By now, most of us have seen the Brufen conversation. It began with a viral online skit that hit close to home: the "Umekunywa Brufen?" reflex, in which a child reports a symptom and the immediate solution is Brufen, whether it's for stomach pain, diarrhoea, headaches, tonsillitis, or any other ailment.
As expected, Kenyans ran with it. The timeline quickly filled up with jokes, confessions, and "For me it works" testimonies.
Gideon Kiprono, a general practitioner at Gilgil Sub-County Hospital, says abusing Brufen (ibuprofen) means taking it for every pain you feel without understanding how it works.
Brufen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) primarily used for inflammation and pain management. Sometimes it is paired with paracetamol to reduce fever.
"The most common side effects for people who use it regularly include nausea, vomiting, and heartburn," he says.
If Brufen doesn't work after a few days, more tablets aren't the answer, a doctor's visit is.
Photo credit: AFP
"Sometimes, we prefer other classes of NSAIDs, such as COX-2 inhibitors, because Brufen is non-selective. But, if you have to take Brufen, you can take it with proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole or esomeprazole, which will help protect your gut."
He adds that Brufen should not be your automatic response to pain, especially when it is not working. "Taking Brufen for several days in a row with no relief predisposes you to gastrointestinal irritation. People with chronic kidney disease, peptic ulcers, and women in their third trimester should avoid taking Brufen."
Dr Kiprono says that NSAIDs like Brufen can cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel that normally remains open during pregnancy and closes after birth, in pregnant women in the third trimester. If it closes too early, it can put a strain on the baby's heart and lungs, leading to serious complications.
Additionally, Brufen can exacerbate kidney issues, particularly in individuals with pre-existing kidney disease.
Dr Kiprono says that Brufen can cause vascular constriction in the kidneys, reducing blood flow, which can worsen kidney function.
"Yes, there is no contraindication. However, prescribing Brufen to children depends on their age because the dosage is calculated based on weight."
However, Dr Kiprono says that a person who has overdosed on Brufen is suicidal, but it depends on their age, weight, organ function, and how many tablets they took. This is because overdosing on Brufen damages the kidneys.
What about those who reach for Brufen after a night out to nurse a hangover? "It doesn't help unless someone is in pain because Brufen's main function is pain management," says Dr Kiprono.
