Nuprin was a drug made with Ibuprofen. It was designed to help users with stiffness associated with arthritis, swelling, pain, and/or painful menstrual periods. Wondering what really happened to the drug we were so familiar with?
Nuprin was discontinued in 2002. However, it was just a brand name for the generic medicine called ibuprofen, which can be easily found under various brands at your nearest pharmacy.
Read on to know everything about this drug.
What Kind of Drug was Nuprin?
Nuprin belongs to the NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) class of drugs. It’s in the same category as other drugs such as Relafen, Indocin, Aleve, and Aspirin. These are designed to help manage mild or moderate inflammation, fever, and pain.
Inflammation, fever, and pain are promoted by the release of prostaglandins, a type of body chemical. The Ibuprofen in Nuprin works by blocking enzymes responsible for the production of prostaglandins.
The result is reduced prostaglandins levels. When prostaglandins levels are reduced, fever, pain, and inflammation are reduced.
In 1974, Ibuprofen was approved for human consumption by the FDA. Since then it has gained popularity in treating mild or moderate pain. This is the reason why Nuprin has gained popularity.
People use it to treat various pain, inflammation, and fever conditions such as
- Joint Pain
- Some arthritis conditions
- Mild Headache
- Common Cold
- Tooth Pain
- Muscle aches and pain
- Puncture wounds
- Scrapes
- Cuts
- Sprains
- Strains
Fever and inflammation are caused by a plethora of diverse diseases. Nuprin can treat such conditions as well as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and menstrual cramps.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder. Usually, it affects many joints but focuses on the ones in the feet and hands. Osteoarthritis occurs when there is wear on the flexible tissue found at the ends of bones.
Ibuprofen is also used to treat patent ductus arteriosus. This is a heart condition that occurs when the heart is not developing properly.
It’s an opening between two main blood vessels carrying blood from the heart.
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What are Nuprin Tablets Used for?
Nuprin tablets are available as prescription or over-the-counter medication used for various medical conditions.
Over-the-counter forms of the drug are used to treat minor pains or aches. They are also used to reduce fever and minor inflammation.
The prescription forms are stronger and used to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
They also treat primary dysmenorrhea and relieve mild or moderate pain. Dysmenorrhea is a combination of several symptoms women experience between ovulation and a period.
The prescription form of Nuprin is recommended for reducing fever in adults. These tablets may be taken up to 6 times a day. Patients can take them with milk or food to prevent stomach irritation.
People are advised to consult with their doctor before they take Nuprin tablets. The main reason is some medications don’t go well with Ibuprofen.
When combined with some types of medication, Nuprin may cause serious health problems.
Additionally, a doctor is in a better position to give you the right prescription. For example, the age of the patient determines the number of pills they can take in a day.
Their dietary needs also play a role in determining the type of pills they are prescribed. Nuprin pills have their benefits.
However, patients need to consult a doctor if they have any allergies. They should talk to their health care provider if they experience any discomfort or allergies after taking Nuprin tablets.
If the patient is taking non-prescription Nuprin pills, they need to read the package carefully. Each over-the-counter Ibuprofen package has information about the tablets’ ingredients and how to use them.
Nuprin Interactions
People who want to take Nuprin with other medication/drug need to consult a doctor. The medicines or drugs may be non-prescription or non-prescription.
Either way, a doctor is the best person to tell a patient the effects of using any tablets/pills with Nuprin.
Secondly, a patient needs to consult with a physician if they are taking supplements and want to take Nuprin.
It doesn’t matter if the supplements are herbal, vitamin, or in any form. Some supplements don’t interact well with Ibuprofen meaning it is good to know if you are using them.
For example, a patient may take ACE (angiotensin-converting-enzyme) inhibitors like Vasotec (enalapril), Accuril (captopril), and Zestril/Prinivil (lisinopril).
Such a person needs to tell their doctor they are taking these inhibitors before using Nuprin. ACE inhibitors are mainly used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure.
People taking diuretics also need to inform their doctor. They include drugs such as Thalitone (chlorthalidone), Microzide (hydrochlorothiazide), and Lasix (furosemide). Diuretics are any medication or substance that increases the production of urine.
Lastly, substances such as Coumadin/Jantoven (warfarin) and lithium are also a cause of concern. They may cause problems if taken together with Nuprin.
The drugs and supplements mentioned above are not a complete list of Nuprin interactions.
To be on the safe side consult a doctor if you are taking Nuprin and using other types of medication and supplements.
Even if you are not taking them, consult a medical practitioner before taking Ibuprofen.
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Side Effects of Nuprin
There are some mild and serious side effects reported with the use of Ibuprofen. For starters, the medication/drug may cause a stroke or heart attack.
Talk to a healthcare provider the moment you notice one, some, or all of the following symptoms:
- Slurred Speech
- Weakness
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of Breath
Hypertension is another side effect of using Ibuprofen. Patients should take note when they experience worsening of a pre-existing hypertension condition or new hypertension.
In such a scenario, they need to have their physician monitor their blood pressure closely. This is especially the case if they have a history of hypertension. Those that are taking hypertension medication should also consult their doctor.
A third side effect of using Nuprin is CHF (congestive heart failure). It’s a chronic condition that occurs when a person’s heart fails to pump blood the way it should.
Patients who have a history or currently have CHF have to talk to their doctor before taking Ibuprofen.
They should be on the lookout for CHF signs like fatigue, unexplained weight gain, shortness of breath, and swelling in the limbs (arms or legs). Ulceration or stomach bleeding is a side effect of Nuprin use.
Signs of this side effect include general stomach discomfort, indigestion, cough up of blood, tarry or black stools (blood in stools, and pain. These signs require the immediate attention of a primary healthcare giver.
Sometimes using Ibuprofen may lead to liver toxicity. Patients need to be on the lookout for yellow tinting of the eyes and/or skin, nausea, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms.
Some or all of these symptoms need the attention of a doctor.
Injured kidneys are another side effect of Nuprin use. Patients who are at high risk of such a reaction include those with liver injury, heart failure, and pre-existing renal dysfunction.
Patients who are elderly or take ACE inhibitors or diuretics are also at risk. This is why the drug is not recommended for these patients.
Patients should tell their doctor right away if they experience an anaphylactic reaction. It’s a severe life-threatening allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening.
The two major symptoms of this reaction are the difficulty of breathing and swelling of the throat or face.
Talk to your physician if you have changes in vision. They include gray or dark spots in the field of vision, changes in color vision, and decreased or blurred vision.
Lastly, pregnant women should avoid Nuprin, especially during their last trimester. It has been known to cause the ductus arteriosus to close prematurely.
It’s a blood vessel responsible for connecting two major arteries used to carry blood from the heart.
Is There Aspirin in Nuprin?
Nuprin is a fever reducer and pain reliever used for several medical conditions. It’s mainly designed to temporarily relieve minor pains or aches caused by:
- Menstrual Cramps
- The common cold
- Backache
- Toothache
- Minor pain of arthritis
- Muscular aches headache
Nuprin contains aspirin as part of its ingredients. This is why it may cause a severe allergic reaction, especially in people allergic to aspirin. Stop using the medication if you experience the following:
- Asthma (wheezing)
- Skin reddening
- Shock
- Blisters
- Rash
- Facial Swelling
- Hives
Aspirin is an active ingredient in Nuprin because it helps relieve mild or moderate pain and reduces fever. Aspirin is also great for helping in the reduction of swelling and pain in conditions such as arthritis.
Salicylate is another name for aspirin, which is an NSAID. There is a natural substance in the human body that causes swelling and pain.
If its production isn’t stopped, pain and swelling continue depending on the severity and cause of the pain and swelling. Aspirin works by blocking this substance and reducing its production.
If you are treating a child who isn’t more than 12 years old, avoid using Nuprin. Instead, consult a doctor to know how best to treat their fever and pain, and/or swelling.
As a rule of thumb, avoid treating children with over-the-counter medication. This doesn’t mean Nuprin is a bad drug.
A doctor may prescribe the medication to a patient in low or regulated doses even if the patient is allergic to aspirin.
These low doses are usually prescribed to prevent blood clots. Blood clot prevention is a measure used to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
For example, people who have had surgery on clogged arteries may be prescribed Nuprin. This is because it has small doses of aspirin that may not cause an allergic reaction.
The low doses of aspirin work as a blood thinner. When blood is thinned, blood clots are prevented.
Who Made Nuprin?
Ibuprofen is a pain reliever drug that is sold under names such as Advil and Nuprin. In 1961, John Nicholson and Stewart discovered the drug at Boots UK Limited where they worked.
These were the two people who made Nuprin. At the time, the drug was called Brufen. Ibuprofen is made using propionic acid. This was after years of research in a bid to find aspirin a safer alternative.
The name is derived from three functional groups namely ibu (isobutyl), pro (propionic acid), and fen (phenyl).
The drug was first marketed in the United Kingdom in 1969 and then in 1974, it was marketed in the United States. By 2019, Nuprin and Advil had made it into the 30 most prescribed medications in the US.
In 2020, the United States FDA (food and drug administration) needed the label of Nuprin and Advil to be updated.
The administration wanted the label to inform the consumer of the increased risk of kidney problems in fetuses. They advised women who were 20 weeks or more pregnant to avoid using Ibuprofen.
The Upjohn Company in the United States makes Ibuprofen under license from Boots, a UK-based drug maker.
Upjohn Company uses Bristol-Myers Company to distribute the drug in the United States where it uses the brand Nuprin. Boots has also licensed American Home Products to distribute the drug.
When the exclusive rights of the two companies expire, it’s likely that others will get licensed to manufacture Ibuprofen. Companies such as Sterling Drug Inc. and Johnson & Johnson are likely to be at the forefront.
