Skip to content

Ibuprofen

    DEA Class; OTC, Rx

    Common Brand Names; Advil, Motrin, PediaCare Children’s Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB, PediaCare Infant’s Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB

    NSAIDs, Patent Ductus Arteriosus Agents

    Oral and intravenous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
    Used for the treatment of mild to severe pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis/juvenile idiopathic arthritis, dysmenorrhea, and fever
    Associated with serious adverse gastrointestinal and cardiovascular events; use lowest effective dose for shortest possible duration

    For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)/juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

    For the treatment of osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea.

    For the treatment of mild pain to moderate pain, including minor aches and pains associated with arthralgia, dental pain, headache, musculoskeletal pain (including backache), and/or the common cold.

    Hypersensitivity to drug, other NSAIDs, aspirin, or excipients

    Perioperative pain in setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

    1-10%

    Dizziness (3-9%)

    Epigastric pain (3-9%)

    Heartburn (3-9%)

    Constipation (1-3%)

    Nausea (3-9%)

    Rash (3-9%)

    Tinnitus (3-9%)

    Edema (1-3%)

    Fluid retention (1-3%)

    Headache (1-3%)

    Vomiting (1-3%)

    <1%

    Acute renal failure (sometimes with acute tubular necrosis or hyperkalemia, polyuria, azotemia, cystitis, hematuria, decreased creatinine clearance, elevations in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or creatinine without other manifestations of renal failure)

    Agranulocytosis

    Aplastic anemia

    Erythema multiforme

    Erythematous macular rashes

    Exfoliative dermatitis

    If pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a health professional before use; it is especially important not to use ibuprofen at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy unless definitely directed to do so by a doctor; it may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery

    Use caution in asthma (bronchial), cardiac disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), hepatic or renal impairment, hypertension. bleeding disorder, duodenal/gastric/peptic ulcer, stomatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ulcerative colitis, upper GI disease, late pregnancy (may cause premature closure of ductus arteriosus)

    Long-term administration of NSAIDs may result in renal papillary necrosis and other renal injury; patients at greatest risk include elderly individuals; those with impaired renal function, hypovolemia, heart failure, liver dysfunction, or salt depletion; and those taking diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers

    Junior Advil (100 mg): Doses higher than recommended may cause stomach bleeding

    Pregnancy

    There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women; data from observational studies regarding potential embryofetal risks of NSAID use in women in the first or second trimesters of pregnancy are inconclusive

    Lactation: No lactation studies have been conducted; however, limited published literature reports that, following oral administration, ibuprofen is present in human milk at relative infant doses of 0.06-0.6% of the maternal weight-adjusted daily dose; no information is available on effects of ibuprofen on milk production or on a breastfed infant

    Adults

    3,200 mg/day PO/IV for Rx-only products; 1,200 mg/day PO for non-prescription use.

    Geriatric

    3,200 mg/day PO/IV for Rx-only products; 1,200 mg/day PO for non-prescription use.

    Adolescents

    17 years: 3,200 mg/day PO/IV for Rx-only products; 1,200 mg/day PO for non-prescription use.
    13 to 16 years: 50 mg/kg/day PO (Max: 3,200 mg/day) and 2,400 mg/day IV for Rx-only products; 1,200 mg/day PO for non-prescription use.

    Children

    12 years: 50 mg/kg/day PO (Max: 3,200 mg/day) and 2,400 mg/day IV for Rx-only products; 40 mg/kg/day PO (Max: 1,200 mg/day) for non-prescription use.
    1 to 11 years: 50 mg/kg/day PO (Max: 3,200 mg/day) and 40 mg/kg/day IV (Max: 2,400 mg/day) for Rx-only products; 40 mg/kg/day PO (Max: 1,200 mg/day) for non-prescription use.

    Infants

    6 to 11 months: 40 mg/kg/day PO/IV.
    1 to 5 months: Safety and efficacy have not been established.

    Neonates

    Safety and efficacy have not been established.

    Tablet

    • 100mg

    • 200mg

    • 400mg (Rx)

    • 600mg (Rx)

    • 800mg (Rx)

    Capsule

    • 200mg

    Tablet, chewable

    • 50mg

    • 100mg

    Oral suspension

    • 100mg/5mL

    • 40mg/mL