Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official and paediatric dosages, pregnancy and breastfeeding guidance, and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Phorpain Gel contains ibuprofen and belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines reduce pain and inflammation and bring down a high temperature.
Phorpain Gel is used to treat a number of painful conditions affecting the joints and muscles, such as backache, rheumatic and muscular pain, sprains, strains and sports injuries. It is also used to treat pain from non-serious arthritic conditions and nerve pain (neuralgia).
Do not use Phorpain Gel • If you are allergic to ibuprofen or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you are allergic to aspirin or similar medicines (e.g NSAIDs).
• If you are asthmatic, or suffer from rhinitis (allergic runny nose) or urticaria (hives).
• On broken, damaged, infected or diseased skin.
• If you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy.
Warnings and precautions Take special care with Phorpain Gel:
Serious skin reactions including exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported in association with ibuprofen treatment. Stop using Phorpain Gel and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the symptoms related to these serious skin reactions described in section 4.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Phorpain Gel, if you have any of the below:
• Protect treated areas from direct sunlight to avoid any sensitivity reaction, e.g. a rash
• If you suffer from bronchial asthma or any allergic disease.
• If you have had an ulcer or some other problem affecting your stomach or intestines in the past
• If you have any kidney problems
• If you develop a rash after using the gel stop using it any further
• Do not smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.
USE THIS MEDICINE ONLY ON YOUR SKIN
Children Not recommended for children under 12 years
Other medicines and Phorpain Gel: Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
The effect of this medicine may affect or be affected by taking the following medicines at the same time:
• Medicines to lower your blood pressure (e.g. atenolol)
• Medicines used to thin the blood (e.g. warfarin)
• Aspirin or other NSAIDs (including other forms of Ibuprofen), used for pain and inflammation.
Pregnancy and breast feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
Do not use Phorpain Gel if you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy. You should not use Phorpain Gel during the first 6 months of pregnancy unless clearly necessary and advised by your doctor. If you need treatment during this period, the lowest dose for the shortest time possible should be used.
Oral forms (e.g. tablets) of Phorpain Gel can cause adverse effects in your unborn baby. It is not known if the same risk applies to Phorpain Gel when it is used on the skin.
You should not use Phorpain Gel if you are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines Phorpain Gel should not affect the ability to drive or use machines.
Phorpain Gel contains benzyl alcohol: This medicine contains 1.25 mg benzyl alcohol in each 125mg, which is equivalent to 0.01mg/mg. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions and mild local irritation.
Always use this medicine exactly as described in the leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Phorpain Gel is designed for topical (on the skin) application only. Never take the gel by mouth.
Check the seal is intact before first use (invert cap to break seal).
The recommended dose is:
Adults: Squeeze 4 to 10cm (i.e. 1.6 to 4 inches) of gel from the tube on affected area.
Massage until absorbed. This dose should not be repeated more frequently than every four hours and no more than four times a day in any 24 hour period. The amount of gel squeezed would be equivalent to 50 to 125mg of ibuprofen.
Phorpain Gel should only be used on healthy, unbroken skin. Do not use it on or near cuts or grazes or under dressings such as plasters. Also, do not use it on the genital area.
Do not let any gel come in contact with your eyes. If it does, rinse your eyes with cold water and consult your doctor. Hands should be washed after applying Phorpain Gel, unless they are the site of treatment. If the condition does not improve after two weeks use, or becomes worse at any time, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Use in children: Phorpain Gel is not recommended for use in children under 12 years.
If the gel is accidentally swallowed: If you accidentally swallow any Phorpain Gel, rinse out your mouth thoroughly and contact your doctor, or nearest hospital, as soon as possible. If swallowed, the gel may cause an upset stomach.
If you forget to use your Phorpain Gel: If you miss a dose, just carry on with the next dose as normal. Do not apply a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
All medicines can cause allergic reactions although serious allergic reactions are rare. • Any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching or reddening (especially affecting your whole body), sore or weeping spot and burning feeling should be reported to a doctor immediately.
• If you notice any signs of kidney problems (particularly in people who have a history of kidney disease) should contact your doctor straightaway.
• Reddish non-elevated, target-like or circular patches on the trunk, often with central blisters, skin peeling, ulcers of mouth, throat, nose, genitals and eyes. These serious skin rashes can be preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms [exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis].
• Widespread rash, high body temperature and enlarged lymph nodes (DRESS syndrome).
• A red, scaly widespread rash with bumps under the skin and blisters accompanied by fever. The symptoms usually appear at the initiation of treatment (acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis).
Other side effects with the following frequency include:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• Abdominal Pain (pains in your stomach).
• Indigestion.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• Skin becomes sensitive to light.
Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. It should be stored in a cool, dry place, below 25oC. Keep the tube tightly closed.
Do not throw away any medicines of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away of medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Remember:
This medicine is for you. Never give this medicine to someone else, it could harm them, even if their symptoms seem the same as yours.
What Phorpain Gel contains The active substance is ibuprofen. Other ingredients are hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium hydroxide, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, purified water.
What Phorpain Gel looks like and contents of the pack Phorpain Gel is clear or slightly opalescent, colourless or almost colourless gel supplied in aluminium tubes containing 100g gel.
Marketing Authorisation Holder Mercury Pharma Group Ltd
Dashwood House
69 Old Broad Street
London
EC2M 1QS
United Kingdom
Manufacturer Farmasierra Manufacturing S.L.
Carretera De Irun KM 26,200, 28709
SAN Sebastian De Los Reyes
Madrid
Spain
This leaflet was last revised in January 2024.
Phorpain is the registered trade mark of Mercury Pharma Group Ltd.
© Mercury Pharma Group Ltd. 2000
ADVANZ Pharma
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Phorpain 5% Gel 100g (PL 10972/0045) (P) comes as gel containing 5%. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in Phorpain 5% Gel 100g (PL 10972/0045) (P) is ibuprofen.
Medicines with the same active substance include: Anadin Joint Pain 200mg Tablets, Anadin Ultra, Boots 3 Months Plus Ibuprofen 100mg/5ml Suspension Strawberry Flavour (GSL), Boots Ibuprofen 200 mg Liquid Capsules, Boots Ibuprofen 200mg Tablets, Boots Ibuprofen 200mg Tablets (24, 48 or 96 tablets) (P). They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Phorpain 5% Gel 100g (PL 10972/0045) (P), as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
Pharmacy Only Indications:
Topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory for backache, pain of non-serious arthritic conditions, muscular pain, sprains, strains, sports injuries and neuralgia.
General Sales List Indications:
Topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory for backache, rheumatic and muscular pain, sprains, strains and sports injuries.
Strength 5% maximum
Posology
Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years: Squeeze 50 to 125mg (4 to 10cm) of the gel from the tube and lightly rub into the affected area until absorbed. The dose should not be repeated more frequently than every four hours and no more than 4 times in any 24 hour period. Wash hands after each application. DO NOT USE MORE GEL THAN THE LABEL TELLS YOU TO.
Review treatment after 2 weeks, especially if the symptoms worsen or persist.
Paediatric population: Do not use on children under 12 years of age except on the advice of a doctor.
Method of Administration
For topical application to the skin.
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Hypersensitivity to aspirin, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Patients with asthma, rhinitis or urticaria.
Not to be used on broken or damaged skin.
Third trimester of pregnancy.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may interact with blood pressure lowering drugs, and may possibly enhance the effects of anticoagulants, although the chance of either of these occurring with a topically administered preparation is extremely remote. Concurrent aspirin or other NSAIDS may result in an increased incidence of adverse reactions.
Not to be used during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
Pregnancy:
Although no teratogenic effects have been demonstrated, ibuprofen should be avoided during pregnancy. The onset of labour may be delayed and the duration of labour increased.
There are no clinical data from the use of topical forms of Ibuprofen Gel during pregnancy. Even if systemic exposure is lower compared with oral administration, it is not known if the systemic Ibuprofen Gel exposure reached after topical administration can be harmful to an embryo/fetus. During the first and second trimester of pregnancy, Ibuprofen Gel should not be used unless clearly necessary. If used, the dose should be kept as low and duration of treatment as short as possible.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, systemic use of prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors including Ibuprofen Gel may induce cardiopulmonary and renal toxicity in the fetus. At the end of the pregnancy prolonged bleeding time in both mother and child may occur, and labour can be delayed. Therefore, Ibuprofen Gel is contraindicated during the last trimester of pregnancy (see Section 4.3)
Breast-feeding:
Ibuprofen appears in breast milk in very low concentrations but is unlikely to affect breast fed infants adversely.
Fertility:
No data available
Not relevant
Overdosage with a topical presentation of ibuprofen gel is unlikely.
Symptoms
Symptoms of severe ibuprofen overdosage (eg following accidental oral ingestion) include headache, vomiting, drowsiness and hypotension.
Management
Correction of severe electrolyte abnormalities should be considered.
Ask anything about Phorpain 5% Gel 100g (PL 10972/0045) (P). The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
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