HISTORY & MARKETING

Ibuprofen was developed by the Boots Group, a pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, in the 1950’s-1960s. It was discovered by Stewart Adams (along with John Nicholson, Andrew RM Dunlop, Jeffrey Bruce Wilson & Colin Burrows). The Boots group originally licensed Ibuprofen to two large drug companies. The first was Whitehall Laboratories (who sold the product as Advil) and the second was Upjohn who used Bristol-Meyers to market their product “Nuprin”. Boots held the patent until 1985 along with the rights to market it until 1986. Afterwards new products entered the market creating multiple new “generic” brands.



Advil 200 mg



Today, Ibuprofen is a very popular over-the-counter drug, meaning that no physician prescription is required to buy the drug.  The most common brands of ibuprofen are Advil, Nuprin, and Motrin IB. The usual dose of ibuprofen for adults is 400 mg every 4-6 hours; however, the highest dose allowed, without prescription, is 800 mg every 4-6 hours up to three times a day. A physician prescription is needed for doses beyond 800 mg.

Ibuprofen is a very affordable drug ranging from $4.00-15.00 dollars per 100 tabs, depending on the brand.

  

http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/firstaid/painmeds.htm#Ibuprofen

 http://itech.dickinson.edu/chemistry/?p=321

http://ibuprofendrug.com/ibuprofen-history

http://www.walmart.com/ip/ADVIL-BASE-CAPLET-200-CT/10416977

CHEMISTRY

Ibuprofen is a white crystalline powder which forms part of a group of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs work by blocking COX enzymes (hormones), thus, inflammation and pain in the body are reduced.

Chemical structure	C13H18O2
IUPAC name	2-(4-isobutylphenyl)
Melting Point	74-77 ⁰C
Solubility	Ethanol and Acetone

Ibuprofen has one chiral center, thus two enantiomers; R-Ibuprofen and S-Ibuprofen.

http://www.medicinenet.com/nonsteroidal_antiinflammatory_drugs/article.htm

USES

Ibuprofen was mainly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis during the first years of discovery. Today, ibuprofen is widely used for its analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of the most commonly treated symptoms are:

• Headaches
• Muscular aches
• Minor pain or arthritis
• Toothache
• Backache
• Colds
• Menstrual cramps
• Temporarily reduces fever

SIDE EFFECTS

Every drug consumed has some side effects, but people usually experience little or no side effect at all. Some of the most common side effects of ibuprofen are:

·         Constipation

·         Diarrhea

·         Dizziness

·         Gas

·         Headache

·         Heartburn

·         Nausea

·         Stomach pain or upset

More severe side effects can also be experienced. These include:

·         Severe allergic reactions

·         bloody or black, tarry stools

·         chest pain

·         confusion

·         dark urine

·         depression

·         Rapid gain weight

·         bruising

·         fainting

·         fast or irregular heartbeat

·         fever

·         shortness of breath

·         swelling of hands, legs, or feet

* There may be other side effects

http://www.medicinenet.com/nonsteroidal_antiinflammatory_drugs/article.htm

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ibuprofen-side-effects.html