Ibu to the Rescue

A recent study reported in the Annals of Emergency Medicine 2009:54 revealed that children aged 4-18 years who had suffered fractured arms and who were treated with ibuprofen experienced less side-effects (not surprising) and less pain (very surprising) than children--same ages, same injuries--who were treated with acetaminophen and codeine. Who wudda thunk it? The dose of ibuprofen, by the way, was 10 millgrams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. It's a bold extrapolation, yes, to say anyone in pain treated with ibu (over-the-counter) will suffer less than if treated with acetaminophen and codeine (prescription)--but it certainly seems worth a try. And out there in the wilds ibuprofen is often our only choice. I will certainly use it with even more confidence than in the past. You can read more about the study and Paul Auerbach's thoughts on it at www.healthline.com/blogs/outdoor_health.