aspirin dose. Do not increase your daily dose of aspirin or change the way you take aspirin/other medications without your doctor's approval. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
Notes
Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as blood counts, liver function tests, kidney function tests, blood pressure) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in those cases.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe stomach pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, extreme drowsiness/dizziness.
Precautions
Before using ibuprofen, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to aspirin or other NSAIDs (such as naproxen, celecoxib); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: recent heart bypass surgery (CABG), kidney disease, liver disease, poorly controlled diabetes, stomach/intestine/esophagus problems (such as bleeding, ulcers, recurring heartburn), heart disease (such as congestive heart failure, history of heart attack), high blood pressure, stroke, swelling (edema, fluid retention), dehydration, blood disorders (such as anemia), bleeding/clotting problems, asthma (especially aspirin-sensitive type which means a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), growths in the nose (nasal polyps). This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco may increase your risk for stomach bleeding, especially when combined with this medicine. Limit alcohol and stop smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths or sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially stomach bleeding and kidney effects. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during the first 6 months of pregnancy. It is not recommended for use during the last 3 months of pregnancy due to the possibility of harm to an unborn baby and interference with normal labor/delivery. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
Side Effects
See also Warning section. Nausea, dizziness, gas, headache, upset stomach, and unusual tiredness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: swelling of ankles/feet/hands, sudden/unexplained weight gain, ringing in the ears, mental/mood changes, fast/pounding heartbeat, persistent/severe headache, fainting, vision changes. This drug may rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) liver disease. If you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects, stop using ibuprofen and consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, unusual/extreme tiredness, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting. Stop using ibuprofen and tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat), very stiff neck, change in the amount of urine, seizures. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Warning
This drug may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. Also, related drugs rarely have caused blood clots to form, resulting in heart attacks and strokes. This medication might also rarely cause similar problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the benefits and risks of treatment, as well as other possible medication choices. Do not use ibuprofen right before or after heart bypass surgery (CABG). If you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects, stop using ibuprofen and seek immediate medical attention: black/tarry/bloody stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest pain, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech.