Inza is ibuprofen, in 200 mg and 400 mg tablets — an anti-inflammatory painkiller for headache, period pain, dental pain, muscular and joint pain, sprains, and fever. It is one of the most familiar medicines in any South African home, and its cautions are more substantial than that familiarity suggests.
What is Inza?
The South African Medicine Price Registry lists Inza as Schedule 3 tablets containing ibuprofen at 200 mg and 400 mg.
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID). It blocks the COX enzymes that produce prostaglandins — the chemicals responsible for pain, swelling and fever where tissue is injured or inflamed. It works at the site of the problem rather than dulling perception centrally, which is why it suits inflammatory pain far better than paracetamol does.
200 mg and 400 mg are doing different jobs.
200 mg is the everyday over-the-counter strength — enough for a headache, mild period pain or a minor ache. Many people find it does relatively little, and take two, which is simply the 400 mg dose.
400 mg is the standard effective adult dose for most pain, and the strength at which the anti-inflammatory effect is reliable. Above 400 mg per dose, pain relief improves very little while the stomach and kidney risks continue to rise — which is why doubling up beyond the pack instructions is a poor trade.
Inza is Schedule 3 — supplied by a pharmacist without a prescription. Ibuprofen also appears at Schedule 1 and 2 in other brands and lower strengths. The scheduling reflects strength and pack size rather than any difference in the medicine.
Ibuprofen is sold under many names — Nurofen, Brufen, Adco-Ibuprofen, Ibuflam, Unifen, Inza. Same active ingredient.
Where ibuprofen sits among anti-inflammatories. It is the best-tolerated of the common ones — lower cardiovascular risk than diclofenac, and considerable evidence behind it. At low doses it is genuinely mild; at 400 mg three times daily for weeks it is not, and the risks scale with dose and duration in a way most people underestimate.
What is Inza commonly used for?
- Headache, including tension headache and migraine.
- Period pain, where an anti-inflammatory is genuinely more effective than paracetamol, since prostaglandins drive the cramping directly.
- Dental pain and toothache, as short-term relief while awaiting treatment.
- Back, neck and muscular pain.
- Sprains, strains and sports injuries, where swelling matters as well as pain.
- Arthritis pain, including osteoarthritis flares.
- Fever, in adults.
- Cold and flu aches — the symptoms, not the infection.
- Pain after minor surgery or a procedure.
A practical point that changes outcomes: for period pain, start it before the pain is established — at the first sign, or the day before if your cycle is predictable. Anti-inflammatories prevent prostaglandin production far more effectively than they reverse pain already underway.
It is for short-term use at these strengths. Pain lasting beyond a few days needs a cause found, and regular painkiller use for headache can itself cause medication-overuse headache — where the treatment sustains the problem.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen do different things. For a swollen, inflamed problem, ibuprofen usually wins. For general pain and fever, or where NSAIDs are unsuitable, paracetamol is safer. They can be used together on advice, since they work by different mechanisms.
How Inza fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NSAIDs | Ibuprofen (Inza), diclofenac, naproxen | Pain, fever, inflammation; stomach, kidney, heart cautions |
| Oxicams | Meloxicam, lornoxicam | Longer acting; once or twice daily |
| COX-2 selective | Celecoxib, etoricoxib | Gentler on the stomach; cardiovascular caution |
| Simple analgesics | Paracetamol | Pain and fever; no anti-inflammatory effect; safest |
| NSAID + paracetamol | Mypaid Forte | Two mechanisms, no opioid |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Powerful anti-inflammatory, in courses |
| Topical NSAIDs | Ibuprofen or diclofenac gel | Local effect, far less absorbed |
For a localised muscle or joint problem, a gel is often the better choice — much lower whole-body exposure, and correspondingly lower risk.
See the pain, inflammation and musculoskeletal medicines hub.
What to check before using Inza
Do not take another anti-inflammatory alongside it — no diclofenac, naproxen, mefenamic acid, or aspirin at painkilling doses. Check cold and flu products, which frequently contain ibuprofen, and compound painkillers.
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor before using it if you:
- Have or have had a stomach ulcer, gastritis, or bleeding in the gut.
- Have kidney disease, liver disease, or heart failure.
- Have high blood pressure or established heart disease. NSAIDs raise blood pressure and carry a small increase in heart attack and stroke risk with regular use.
- Have asthma. Anti-inflammatories trigger severe attacks in a minority of asthmatics — if you have never taken ibuprofen and have asthma, ask first.
- Are over 65, where stomach and kidney risks rise substantially.
- Have inflammatory bowel disease.
- Take warfarin or another blood thinner, low-dose aspirin for the heart, steroids, an SSRI antidepressant, an ACE inhibitor, ARB or diuretic, lithium or methotrexate.
- Are pregnant. NSAIDs are avoided, particularly after 20 weeks. Paracetamol is preferred.
- Are breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy — NSAIDs can interfere with ovulation.
- Are giving it to a child. Children are dosed by weight using a paediatric suspension, not adult tablets.
Practical points:
- Take it with or just after food.
- Follow the pack instructions for how much and how often, and the daily maximum. This page does not set doses.
- Use it for a few days, not indefinitely.
- Drink enough fluid, particularly in hot weather or during a vomiting or diarrhoea illness. Dehydration plus an anti-inflammatory is genuinely hard on the kidneys, and this combination causes real harm in South African summers.
- Do not take it on an empty stomach as a habit.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Common effects: indigestion, heartburn, nausea and abdominal discomfort, much reduced by taking it with food. Headache and dizziness also occur.
Get emergency help for:
- Vomiting blood, or material like coffee grounds.
- Black, tarry stools.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Chest pain, sudden breathlessness, or signs of a stroke — face drooping, arm weakness, difficulty speaking.
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
- A widespread blistering or peeling rash.
- Severe wheezing after taking it.
Seek prompt advice for:
- Persistent indigestion or stomach pain. Do not simply take an antacid and carry on — ibuprofen can cause an ulcer that bleeds without warning symptoms.
- Worsening asthma.
- Reduced urine output, swollen ankles, or unusual tiredness.
- A rash or itching.
- Bruising or bleeding more easily.
- Ringing in the ears.
See a doctor if pain is not controlled, if you need it for more than a few days, if you take it most days, or if pain comes with fever, weight loss, numbness, weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control.
For a child, seek advice for a fever that will not settle, reduced feeding or wet nappies, drowsiness, or a rash that does not fade under pressure.
Related medicine guides
- Browse Pain, Inflammation & Musculoskeletal Medicines guides
- Read: Prednisone used for
- Read: Donapan used for
Frequently asked questions
What is Inza 400 mg used for? Headache, period pain, dental pain, back and muscular pain, sprains, arthritis and fever. It contains ibuprofen 400 mg, the standard effective adult dose.
What is the difference between 200 mg and 400 mg? 200 mg is the everyday low strength; 400 mg is the standard adult dose at which the anti-inflammatory effect is reliable. Above 400 mg per dose, relief improves very little while risks keep rising.
Is Inza the same as Nurofen or Brufen? All contain ibuprofen. Different manufacturers, same active ingredient.
Can I take it with paracetamol? They work by different mechanisms and are sometimes used together on advice. Do not combine it with another anti-inflammatory.
Is it better than paracetamol for period pain? Usually yes — and it works best started at the first sign of pain rather than once cramping is established.
Can I take it with asthma? Ask first. Anti-inflammatories trigger severe attacks in a minority of people with asthma.
Can I take it in pregnancy? Ask your doctor. NSAIDs are generally avoided, particularly after 20 weeks; paracetamol is preferred.
Can I give it to my child? Not adult tablets. Children are dosed by weight using a paediatric ibuprofen suspension — ask a pharmacist.
Is it safe to take every day? Not without advice. Daily use raises stomach, kidney and cardiovascular risks, and pain needing daily treatment needs a cause found.