Pharmacology and Toxicology of Ibuprofen

This chapter reviews and analyses data on the comparative anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of ibuprofen compared with that of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics. It discusses the modes of action of ibuprofen in relation to the known inflammatory mechanisms underlying acute and chronic conditions. The chapter considers the action of the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms that could be important in the action of ibuprofen. It also considers the toxicologic actions in animal models and mechanisms and in vitro of ibuprofen compared with other NSAIDs and analgesics in relation to known adverse effects of these drugs. The chapter addresses the effects of ibuprofen in various experimentally induced and clinically occurring conditions. Recent studies have shown that there is considerable potential for ibuprofen to have beneficial effects in a number of chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases as well as in some cancers.