Warning over Ibuprofen side-effects

One in five Australian adults could experience side-effects from the pain killer ibuprofen, says a study.

The anti-inflammatory analgesic, marketed as Nurofen, Brufen and Bugesic, hit Australian supermarket shelves in January after a change made by the National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee.

British toxicologist Alison Jones found in a study of 12,721 Australians who presented conditions suitable for analgesic treatment that 23.1 per cent also had a condition which could make ibuprofen, or other non-steroidal drugs, unsuitable.

Asthmatics, pregnant women and people suffering from gastric ulcers, cardiac disease or liver disorders may experience ibuprofen side-effects.

Ibuprofen is available in New Zealand only at pharmacies.