Ibuprofen drug molecule, computer model. Ibuprofen is a painkilling drug (analgesic) that is also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is used to treat minor aches and pains, as well as inflammation in conditions like arthritis (joint inflammation). The chemical formula of the drug is C13.H18.O2. This molecular model has colour-coded spheres for atoms: carbon (purple), hydrogen (grey), oxygen (green). Ibuprofen was developed in the 1960s, and became an over-the-counter drug in the 1980s. It has been widely marketed under many brand names, including Brufen and Advil, and is the main component of the Nurofen range of drugs.