Has the use of antipyretics been modified after the introduction of different concentrations of ibuprofen into the market?

Introduction: Due to the emergence of new pharmaceutical presentations of ibuprofen (40 mg/mL), an analysis was made on the use of antipyretics in paediatric outpatients in Spain. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study was carried out on a sample of children under 14 years old with treated febrile syndrome, seen in the Emergency Room of the Hospital General Universitario de Valencia from November 2012 to January 2013. Results: Of the 217 children included, 144 were treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen, 69 received both drugs, and one received paracetamol and metamizol. There were 58.7% of exposures to paracetamol and 40.9% to ibuprofen. The parents decided the use of antipyretics in 63.2% of cases. In 98 exposures the dose was different from that authorised in the labelling of the drug (off-label use). Ibuprofen was used off-label in 40.2% of cases, mostly by underdosing (35.9%). Paracetamol was used off-label in 29.8% of cases, predominantly overdose (26.8%), with the difference being statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in the off-label use in either monotherapy or combined use. There were also no differences when antipyretics prescribed by doctors or given directly by parents were evaluated separately. Conclusions: The majority of children with treated febrile syndrome seen in the Emergency Room were receiving antipyretic drugs after a parental decision. Paracetamol is the most commonly used drug and one in three children received it simultaneously with ibuprofen. The antipyretics were used off label in one-third of the cases. Off label use of ibuprofen is increasing, and is probably due to the existence of different pharmaceutical presentations. Documento descargado de http://www.analesdepediatria.org el 09/04/2017. Copia para uso personal, se prohíbe la transmisión de este documento por cualquier medio o formato. presentaciones farmacéuticas con distintas concentraciones.