WARNINGS
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS
Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events
Clinical
trials of several COX-2 selective and nonselective NSAIDs of up to
three years duration have shown an increased risk of serious
cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and
stroke, which can be fatal. All NSAIDs, both COX-2 selective and
nonselective, may have a similar risk. Patients with known CV disease
or risk factors for CV disease may be at greater risk. To minimize the
potential risk for an adverse CV event in patients treated with an
NSAID, the lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest
duration possible. Physicians and patients should remain alert for the
development of such events, even in the absence of previous CV
symptoms. Patients should be informed about the signs and/or symptoms
of serious CV events and the steps to take if they occur.
There
is no consistent evidence that concurrent use of aspirin mitigates the
increased risk of serious CV thrombotic events associated with NSAID
use. The concurrent use of aspirin and an NSAID does increase the risk
of serious GI events (see GI WARNINGS).
Two
large, controlled clinical trials of a COX-2 selective NSAID for the
treatment of pain in the first 10-14 days following CABG surgery found
an increased incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).
Hypertension
NSAIDs including
ibuprofen tablets, can lead to onset of new hypertension or worsening
of preexisting hypertension, either of which may contribute to the
increased incidence of CV events. Patients taking thiazides or loop
diuretics may have impaired response to these therapies when taking
NSAIDs. NSAIDs, including ibuprofen tablets, should be used with
caution in patients with hypertension. Blood pressure (BP) should be
monitored closely during the initiation of NSAID treatment and
throughout the course of therapy.
Congestive Heart Failure and Edema
Fluid
retention and edema have been observed in some patients taking NSAIDs.
Ibuprofen tablets should be used with caution in patients with fluid
retention or heart failure.
Gastrointestinal Effects - Risk of Ulceration, Bleeding, and Perforation
NSAIDs,
including ibuprofen tablets, can cause serious gastrointestinal (GI)
adverse events including inflammation, bleeding, ulceration, and
perforation of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, which
can be fatal. These serious adverse events can occur at any time, with
or without warning symptoms, in patients treated with NSAIDs. Only one
in five patients, who develop a serious upper GI adverse event on NSAID
therapy, is symptomatic. Upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding, or
perforation caused by NSAIDs occur in approximately 1% of patients
treated for 3-6 months, and in about 2-4% of patients treated for one
year. These trends continue with longer duration of use, increasing the
likelihood of developing a serious GI event at some time during the
course of therapy. However, even short-term therapy is not without risk.
NSAIDs
should be prescribed with extreme caution in those with a prior history
of ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients with a prior
history of peptic ulcer disease and/or gastrointestinal bleeding who
use NSAIDs have a greater than 10-fold increased risk for developing a
GI bleed compared to patients treated with neither of these risk
factors. Other factors that increase the risk of GI bleeding in
patients treated with NSAIDs include concomitant use of oral
corticosteroids or anticoagulants, longer duration of NSAID therapy,
smoking, use of alcohol, older age, and poor general health status.
Most spontaneous reports of fatal GI events are in elderly or
debilitated patients and therefore, special care should be taken in
treating this population. To minimize the potential risk for an adverse
GI event in patients treated with a NSAID, the lowest effective dose
should be used for the shortest possible duration. Patients and
physicians should remain alert for signs and symptoms of GI ulcerations
and bleeding during NSAID therapy and promptly initiate additional
evaluation and treatment if a serious GI event is suspected. This
should include discontinuation of the NSAID until a serious GI adverse
event is ruled out. For high-risk patients, alternate therapies that do
not involve NSAIDs should be considered.
Renal Effects
Long-term
administration of NSAIDs has resulted in renal papillary necrosis and
other renal injury. Renal toxicity has also been seen in patients in
whom renal prostaglandins have a compensatory role in the maintenance
of renal perfusion. In these patients, administration of a NSAID may
cause a dose-dependent reduction in prostaglandin formation and,
secondarily, in renal blood flow, which may precipitate overt renal
decompensation. Patients at greatest risk of this reaction are those
with impaired renal function, heart failure, liver dysfunction, those
taking diuretics and ACE inhibitors, and the elderly. Discontinuation
of NSAID therapy is usually followed by recovery to the pretreatment
state.
Advanced Renal Disease
No information is
available from controlled clinical studies regarding the use of
ibuprofen tablets in patients with advanced renal disease. Therefore,
treatment with ibuprofen tablets is not recommended in these patients
with advanced renal disease. If ibuprofen tablets therapy must be
initiated, close monitoring of the patients renal function is advisable.
Anaphylactoid Reactions
As
with other NSAIDs, anaphylactoid reactions may occur in patients
without known prior exposure to ibuprofen tablets. Ibuprofen tablets
should not be given to patients with the aspirin triad. This symptom
complex typically occurs in asthmatic patients who experience rhinitis
with or without nasal polyps, or who exhibit severe, potentially fatal
bronchospasm after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS, Preexisting Asthma). Emergency help
should be sought in cases where an anaphylactoid reaction occurs.
Skin Reactions
NSAIDs,
including ibuprofen tablets, can cause serious skin adverse events such
as exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic
epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. These serious events
may occur without warning. Patients should be informed about the signs
and symptoms of serious skin manifestations and use of the drug should
be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash or any other sign
of hypersensitivity.
Pregnancy
In late pregnancy, as with
other NSAIDs, ibuprofen tablets should be avoided because it may cause
premature closure of the ductus arteriosus.