Ibuprofen

Non-Opioid Pain Medicines

(generic; Advil®; Motrin®) tablets or capsules

Ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®) is a common over-the-counter pain medicine that comes in tablets, capsules, or chewable tablets.

Which one should I buy?

At the drug store, ibuprofen is sold over-the-counter (without a prescription) as 200mg tablets or capsules. It is fine to buy generic (not brand name) Ibuprofen, or you can buy one of the common brand-name versions (Advil,® Motrin®). Any are fine.

How do I take this medicine?

Always make sure ibuprofen is safe for you. Ask your care team if you can take ibuprofen. It can be unsafe if you have kidney problems, bleeding problems, or if you are on blood thinners.

How much can I take?

Always follow your doctor’s instructions for how much ibuprofen to take. Here is the dose usually recommended on ibuprofen packages sold over-the-counter:

Take 1-2 tablets/capsules (200-400 mg) every 4-6 hours as needed for pain.

Do not take more than 12 tablets/capsules (2400 mg) in a 24-hour period.

How do I take it?

Take ibuprofen with a glass of water or other liquid. It is best to take it with food because it helps prevent stomach upset.

Ibuprofen can help pain in addition to opioids. Here are some ways you might try to use it. Remember, never take a higher dose or take it more often than what is described on the medication bottle.

If your doctor tells you to, take the ibuprofen on a regular schedule for several days. This can reduce inflammation, which can help pain.
If your pain is mild, try taking ibuprofen before taking your short-acting (breakthrough) opioid. If your pain doesn’t improve, then try the opioid.
If you don’t get enough relief from your short-acting (breakthrough) opioid, try taking ibuprofen.

If you find that ibuprofen is not helpful, stop taking it. It’s better to focus on things that work for your pain.

How does it work?

Ibuprofen helps with pain by reducing inflammation.

What are the side effects?

Ibuprofen commonly causes an upset stomach, stomach pains, or heart burn. To prevent this, it is helpful to take it with food or to take an acid blocking medicine like omeprazole (Prilosec) or famotidine (Pepcid).

Rarely, this medicine can cause severe inflammation of the stomach or gut that causes bleeding. Call your care team right away if you have any signs of bleeding from your stomach and gut:

If you vomit and see red or black material
If you see red colored stools
If your stools are black and sticky

Ibuprofen can cause a few other side effects that are more rare, like rash, allergic reaction (swelling in the lips, tongue, or difficulty breathing), and a small increase in the risk of heart attack.