Arinac Forte — Uses, Dosage and Price in Pakistan

What is Arinac?

Arinac is an Abbott Pakistan combination medicine sold in two strengths. Both contain the same two active ingredients — only the amounts differ:

• Ibuprofen — painkiller + anti-inflammatory + fever reducer
• Pseudoephedrine — nasal decongestant (opens up blocked nose)

Most people searching for “Arinac tablet uses” have the regular strength at home, not Arinac Forte. Check the pack before you take it — the two are not interchangeable, and Forte carries double the dose of both ingredients.

What is Arinac Used For?

Both strengths are used for the same problems — the difference is how strong each dose is, not what it treats.

1. Common Cold and Flu

When cold comes with headache, body aches, and blocked nose — one tablet handles everything at once.

2. Sinusitis

Very effective for the pain, pressure, and congestion caused by sinus infection.

3. Allergic Rhinitis

Seasonal allergy with nasal congestion and headache.

4. Upper Respiratory Infections

During the early phase of bronchitis.

5. Ear Pressure / Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

When ears feel blocked during air travel.

Dosage

The schedule below is for Arinac Forte (400 mg / 60 mg). Regular Arinac (200 mg / 30 mg) is half the strength per tablet, so the number of tablets is not the same — follow the dose printed on your pack, or ask your pharmacist which strength you are holding. Never take both strengths together.

That is the tablet dose. Arinac Forte tablets are not recommended for children under 12 years — for younger children Arinac is sold as a syrup, covered in the next section.

Arinac Syrup — How It Differs from the Tablet

Arinac is not only a tablet. Abbott also produces it as a syrup (suspension), which is why "arinac syrup" is searched separately in Pakistan — young children cannot swallow tablets. The syrup contains the same two active ingredients as the tablet: ibuprofen for pain and fever, and pseudoephedrine to clear a blocked nose.

The strength is printed on the pack — not on this page. The amount per 5 ml can differ between packs and presentations, so read your own bottle's label or carton, or confirm with your pharmacist. A child's dose is never "one spoonful": it is worked out from the child's weight and age, and that is a decision for a doctor or pharmacist rather than an estimate at home.

Giving the Syrup Safely

• Do not start it yourself in a young child. Combination syrups containing a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine are generally not recommended for young children — particularly under 6 years. Ask a doctor first.
• Use the measuring cup or syringe supplied with the bottle. A household spoon can vary between 2 and 7 ml, which means either an ineffective dose or an overdose.
• Shake the bottle well before every dose. It is a suspension — the ingredients settle, so without shaking the first doses are weak and the last are too strong.
• Do not combine it with other cold and flu medicines. Many over-the-counter combination syrups already contain ibuprofen or paracetamol, so giving two together risks a double dose. Check the ingredients before pairing it with a paracetamol syrup such as Panadol or Calpol.
• Take care during dengue season. If fever is accompanied by any suspicion of dengue, avoid all ibuprofen-containing medicines — tablet or syrup — and see a doctor, because ibuprofen can worsen platelet and bleeding problems.
• Give it after food and encourage plenty of fluids.

Syrup or Tablet — Which One, for Whom?

If a child only has a runny nose and sneezing, read our guide to colds in children — not every cold needs a combination medicine.

See a doctor if: there is no improvement within 3 days, fever lasts more than 5 days, the child becomes unusually drowsy or is drinking very little, breathing becomes difficult, or ear pain develops.

Side Effects

From Ibuprofen:

• Upset stomach, acidity
• Stomach ulcer (with long-term use)
• Kidney issues

From Pseudoephedrine:

• Anxiety, restlessness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Rapid heartbeat
• Elevated blood pressure
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness

When to Avoid Arinac Forte?

• Hypertension (high blood pressure) — pseudoephedrine raises BP
• Heart disease — angina, arrhythmia
• Diabetes — uncontrolled
• Hyperthyroid
• Glaucoma
• Prostate enlargement (urinary difficulty)
• Pregnancy — avoid
• Breastfeeding — reduces milk supply
• Children under 12 years
• History of stomach ulcer
• Severe kidney disease

Drug Interactions

• Blood pressure medicines: Reduced effectiveness (especially beta blockers, ACE inhibitors)
• MAO inhibitors: BP spike, hypertensive crisis
• Caffeine: Doubled stimulant effect
• Other NSAIDs: Increased bleeding risk
• Aspirin: Avoid combination

Tips for Safe Use

• Take after food
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid at night (pseudoephedrine disrupts sleep)
• Do not take for more than 5 days without a doctor
• If nasal congestion persists beyond 7–10 days of cold — consider bacterial infection

Brands and Alternatives Available in Pakistan

• Arinac Forte (Abbott) — original
• Coldrex
• Solpadeine Plus
• Generic ibuprofen + pseudoephedrine combinations

Conclusion

Arinac Forte is a convenient combination for cold, flu, and sinusitis that targets both pain and congestion simultaneously. However, avoid it in hypertension, heart problems, and pregnancy due to the pseudoephedrine component. Do not use for more than 5 days without consulting a doctor. Use Ilaaj AI for AI symptom checking and doctor verification from the comfort of your home.