I-2 Pill (A brief guide)

In this guide, we will discuss what an I-2 pill is, side effects, overdose symptoms, and some precautions or things to take into consideration when taking this medicine.

I-2 Pill: What is it exactly?

I-2 pill is the imprint on one side of the brown ibuprofen 200mg capsule-shaped pill.

There most common use associated with I-2 pill or ibuprofen is the main is as a pain killer for the treatment of back pain, chronic myofascial pain, headaches, dental pain, menstrual cramps, among many others.

It also helps reducing fever and minor aches in pin due to common cold or flu. 

Ibuprofen I-2 pill may seem harmful and for most people, it is even a lifesaver.

Some people even take some with them in their backpack, their purse, car or even in a drawer somewhere at the office,  just in case they need it. 

Sometimes we are so used to the fact that ibuprofen I-2 pill is there to help us get rid of the pain that we don’t seem to care about any possible side effects. 

Well, according to WebMD it is important to read the directions of the package before taking the medications and checking the ingredients on the label even if you have used the product before because the manufacturer could have changed the ingredients and it is possible you can have an allergic reaction. 

I-2 imprint code: What does it mean?

 I-2 pill is the imprinted information on one side of pills and many of them can actually have the I-2 printed.

The imprinted codes help to identify the ingredients, strength, and manufacturer by health professionals, patients, and even law enforcement. 

If you are taking several medications that have the same color or shape this I-2 imprint code helps you identify that this is an ibuprofen pill.

There are many other codes and numbers for pill identification and there are even pill identifier tools if you are not sure what the imprint means or what pill it is. 

Ibuprofen dosage

Ibuprofen includes the following strengths following strengths: 100 mg/5 mL; 800 mg; 300 mg; 600 mg; 400 mg; 200 mg; 50 mg/1.25 mL; 50 mg; 100 mg; 10 mg/mL; 100 mg/mL; 800 mg/200 mL.

Usual Adult Dose for Dysmenorrhea

It is usually prescribed at 200 mg to 400 mg orally every 4-6 hours as needed.

The maximum dose is 3200 mg a day when prescribed and 1200 mg a day over the counter.

Usual Adult Dose for Osteoarthritis

It is usually prescribed at 1200 to 3200 mg orally per day in divided doses and the maximum dose reported is 3200 mg a day. 

Usual Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis 

It is usually prescribed at 1200 to 3200 mg orally per day in divided doses and the maximum reported dose is 3200 mg a day. 

* Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may require higher doses than patients with osteoarthritis. 

Usual Adult Dose for pain relief

It is usually prescribed at 200 to 400 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed and the maximum dose reported is 3200 mg a day when prescribed or 1200 mg a day over the counter

What happens if I miss a dose?

Don’t panic, you can take the dose as soon as you remember.

If the next dose is already too close then discard the one you missed and keep taking the medicine, as usual, don’t take two pills at the same time. 

Side effects of I-2 pill

As any other man-made drug. Ibuprofen poses some risks or side effects when taking it for its needed effect, relief from pain.

Some of the common side effects listed in drugs.com and WebMD include:

• Abdominal pain
• acid or sour stomach
• Belching
• Bloating
• cloudy urine
• A decrease in the amount of urine
• A decrease in urine output or decrease in the urine-concentrating ability
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• Excess air or gas in stomach or intestines
• Full feeling
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Itching skin
• Pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
• Pale skin
• passing gas
• Nausea
• Noisy, rattling breathing
• Rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of face, fingers, hands, feet, lower legs, or ankles
• Troubled breathing at rest
• Troubled breathing with exertion
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Vomiting
• Weight gain

Less common symptoms of Ibuprophen include:

• Abdominal cramps
• stomach soreness or discomfort

Rare symptoms of Ibuprophen include

• Agitation
• Back, leg, or stomach pains
• Bleeding gums
• Blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
• Blood in urine or stools
• Boody, black, or tarry stools
• Blurred vision
• Burning feeling in chest or stomach
• Change in vision
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Clay-colored stools
• Coma
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Cough or hoarseness
• Dark urine
• Decreased urine output
• Depression
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dilated neck veins
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Extreme fatigue
• Fast, irregular, pounding or racing heartbeat or pulse
• Fever with or without chills
• Frequent urination
• General body swelling
• A general feeling of tiredness or weakness
• Hair loss, thinning of hair
• Headache
• Hives or welts
• Hostile behavior
• Impaired vision
• Increased blood pressure
• An increased volume of pale, dilute urine
• Irregular breathing
• Irritability
• Itching
• Joint or muscle pain
• Lab results that show problems with liver
• Lethargy
• Light-colored stools
• Loss of appetite
• Lower back or side pain
• Muscle twitching
• Nosebleeds
• Painful or difficult urination
• Pains in stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• Rash
• Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• Red, irritated eyes
• Redness of skin
• Seizures
• Severe abdominal pain, cramping, burning
• Severe and continuing nausea
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on lips
• Stiff neck or back
• Stomach upset
• Stupor
• Swollen or painful glands
• Tenderness in the stomach area
• Thirst
• Tightness in chest
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Upper right abdominal pain
• Vomiting of blood
• Vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds
• Wheezing
• Yellow eyes and skin

I-2 Pill: Overdose Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of an Ibuprofen overdose are:

• Bluish lips or skin
• Difficulty sleeping
• Disorientation
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• Drowsiness to profound coma
• Hallucination
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Mood or other mental changes
• Muscle tremors
• Not breathing
• Rapid, deep breathing
• Restlessness
• Slow or irregular heartbeat
• Stomach cramps
• Sudden fainting
• Sweating

More common Overdose symptoms:

• Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears
• Hearing loss
• Nervousness

Rare overdose symptoms:

• Crying
• Depersonalization
• Discouragement
• Dry eyes
• Dysphoria
• Euphoria
• Feeling sad or empty
• Lack of appetite
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Mental depression
• Paranoia
• Quick to react or overreact
• Rapidly changing moods
• Runny nose
• Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
• Sleeplessness
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Unable to sleep

If someone has overdosed, has severe symptoms as passing out or trouble breathing, it is necessary to contact emergency services immediately. 

Interactions with other drugs or substances

There are other drugs and substances that can reduce the effectivity of the medication and pose a risk of developing side effects.

Here we will list some of them, for more information on drug interaction talk to your doctor. 

According to WebMD, these are some of the products that may interact with Ibuprophen:

• Aliskiren.
• ACE inhibitors such as captopril or lisinopril.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers such as valsartan or losartan.
• Cidofovir. 
• Corticosteroids such as prednisone.
• Lithium.
• “Water pills” or diuretics such as furosemide.

Other possible medications with an I-2 pill imprint

WebMD has a pill identification tool and when searching for “I 2” in the search bar it shows the following pills:

• Amitriptyline HCL
• Losartan Potassium
• Clozapine ODT
• Glimepiride
• Quetiapine fumarate

Key Facts of Ibuprofen I-2 pill

The NHS gives some helpful key facts of Ibuprofen:

• It takes 20 to 30 minutes to take effect if you have taken it by mouth.
• Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in your body.
• Some people have reported finding ibuprofen for back pain better than paracetamol.
• Avoid taking it on an empty stomach. Always take ibuprofen with food or a glass of milk to reduce the chances of an upset stomach. 
• Do not use it for more than 10 days (unless discusses previously with your doctor) and take the lowest dose. 
• Brand names associated with Ibuprofen include Neurofen, Brufen, and Calpofren (syrup).

On top of what we have said si far, remember it is important to follow the instructions provided by your doctor on how to take the medication correctly or follow the instructions on the label, informing immediately if there are major complications.

Why is this blog about the I-2 pill important?

Probably you are an ibuprofen user already and you take it basically for everything.

It is ok, it is meant to help relieve pain but it is also important to know what are the side effects that could manifest even if you have used it for years. 

Moreover, we now know that I-2 pill is the imprinted information on one side of pills and many of them can actually have the I-2 printed.

The imprinted codes help to identify the ingredients, strength, and manufacturer by health professionals, patients, and even law enforcement. 

Although we consider this guide compiled accurate and up to date information from trustworthy medical sources, it is not intended as a strict how-to guide, it is only informative.

Additional questions or concerns should be answered by your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about I-2 Pill

Recommended Reading

1. Ibuprofen: Discovery, Development and Therapeutics 
2. Ibuprofen Side Effects: Bleeding Ulcers are Just the Beginning
3. IBUPROFEN: MEDICATIONS, EFFECTIVENESS AND SIDE EFFECTS 
4. Ibuprofen
5. Ibuprofen: Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Side Effects 

References

Drugs.com

WebMD

NHS