When does “Nurofen” start to work for children and when can it be given again?

When their child is in pain or has a fever, many parents turn to the common medication "Nurufen." It’s a go-to remedy for immediate relief, but using it safely and effectively requires knowing how it works and when to give it again.

Most children experience a 15 to 30 minute reduction in pain or fever after taking "Nurofen." Its quick-acting properties make it a well-liked option for those awkward times when your child isn’t feeling well.

It is imperative to adhere to the suggested dosing schedule, though. Assuring that the medication keeps working as intended requires knowing when it’s safe to administer another dose, which also helps prevent giving too much. We’ll go over when it’s appropriate to give "Nurofen" once more as well as responsible symptom management for your child.

Forms and composition of Nurofen

• Rectal suppositories, prescribed to patients aged three months to 2 years. Their advantage is a very simple composition, since in addition to the main ingredient, represented by ibuprofen in a dosage of 60 mg, they include only solid fats. And therefore this form of the drug is called the most preferable for infants and children prone to allergies.

• Suspension, which has an orange or strawberry flavor. According to mothers" reviews, most children take this sweet drug with pleasure, and dosing the syrup is very easy, since a measuring plastic syringe is included with the bottle. The drug is prescribed from 3 months of age to 12 years. Its composition includes ibuprofen in a dose of 100 mg / 5 ml and additional compounds in the form of a flavoring agent, gum, glycerol, maltitol and other substances. The drug does not contain sugar and dyes.
• Coated tablets, approved for children over 6 years old. They are small in size, have a smooth surface and a sweet shell, so schoolchildren usually do not have problems swallowing. Each tablet contains 200 mg of ibuprofen and auxiliary components, including stearic acid, sucrose, macrogol and other substances.

Children’s nurofen usually begins to act in 15 to 30 minutes, assisting in the reduction of fever and pain. If necessary, it can be given again in six to eight hours, but no more than three doses in a 24-hour period. Whenever possible, adhere to the dosage recommendations according to the child’s weight and age. If symptoms don’t go away, see a doctor.

Mechanism of action and indications

Every Nurofen formulation contains ibuprofen, which inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and gives the medication a noticeable antipyretic effect.

This establishes how frequently the medication is used to treat fever brought on by bacterial infections, vaccinations, viral infections, and other conditions.

Because the analgesic effect of suppressing prostaglandin synthesis is also produced, Nurofen is used to treat pain in a variety of areas, including the joints, throat, ear, teeth, and back.

When it should not be given to children?

Nurofen has a number of contraindications, much like many other medications, so using it on children without a doctor’s advice is not advised. The substance is forbidden:

• in case of hypersensitivity to any of its components;
• in gastrointestinal diseases, occurring with ulceration or inflammation of the wall of the digestive tract;
• in severe kidney diseases;
• in hyperkalemia;
• in disorders of the blood coagulation system;
• in bleeding;
• in severe liver pathologies.

Additionally, children with fructose intolerance and other issues with the digestion of carbohydrates should not be prescribed the suspension or tablets, nor should suppositories be used for rectum inflammation. Nurofen should only be administered under a doctor’s supervision if the child suffers from immune pathologies, asthma, anemia, diabetes mellitus, or other illnesses.

When the drug begins to act?

The way that Nurofen is taken determines when its antipyretic and analgesic effects start to work as well as how long they last after taking it.

• Active substance rectal suppository absorbed for about 15-20 minutes, so this form of the drug begins to act about 20-30 minutes after the suppository enters the intestinal lumen. The duration of the antipyretic and analgesic effect of such Nurofen is up to 8 hours.

• The ingredients of the suspension are absorbed in the digestive tract for at least half an hour, so the effect of the syrup is observed about 40-60 minutes after the child has taken this sweet medicine. The effect of using the suspension is not as long as from suppositories, but in most children the temperature drops for at least 4-6 hours (on average – for 6-8 hours).
• The active ingredient of the tablets enters the blood and accumulates there in sufficient quantity for 40-50 minutes, so the effect of such Nurofen begins to appear 45-60 minutes after swallowing the tablet. The duration of action of this form of the drug is 6-8 hours.

Possible side effects

When a small patient uses Nurofen, their body may react as follows:

• nausea;
• exacerbation of bronchial asthma;
• painful sensations in the abdomen;
• urticaria, dermatosis, itchy skin or other allergy symptoms;
• headaches.

Rarely, the medication may have a negative impact on blood pressure, kidney function, liver function, oral mucosa, or blood composition.

Should such conditions arise, you ought to cease treatment right away and get in touch with your child’s pediatrician.

Administration and dosage

The use and dosage vary depending on the dosage form:

• Suppositories Nurofen is used 1 suppository three times a day (if the child weighs 6-8 kg and is 3-9 months old) or four times a day (if the child weighs 8-12 kg and is 9-24 months old).
• Suspension is given to children using a syringe, and the dosage of such a drug depends on the patient"s weight and age. The exact figures can be found out from the attending physician or from the table in the annotation to the syrup. For example, if the child is 6 months old and his body weight is 7000 g, then the drug should be given 2.5 ml up to 3 times a day.

• Tableted Nurofen It is recommended to swallow it after meals with water. Usually, the therapeutic effect is achieved by taking one tablet, but children over 12 years old can be given two tablets at once, without exceeding the maximum daily dosage for children, which is 800 mg (4 tablets).

Nurofen should not be used to treat a child’s fever for longer than three days or their pain for longer than five days. If the patient’s symptoms don’t go away, you should take the young patient to the doctor so they can determine the cause of the problem and determine a different course of action.

When can the medicine be given again?

Generally speaking, the manufacturer advises waiting eight hours between doses of any kind of Nurofen. The medication may be administered slightly earlier, after six hours, if necessary, but taking it less frequently than that is not advised.

The child should be given an antipyretic medication based on paracetamol, such as Efferalgan syrup or a suppository called Tsefekon D, if the temperature does not drop after more than 40 to 60 minutes after the suppository was introduced or after taking a tablet or suspension.

Concurrently, a pediatrician should be consulted regarding this course of treatment, as combining multiple non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) medications can raise the likelihood of side effects.

For children, Nurofen usually takes 15 to 30 minutes to start working to relieve fever and pain. The child’s age, weight, and the severity of their symptoms will all affect how long it takes, but you should see some improvement in this amount of time.

It’s crucial to pay close attention to the dosage recommendations. After six to eight hours, you can usually give Nurofen again, but you should never take more than the daily amount advised for your child’s age and weight. To ensure you are using the correct dosage, always check the packaging.

It is best to seek medical advice if your child’s symptoms worsen or continue after taking Nurofen. Even though it works well to reduce pain and fever, it’s wise to consult a doctor if you have any questions about how often to use it or whether you need more treatment.

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