Ibuprofen overdose: the first two years of over-the-counter sales

Experience during 14 years of prescription only use indicates that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is of low toxicity in acute overdose. In August 1983 ibuprofen was licensed for over-the-counter (OTC) use in the UK and it was recognised that this change could have an impact upon the epidemiology of analgesic overdose in this country. The London centre of the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) began a new prospective survey of ibuprofen overdose at the time of OTC release. The first 2 years of this survey detected a marked increase in enquiries concerning ibuprofen overdose but there was no evidence to contradict the former claims of low toxicity. The importance of continued monitoring is stressed.