Nurafen V Ibuprofen

[granny grump]

I have a friend who swears by Nurafen, I always thought that ordinary ibuprofen had the same ingredients and therefore the effect an I right?

[Sqad]

You are quite correct granny.

[granny grump]

Thank you - I can never understand why people get taken in by the packaging and a posh name

[heathfield]

Here's whats in normal Nurafen, The only active ingredient is Ibuprofen, the rest doesn't have any medicinal effect...

http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resources/chemistry-in-your-cupboard/nurofen/9

[granny grump]

Thank you heathfield - I thought that was the case

[Mass_Hysteria]

Nurafen approx £1.60+ for 16 tablets

Asda Ibuprofen approx 32p for 16

Same content!!

[sandyRoe]

Some people have the idea that if you pay more for a product it must be better

[granny grump]

Yes i agree

[woofgang]

I buy neurofen because some of the cheaper ones are uncoated or have only a thin coating and taste disgusting. You don't find out till after you ahve bought it which is a waste so i buy what i know I can swallow

[Cloverjo]

Boots' double strength taste disgusting. All supermarket brands are fine and as every one has said, just the same as Neurofen and much cheaper. I always carry ibu in my handbag and, if anyone ever asks if I have any Neurofen, they look suspiciously at the box before grudgingly accepting my 'substitutes'.

[slaney]

There was an interesting programme on BBC a few years back when Prof. Lesley Regan did a test on some rugby players to see how well they tolerated pain by seeing how long they could keep their hands in an icy cold bowl.
They were then divided into two groups - one group were given own-brand Ibuprofen in cheap packaging and the other group Nurofen with shiny expensive packing. The group who had the all-singing dancing packaging were able to tolerate pain better - presumably because they thought they were getting a better product. Fascinating the effect the mind has on the medication we take.

[granny grump]

Thank you that is interesting

[Roo_power]

They should have swapped the tablets round in the packaging and then watched what happened.

[slaney]

Sorry Roo-power - my fault.
I should have made it clear that the two groups got identical tablets - only the packaging was different.

[jd_1984]

Does nurofen contain caffeine? It can speed the effectiveness up. Otherwise the same

[slaney]

None of the nine products here contain caffeine ... Active ingredient is Ibuprofen only.
http://www.nurofen.co.uk/products.php

[jd_1984]

Slaney, I wasnt sure. I know many paracetemol products contain caffeine as an active ingredient. I f I have taken Ibuprofen, I have always bought a generic cheap brand or own brand

[jd_1984]

So what is the active ingredient that allows Nurofen to work "quicker" than any other product?

[slaney]

Some forms of ibuprofen such as ibuprofen lysine are said to be more quickly absorbed. The latter is present in some of the products in the link above.

[slaney]

Click on "learn more"