:en:Nurofen

File:Nurofen tablets on pharmacy shelf.jpg

There are 11 variants of Nurofen, all of which contain ibuprofen as an active ingredient.{{cite web|url=http://www.Nurofen.com|title=Nurofen website|publisher=Nurofen.com|access-date=17 November 2011}} The ibuprofen is variously formulated as the free acid, or the lysine salt. For oral formulations, i.e., taken by mouth, it is available in the conventional solid round tablet, a torpedo-shaped solid caplet, or may alternatively be in the form of a soft gel cap. It is also available as a topical gel, which is applied directly to the surface of the skin.{{cite web|url=http://RSC.org/learn-chemistry/resources/chemistry-in-your-cupboard/nurofen/10|title=Chemistry in your cupboard - Nurofen, Nurofen Gel - a topical formulation|publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Learning Science Ltd, Reckitt Benckiser and Presenting Science|website=RSC.org|access-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827091843/http://rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resources/chemistry-in-your-cupboard/nurofen/10|archive-date=27 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} In some cases these are marketed as being useful for treating specific types of pain; such as back pain or period pain. The primary difference among the various formulations is speed and duration of ibuprofen absorption. According to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK MHRA), the form of ibuprofen in 'Nurofen Tension Headache' (ibuprofen lysine) is absorbed nearly twice as fast as the form in 'Nurofen Period Pain' (ibuprofen free acid), with the former reaching peak blood concentrations in 38 minutes, compared to 80 minutes for the latter.{{cite web|url=http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/l-unit1/documents/websiteresources/con2023564.pdf|title=MHRA Approval Summary|access-date=5 August 2014}}

Some variants of Nurofen contain additional active ingredients; for example, 'Nurofen Cold & Flu' contains the non-sedating decongestant pseudoephedrine. Others are advertised as being targeted for specific pain types, for example period pain.

Nurofen Plus is a pain relief medication based on codeine and ibuprofen.[http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/188_01_070108/dut10966_fm.html The Medical Journal of Australia]. Nurofen Plus misuse: an emerging cause of perforated gastric ulcer. Accessed 2 July 2009. It contains 12.8 mg of codeine phosphate (a mild opioid analgesic) and 200 mg of ibuprofen, which is an NSAID. Nurofen Plus is the only product in the Nurofen range that contains codeine.

The original Nurofen Plus tablet was manufactured in two equal parts, joined, and then coated. One part contained 12.8 mg of codeine phosphate, and the other part contained 200 mg of ibuprofen. The tablets could be forcefully split into their two constituent active ingredients, thus isolating the codeine for recreational use. Such drugs have a potential for misuse because they are available freely to the public.{{cite journal|pmid=12880547|year=2003|last1=Chetty|first1=R|last2=Baoku|first2=Y|last3=Mildner|first3=R|last4=Banerjee|first4=A|last5=Vallance|first5=D|last6=Haddon|first6=A|last7=Labib|first7=M|title=Severe hypokalaemia and weakness due to Nurofen misuse|volume=40|issue=Pt 4|pages=422–3|doi=10.1258/000456303766477101|journal=Annals of Clinical Biochemistry|s2cid=22948582|doi-access=free}}

On 25 August 2011, it was reported that several packs of Nurofen Plus were found to contain Seroquel XR — an anti-psychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia — in Boots stores across London.{{cite web|url=http://www.bellenews.com/2011/08/26/world/nurofen-sabotaged-across-london/|title=Nurofen "sabotaged" across London|publisher=Bellenews.com|date=26 August 2011|access-date=17 November 2011}}{{cite news|first=Jo|last=Adetunji|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/aug/26/nurofen-plus-recalled-sabotage|title=Nurofen Plus recalled as drug manufacturer suspects sabotage|newspaper=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian.co.uk|date=27 August 2011|access-date=17 November 2011|location=London}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8726297/Nurofen-Plus-recalled-amid-sabotage-fears.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827102939/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8726297/Nurofen-Plus-recalled-amid-sabotage-fears.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2011|title=Nurofen Plus recalled amid sabotage fears|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 August 2011|access-date=17 November 2011|location=London}} The next day, a safety alert was issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Pharmacists were told to check each package of Nurofen Plus to look for anti-psychotic drugs. Three batches of Nurofen Plus were affected by the alert. Reckitt Benckiser, manufacturer of Nurofen Plus, said that it did not know where the drugs had been switched. The product was re-released in October in cellophane-sealed packs.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15106529|title=Nurofen Plus goes back on sale in tamper-proof packs|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC.co.uk|date=29 September 2011|access-date=17 November 2011}}

In 2010, the Australian consumer advocate Choice awarded Nurofen a "Shonky award" for charging more for "targeted" products, all of which had the same active ingredient as the base product.{{Cite web | url=https://www.choice.com.au/shonky-awards/hall-of-shame/shonkys-2010/nurofen |title = Nurofen - Shonkys 2010 - CHOICE|date = 29 June 2016}}

In 2012, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration upheld a complaint that Nurofen's advertising of different products for different pain was "misleading or likely to be misleading", and ordered that "any representation that refers to two or more Nurofen products that contain equivalent quantities of ibuprofen and include the same product specific indications on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods must clearly indicate, in the body of the advertisement, that the two products can be used for the same purposes and are interchangeable (or words to that effect)".{{cite web|url=https://www.tga.gov.au/advert-complaint/nurofen-reckitt-benckiser-australia-pty-ltd-complaints-no-2012-08-010-and-2012-10-024|title=Nurofen - Reckitt Benckiser (Australia)|date=9 May 2014|work=tga.gov.au}}

In April 2013, the Australian consumer affairs television programme The Checkout ran a story about Nurofen's claims about targeting specific pain. Edelman, the PR company for Reckitt Benckiser provided a statement, some of which was used in the programme. Included in the information provided by Edelman were photocopies of some 'sciencey looking documents' that confirmed that Ibuprofen was 'Non-selective'.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

In March 2015, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched proceedings against Reckitt Benckiser; for misleading advertising for its targeted pain range. In December 2015, the Federal Court of Australia found that Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Nurofen, had misled consumers with its "Nurofen Specific pain range", and ordered that all Nurofen specific pain products be removed from retail sale within three months.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-14/court-finds-nurofen-made-misleading-pain-relief-claims/7025848|title=Nurofen made misleading pain relief claims: Federal Court|date=14 December 2015|work=abc.net.au}} A spokeswoman for Reckitt Benckiser argued that, "[This] specific-pain range" was intended "to help consumers navigate their pain relief options, particularly within the grocery environment where there is no healthcare professional to assist decision making".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/14/nurofen-targeted-painkillers-reckitt-benckiser?CMP=twt_gu|title=Targeted painkillers zero in on one vital organ – the wallet|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=14 December 2015|access-date=14 December 2015|author=Moore, Susan}} The ACCC said that the products were found to be "no more effective at treating the type of pain described on its packaging than any of the other Nurofen specific pain products", and sold for almost twice the price.{{cite news|title=Nurofen maker Reckitt Benckiser defends Australia packaging|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35090087|work=BBC News|date=14 December 2015|access-date=14 December 2015}} Specific pain range painkillers include Nurofen Back Pain, Nurofen Period Pain, Nurofen Migraine Pain and Nurofen Tension; and all contain the "same active ingredient, 342 milligrams of ibuprofen lysine".

In April 2016, the Federal Court imposed a $1.7 million fine on Reckitt Benckiser.{{cite news |title=Nurofen maker fined $1.7m for misleading customers on 'specific pain' relief range |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-29/nurofen-maker-fined-$1.7m-misleading-customers/7370022 |work=ABC News |date=29 April 2016 |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216025433/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-29/nurofen-maker-fined-$1.7m-misleading-customers/7370022 |archive-date=16 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} The ACCC appealed the decision in May arguing that $1.7 million in penalties did not act as an adequate deterrent for a company the size of Reckitt Benckiser.{{cite news |first=Danuta |last=Kozaki |title=ACCC seeks $6m fine against Nurofen maker for misleading consumers |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-23/accc-appeal-against-fine-for-nurofen-maker-reckitt-benckiser/7437184 |work=ABC News |date=23 May 2016 |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216025428/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-23/accc-appeal-against-fine-for-nurofen-maker-reckitt-benckiser/7437184 |archive-date=16 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In December 2016, the Federal Court increased the fine to $6 million, the highest corporate penalty ever awarded for misleading conduct under the Australian Consumer Law.{{cite news |first=Lucy |last=Cormack |title=Nurofen fine for misleading consumers increased to $6 million |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/nurofen-fine-for-misleading-consumers-increased-to-6-million-20161215-gtcetc.html |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=16 December 2016 |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216093920/http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/nurofen-fine-for-misleading-consumers-increased-to-6-million-20161215-gtcetc.html |archive-date=16 December 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Following the 2015 Australian decision, the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said that it was investigating earlier complaints about a television advertisement for Nurofen Express, which was alleged to be misleading, as it implied that the medicine targeted muscles in the head.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/15/neurofen-makers-investigation-court-rules-misleading-adverts|title=Nurofen makers under investigation after court rules on misleading adverts|newspaper=The Guardian|date=15 December 2015|access-date=15 December 2015}}

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