Leaflet: information for the user
Pirexin 40 mg/ml oral suspension
Ibuprofen
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
1. What Pirexin is and for what it is used
2. What you need to know before starting to take Pirexin
3. How to take Pirexin
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Pirexin
6. Contents of the pack and additional information
Pirexin belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
This medicine is used for the symptomatic treatment of fever and mild to moderate pain.
Do not take Pirexin
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Pirexin.
Special caution is recommended with Pirexin.
Inform your doctor:
Allergic reactions
Signs of allergic reaction to ibuprofen have been reported, including respiratory problems, facial and neck swelling (angioedema), and chest pain. Stop using Pirexin immediately and contact your doctor or emergency medical services if you observe any of these signs.
CARDIOVASCULAR PRECAUTIONS
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may be associated with a small increase in the risk of heart attack or stroke, especially when used in high doses. Do not exceed the recommended dose or treatment duration.
You should inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking Pirexin if:
These types of medications may also cause fluid retention, especially in patients with heart failure and/or high blood pressure.
Infections
Pirexin may mask the signs of an infection, such as fever and pain. Therefore, it is possible that Pirexin may delay the appropriate treatment of the infection, which may increase the risk of complications. This has been observed in pneumonia caused by bacteria and skin infections related to chickenpox. If you take this medication while having an infection and the infection symptoms persist or worsen, consult a doctor without delay.
Skin Reactions
Severe skin reactions, such as exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), generalized acute pustular psoriasis (PEGA), have been reported in association with ibuprofen treatment. Stop Pirexin treatment and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of these severe skin reaction symptoms.
Precautions during pregnancy and in fertile women
Due to the association of ibuprofen-type medications with an increased risk of congenital anomalies/abortions, it is not recommended to administer Pirexin during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, except in cases where it is strictly necessary. In these cases, the dose and duration will be limited to the minimum possible.
In the third trimester, the administration of Pirexin is contraindicated.
For fertile women, it should be noted that ibuprofen-type medications have been associated with a decrease in fertility.
Use of Pirexin with other medications
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently used any other medication, including those purchased without a prescription.
Other medications may also affect or be affected by Pirexin treatment. Therefore, always consult your doctor or pharmacist before using Pirexin with other medications.
Interference with laboratory tests
The use of ibuprofen may alter the following laboratory tests:
Inform your doctor if you are to undergo a clinical analysis and are taking or have recently taken ibuprofen.
Taking Pirexin with food and beverages
It is recommended to take Pirexin with milk or with food, or immediately after eating, to reduce the possibility of stomach discomfort.
Pregnancy, lactation, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
Pirexin should not be taken during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester (see section on precautions during pregnancy and in fertile women).
Although only small amounts of the medication pass into breast milk, it is recommended not to take ibuprofen for prolonged periods during lactation.No interruption of breastfeeding is necessary for a short treatment with the recommended dose for pain and fever.
Driving and operating machinery
If you only take one dose of Pirexin or take it for a short period, no special precautions are necessary.
If you experience dizziness, vertigo, visual disturbances, or other symptoms while taking this medication, do not drive or operate hazardous machinery.
Pirexin contains azorubine (E-122), maltitol liquid (E-965), sodium benzoate (E-211), and sodium (as sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, sodium chloride, and sodium saccharin).
This medication:
Contains azorubine (E-122), which may cause allergic reactions. It may cause asthma, especially in patients allergic to aspirin.
Contains maltitol liquid (E-965). If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with them before taking this medication. It may cause a mild laxative effect because it contains 2.5 g of maltitol liquid (E-965) per 5 ml dose. Caloric value: 2.3 kcal/g of maltitol.
Contains 1 mg of sodium benzoate (E-211) per ml. Sodium benzoate may increase the risk of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborns (up to 4 weeks old).
Contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per ml; it is essentially "sodium-free".
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Pirexin is an oral suspension for administration. It can be administered directly or diluted in water.
For an exact dosage, the containers contain a 5-milliliter oral syringe. The syringe is inserted into the perforated cap, the bottle is turned upside down, and the plunger is pulled until the liquid reaches the corresponding milliliter (ml) mark, the bottle is returned to its initial position, and the syringe is removed.
The syringe must be cleaned and dried after each use.
Patients with stomach discomfort should take the medication with milk or during/after meals.
Children:
The dose of ibuprofen to be administered depends on the child's age and weight. Generally, for children from 3 months to 12 years, the recommended daily dose is 20 to 30 mg/kg of body weight, divided into three or four doses.
It is recommended not to exceed the maximum daily dose of 40 mg/kg of body weight of ibuprofen.
The use of this medication is not recommended in children under 3 months.
The interval between doses will depend on the evolution of symptoms, but it will never be less than 4 hours.
However, as a guideline, the following dosing schedule is recommended:
Age/Weight | Frequency | Dosage | Maximum daily dose |
Children from 3 to 6 months Approximately 5 to 7.6 kg | 3 times a day | 1.25 ml (50 mg) per dose | 3.75 ml (150 mg) |
Children from 6 to 12 months Approximately 7.7 to 9 kg | 3 to 4 times a day | 1.25 ml (50 mg) per dose | 3.75-5 ml (150-200 mg) |
Children from 1 to 3 years Approximately 10 to 15 kg | 3 to 4 times a day | 2.5 ml (100 mg) per dose | 7.5-10 ml (300-400 mg) |
Children from 4 to 6 years Approximately 16 to 20 kg | 3 to 4 times a day | 3.75 ml (150 mg) per dose | 11.25-15 ml (450-600 mg) |
Children from 7 to 9 years Approximately 21 to 29 kg | 3 to 4 times a day | 5 ml (200 mg) per dose | 15-20 ml (600-800 mg) |
Children from 10 to 12 years Approximately 30 to 40 kg | 3 to 4 times a day | 7.5 ml (300 mg) per dose | 22.5-30 ml (900-1200 mg) |
Adults and adolescents (over 12 years):
The recommended dose is 5 to 10 ml 3 times a day (up to 1,200 mg of ibuprofen in 24 hours).
Patients with kidney and/or liver diseases:
If you have a kidney and/or liver disease, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose than usual. If so, take the exact dose prescribed by your doctor.
Older patients:
If you are over 60 years old, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose than usual. If so, you can only increase the dose once your doctor has confirmed that you tolerate the medication well.
The lowest effective dose should be used for the shortest duration necessary to relieve symptoms. If you have an infection, consult a doctor as soon as possible if symptoms (such as fever and pain) persist or worsen (see section 2).
If you estimate that the effect of this medication is too strong or too weak, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more Pirexin than you should
If you have taken more Pirexin than you should, or if a child has accidentally ingested the medication, consult a doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital to inform yourself about the risk and ask for advice on the measures to be taken.
The symptoms of overdose may include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting (which may contain bloody mucus), gastrointestinal bleeding (see also section 4), diarrhea, headache, ringing in the ears, confusion, and involuntary eye movement. Agitation, drowsiness, disorientation, or coma may also occur. Occasionally, patients develop seizures.At high doses, symptoms of numbness, chest pain, palpitations, loss of consciousness, seizures (mainly in children), weakness, and dizziness have been reported. Additionally, bloody urine, low potassium levels in the blood, chills, and breathing problems may occur. Furthermore, the prothrombin time with INR may be prolonged, probably due to interference with the actions of circulating clotting factors. Acute renal failure and liver damage may occur. Exacerbation of asthma is possible in asthmatics. Low blood pressure and reduced respiration may also occur.
If a severe overdose has occurred, the doctor will take the necessary measures.
In case of ingestion of significant amounts, activated charcoal should be administered. Gastric emptying may be considered if significant amounts have been ingested and within 60 minutes of ingestion.
If you forget to take Pirexin
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if the next dose is due soon, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its usual time.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
The side effects of medicines like Pirexin are more common in people over 65 years old.
The incidence of side effects is lower in short-term treatments and if the daily dose is below the maximum recommended dose.
Frequencies are established according to the following classification: very common (in more than 1 in 10 patients); common (between 1 and 10 in 100 patients); uncommon (between 1 and 10 in 1,000 patients); rare (between 1 and 10 in 10,000 patients); very rare (less than 1 in 10,000 patients); frequency not known (cannot be estimated from available data).
The following side effects have been observed:
Gastrointestinal:
The most common side effects that occur with medicines like Pirexin are gastrointestinal: peptic ulcers, digestive bleeding, perforations (in some cases fatal), especially in elderly patients. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, stomach burning, abdominal pain, blood in stool, vomiting blood, mouth ulcers, worsening of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the intestine causing inflammation that usually produces diarrhea with blood) have also been observed. Less frequently, gastritis has been observed.
Other side effects are: Uncommon: mucosal inflammation of the mouth with the formation of ulcers. Rare: esophageal inflammation, esophageal narrowing (esophageal stenosis), exacerbation of intestinal diverticulum disease, non-specific hemorrhagic colitis (gastroenteritis that presents with diarrhea with blood). Very rare: pancreatitis.
Cardiovascular:
Medicines like Pirexin may be associated with a moderate increase in the risk of suffering a heart attack ("myocardial infarction") or stroke.
Edema (fluid retention), hypertension, and heart failure have also been observed in association with treatments with medicines of the type Pirexin.
Chest pain, which can be a sign of a potentially severe allergic reaction called Kounis syndrome.
Cutaneous:
Medicines like Pirexin may be associated, in very rare cases, with severe blistering reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome(widespread erosions that affect the skin and two or more mucous membranes and lesions of purple color, preferably on the trunk)and toxic epidermal necrolysis(erosions on mucous membranes and painful lesions with necrosis and skin detachment).Other side effects are: Common: skin rash. Uncommon: skin redness, itching or swelling of the skin, purpura (purple spots on the skin). Very rare: hair loss, erythema multiforme (skin lesion), skin reactions influenced by light, inflammation of skin blood vessels. Exceptionally, severe skin infections and complications in soft tissue during chickenpox may occur. Frequency not known: skin becomes sensitive to light, a severe skin reaction called DRESS syndrome may also occur. DRESS syndrome symptoms include: skin rash, lymph node inflammation, and elevated eosinophils (a type of white blood cell).
Generalized red scaly rash, with bumps under the skin and localized blisters, mainly on skin folds, trunk, and upper limbs, accompanied by fever at the beginning of treatment (generalized acute pustular exanthema). Stop taking Pirexin if you experience these symptoms and seek medical attention immediately. See also section 2.
Immune system:
Uncommon: transient edema in areas of the skin, mucous membranes, or sometimes in internal organs (angioedema), nasal mucosa inflammation, bronchospasm (bronchi constriction that prevents air from reaching the lungs). Rare: severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock). In case of severe generalized hypersensitivity reaction, swelling of face, tongue, and larynx, bronchospasm, asthma, tachycardia, hypotension, and shock may occur. Very rare: joint pain and fever (lupus erythematosus).
Central nervous system:
Common: fatigue or drowsiness, headache, dizziness or feeling of instability. Rare:paresthesia (numbness, tingling, aching, etc. more frequent in hands, feet, arms, or legs). Very rare: aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the meninges that are the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord, not caused by bacteria).In most cases where aseptic meningitis has been reported with ibuprofen, the patient suffered some form of autoimmune disease (such as systemic lupus erythematosus or other collagen diseases) which was a risk factor.The symptoms of aseptic meningitis observed were neck stiffness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fever, or disorientation.
Psychiatric:
Uncommon: insomnia, anxiety, restlessness. Rare: disorientation or confusion, nervousness, irritability, depression, psychotic reaction.
Auditory:
Common: vertigo. Uncommon: ringing or buzzing in the ears. Rare: hearing difficulty.
Ocular:
Uncommon: vision disturbances. Rare: abnormal or blurred vision.
Haematological:
Rare: thrombocytopenia, leukopenia (decrease in white blood cells, which may manifest as frequent infections with fever, chills, or sore throat), anemia (may manifest as difficulty breathing and pale skin),granulocytopenia (decrease in a type of white blood cell that may predispose to infections), pancytopenia (deficiency of red and white blood cells and platelets in the blood), agranulocytosis (very large decrease in granulocytes), aplastic anemia (bone marrow insufficiency to produce different types of cells) or hemolytic anemia (premature destruction of red blood cells). The first symptoms are: fever, sore throat, superficial ulcers in the mouth, flu-like symptoms, extreme fatigue, nasal bleeding, and skin bleeding.Very rare: prolonged bleeding time.
Renal::
Based on the experience with NSAIDs in general, cases of interstitial nephritis (kidney disorder) nephrotic syndrome (characterized by protein in the urine and body swelling) and renal insufficiency (sudden loss of kidney function) cannot be ruled out.
Heptatic::
Medicines like Pirexin may be associated, in rare cases, with liver damage.Other rare side effectsare: hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), liver function abnormalities, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Frequency not known: liver insufficiency (severe liver deterioration).
General:
Worsening of inflammation during infectious processes.
Until now, severe allergic reactions have not been reported with Pirexin, although they cannot be ruled out. The manifestations of this type of reaction could be fever, skin rash, abdominal pain, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, difficulty breathing, asthma, palpitations, hypotension(lower than usual blood pressure)or shock.
If any of the side effects listed below appear, stop treatment and seek immediate medical attention:
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for the Vigilance of Medicines for Human Use:https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Store in a dry and cool place.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after “CAD”. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of packaging and unused medications at the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of packaging and unused medications. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Pirexin
- The active ingredient is ibuprofen, each ml of suspension contains 40 mg of ibuprofen.
- The other components are: sodium benzoate (E-211), anhydrous citric acid, sodium citrate (E-331), sodium saccharin, sodium chloride, hypromellose, xanthan gum, liquid maltitol (E-965), glycerol (E-422), strawberry flavor, taumatine (E-957), azorubine (E-122) and purified water.
Appearance of the product and contents of the packaging
Bottle made of topaz-colored polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containing an oral suspension of pink color, with a strawberry smell and taste.
Includes a 5 ml oral graduated syringe.
It is presented in packaging of 30, 100 and 150 ml.
Only some sizes of packaging may be commercially marketed.
Other available presentations
Pirexin 20 mg/ml in a 200 ml packaging.
Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible for manufacturing.Holder:
Laboratorios ERN, S.A.
C/Perú, 228
08020 Barcelona. Spain.
Responsible for manufacturing:
Industria Química y Farmacéutica VIR, S.A.
C/Laguna 66-70, Polígono Industrial URTINSA II
28923 Alcorcón (Madrid) - Spain
O
Laboratorios ERN, S.A.
C/Gorgs Lladó, 188
08210 Barberá del Vallés, Barcelona. Spain.
Last review date of this leaflet: October 2024.
The detailed and updated information of this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS)http://www.aemps.gob.es/.
O preço médio do Pirexin 40 mg/ml suspension oral em julho de 2025 é de cerca de 3.75 EUR. Os valores podem variar consoante a região, a farmácia e a necessidade de receita. Confirme sempre com uma farmácia local ou fonte online para obter informações atualizadas.
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