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EspañolIf you’ve ever treated yourself at home for a headache or muscle pain, you’ve likely taken ibuprofen. Known by familiar brand names such as Advil and Motrin, ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that treats mild pain and fever.
Although higher-strength ibuprofen is available by prescription, people most commonly source this drug over-the-counter and administer it at their choosing. Typically taken without a doctor’s supervision, it’s important to ensure you’re using the proper ibuprofen dosage, especially when it involves children, aware of the potential for adverse drug interactions, and know situations when use should be avoided or only with a medical professional’s supervision (infants less than 6 months of age and potentially up to 2 years of age, and pregnant women, for example).
According to recent studies, ibuprofen is the most common NSAID involved in overdoses, with a marked increase in ibuprofen overdoses after its over-the-counter legalization in the United Kingdom in 1984. Ibuprofen is a safe, effective pain reliever to take in the correct dosage. But ibuprofen overdose is dangerous and even fatal.
We’ll explain how you can be sure you’re using this drug safely by understanding the right ibuprofen dosage when treating fever and pain in children and adults.
Ibuprofen forms and strengths
Before figuring out the right dosage, it’s important to understand the various forms and strengths of ibuprofen (ibuprofen coupons) that are available. These include:
100 mg tablets
200 mg tablets
400 mg tablets (Rx)
600 mg tablets (Rx)
800 mg tablets (Rx)
200 mg capsule
100 mg chewable tablet
100 mg per 5 mL oral suspension (liquid)
50 mg per 1.25 mL oral suspension (concentrated liquid for infants)
Some dosage forms of ibuprofen may be better for different people depending on their specific condition. Because children may have trouble swallowing a whole tablet or capsule, a chewable tablet or liquid form of ibuprofen (ibuprofen details) may be better suited for children.
High-strength ibuprofen requires a prescription and is used by those with severe pain or inflammation caused by a specific condition. Health conditions treated with prescription-strength ibuprofen include dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In these cases, it is not unusual to receive an ibuprofen prescription from your doctor for pain treatment.Ibuprofen dosage chart
Ibuprofen dosage chart
Dosage of any medication should be determined by a healthcare professional such as your doctor or pharmacist. Dosage recommendations may vary by patient’s age, weight, medical history, and list of current medications.
The table below provides general dosage recommendations and guidelines based on condition, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). The dosages are specific to generic ibuprofen and may vary under different brand names of the drug.
| Condition | Recommended ibuprofen dosage for adults | Maximum dosage for adults |
| Pain relief | 200-400 mg orally every 4-6 hours as needed | 1200 mg per day (OTC) 3200 mg per day (prescription strength) |
| Fever | 200-400 mg orally every 4-6 hours as needed | 1200 mg per day |
| Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps) | 200-400 mg orally every 4-6 hours as needed | 1200 mg per day (OTC) 3200 mg per day (prescription strength) |
| Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) | 1200-3200 mg orally per day in several doses | 3200 mg per day |
Children’s ibuprofen dosage chart
The table below provides general ibuprofen dosage guidelines for pain and fever in children, according to the NLM. The dosage varies both by the child’s weight, as listed in the first column, and the form and strength of ibuprofen for children, as seen in the following columns.
Remember, your healthcare provider should determine the dosage of any medication, especially in infants.
| Child’s weight (pounds) | Infant drops (50 mg) | Liquid suspension (100 mg) | Junior strength chewable tablets (100 mg) | Adult tablets (200 mg) |
| 12-17 lbs | 1.25 mL | -- | -- | -- |
| 18-23 lbs | 1.875 mL | -- | -- | -- |
| 24-35 lbs | 2.5 mL | 5 mL or 1 tsp | 1 tablet | -- |
| 36-47 lbs | 3.75 mL | 7.5 mL or 1.5 tsp | 1.5 tablets | -- |
| 48-59 lbs | 5 mL | 10 mL or 2 tsp | 2 tablets | 1 tablet |
| 60-71 lbs | -- | 12.5 mL or 2.5 tsp | 2.5 tablets | 1 tablet |
| 72-95 lbs | -- | 15 mL or 3 tsp | 3 tablets | 1-1.5 tablets |
| 96+ lbs | -- | 17.5-20 mL or 4 tsp | 3.5-4 tablets | 2 tablets |
Ibuprofen should not be used in children under six months of age unless directed by your child’s pediatrician. The frequency to repeat the doses listed above is every six to eight hours. Dosing syringes for measurements are more accurate than household spoons.
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How much ibuprofen is safe to take?
“The dangers of excess ibuprofen uptake are dose-dependent,” explains Taylor Graber, MD, an anesthesiologist at ASAP IVs in San Diego, California. “In large overdoses, there can be serious nervous system problems such as seizures (neurotoxicity), low blood pressure (hypotension), low temperature (hypothermia), and other severe metabolic problems. This is extremely rare in adults outside of intentional overdose.”
Taking ibuprofen or other forms of NSAIDs can have serious side effects such as the increased risk of severe cardiovascular and gastrointestinal adverse events such as stroke, heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease, bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines. These events can be fatal, so it is critical to know how much ibuprofen is safe to take to avoid the dangers of these unwanted side effects. To avoid ibuprofen side effects, your doctor may recommend Tylenol (acetaminophen) instead of an NSAID.
“The other main effect seen from long-term ibuprofen use is on disruption of kidney blood flow, which can manifest as mild kidney damage and elevation in creatinine, but can be potentially more severe if this disruption is not evaluated early,” Dr. Graber says.
Ibuprofen side effects
Taking too much ibuprofen can cause more common adverse effects as well, such as:
Heartburn or indigestion
Stomach upset (i.e., abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
Cloudy urine
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
To avoid the potential short- or long-term effects of taking too much ibuprofen, do not take more than your recommended dose. The absolute maximum daily dose for adults is 3200 mg. Do not take more than 800 mg in a single dose. Only use the smallest dose needed to alleviate your swelling, pain, or fever.
The child’s weight determines the ibuprofen dosage for children. Be sure you carefully measure doses and do not administer more than the recommended dose for your child’s weight. If you have any questions about the ibuprofen dosage for yourself or a child, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Ibuprofen interactions
Take caution by considering the things you should avoid while taking ibuprofen. For example, drinking alcohol while taking ibuprofen can be dangerous as it can increase your risk of stomach bleeding. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen should also not be taken while producing breast milk or during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester, as they can alter the function of prostaglandins and cause complications during fetus development and birth.
Ibuprofen can also have adverse effects due to specific drug interactions with:
Warfarin
Methotrexate
Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, diuretics)
SSRIs/SNRIs
Lithium
Cyclosporine
Pemetrexed
* Taking ibuprofen in combination with aspirin can be especially dangerous if you are taking aspirin to prevent stroke or heart attack. Ibuprofen can make aspirin less effective in protecting your cardiovascular system.
Bottom line
Although some of these adverse effects are very serious and even fatal, it’s important to keep in mind that these are extreme cases of the potential outcomes of taking too much ibuprofen.
“In general, NSAIDs are common and well-tolerated, and adverse effects are very rare with normal use,” says Dr. Graber.
Ibuprofen is a common over-the-counter medication for effective treatment and management of inflammation, pain, and fever in both children and adults. As long as it is being used responsibly by using the proper dosage and for appropriate indications, ibuprofen is a generally safe treatment option.
Resources for ibuprofen dosage:
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