Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for relief of symptoms of arthritis, fever, as an analgesic (pain reliever), especially where there is an inflammatory component, and dysmenorrhea.
Ibuprofen is known to have an antiplatelet effect, though it is relatively mild and short-lived when compared with aspirin or other better-known antiplatelet drugs.
In general, ibuprofen also acts as a vasodilator, having been shown to dilate coronary arteries and some other blood vessels. Ibuprofen is a core medicine in the World Health Organizations "WHO Model List of Essential Medicines", which is a list of minimum medical needs for a basic healthcare system.