Advil PM Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Have aches and pains ever kept you up at night? If so, know there are options for relief. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available to help with occasional sleep troubles caused by minor body aches. Advil PM is one example.

Advil PM is a combination medication containing ibuprofen and diphenhydramine. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and helps reduce pain, swelling, and fever. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that’s commonly used as a sleep aid.

As with any medication, knowing how much to take can help you stay safe. So what’s the typical Advil PM dosage? And how long should you keep taking it?

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What’s the typical Advil PM dosage for adults?

Advil PM is available as both liquid-filled capsules (Liqui-Gels) and caplets (capsule-shaped tablets). The directions are the same for both forms. But there’s a subtle difference between the diphenhydramine components in each product. This, however, shouldn’t make a significant difference in how each form of Advil PM works.

Regardless of which dosage form you choose, you should take Advil PM about a half hour before you plan to sleep. This is because it takes the diphenhydramine component about 30 minutes to start working for sleep.

Advil PM Liqui-Gels dosage

Each Advil PM Liqui-Gel capsule contains 25 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride and 200 mg of ibuprofen. The typical Advil PM Liqui-Gel dosage for adults is 2 capsules by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime. Don’t take more than two capsules per day.

Advil PM caplets dosage

Each Advil PM caplet contains 38 mg of diphenhydramine citrate and 200 mg of ibuprofen. The typical Advil PM caplet dosage for adults is 2 capsules by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime. Don’t take more than two capsules per day.

Good to know: Diphenhydramine citrate and diphenhydramine hydrochloride are very similar to each other and should provide the same effects. But the differences in their chemical properties is why you see a different number of milligrams on the OTC label. However, these doses are considered equivalent to each other in potency. So Advil PM caplets are not “stronger” than Advil PM Liqui-Gels.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Beating insomnia: Three people share their experiences with insomnia and how they were able to get the sleep they needed.

• Comparing options: Advil PM contains diphenhydramine, a popular OTC sleep medication. Read about the available OTC sleep aids — plus their safety and effectiveness — here.

• Staying safe: The ibuprofen included in Advil PM is also found in many other OTC and prescription medications. Read more about how to avoid accidentally taking too much ibuprofen here.

What’s the typical Advil PM dosage for children?

Adolescents ages 12 years and older can follow the adult Advil PM dosages listed above. But you shouldn’t give this medication to children under 12 unless their pediatrician tells you to do so.

Why shouldn’t children under 12 take Advil PM?

There are two reasons why you shouldn’t give children under 12 years old Advil PM. First, there’s a risk of unusual side effects. And second, it’s impossible to measure out a safe dose.

Diphenhydramine usually makes adults and adolescents drowsy. But it can actually make younger children hyperactive or agitated. And this can make it harder for children to fall asleep. Because of this, experts don’t recommend giving children under 12 diphenhydramine as a sleep aid.

Another reason to avoid giving kids under 12 Advil PM is because of the dosage. Advil PM comes as pills with a fixed dose of ibuprofen and diphenhydramine. These dosages can’t be changed. Children under 12 often take doses of ibuprofen and diphenhydramine that are lower than what’s included in each Advil PM pill. By using this product, you could accidentally give your child too high of a dose of one or both medications which could be dangerous.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

There aren’t any recommended dosage adjustments for Advil PM based on certain health conditions. But you should speak with a healthcare professional before taking it if you have a history of kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease.

The ibuprofen portion of Advil PM can cause the blood vessels leading to the kidneys to temporarily narrow. This lowers the amount of blood and oxygen that reaches the kidneys. If your kidneys are functioning normally, occasional use of ibuprofen shouldn’t cause problems. But if you have existing kidney problems or take other medications that impact the kidneys, you may have a greater risk of kidney damage from the medication.

Additionally, there are other people who should speak with a healthcare professional before taking Advil PM. These include people who:

• Are 60 years or older (and especially if you’re over 65)

• Have glaucoma

• Recently had or will soon be having heart surgery

• Have trouble urinating because of an enlarged prostate

• Have a chronic breathing condition, such as emphysema or asthma

• Have a history of stomach bleeding or ulcers

• Drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages every day

• Take other NSAIDs, such as aspirin or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

• Take other antihistamines, including antihistamine creams or gels

• Take corticosteroids (steroids), such as prednisone

• Take any blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

• Take other medications that cause drowsiness, such as opioids or muscle relaxers

These groups of people may not need to completely avoid Advil PM. But they do have a greater risk of severe side effects. So if one of the above situations applies to you, double-check with a healthcare professional before taking Advil PM.

How often can you take Advil PM?

It’s recommended to take Advil PM once a day before bed and only when you need it. If you’re taking it for pain for 10 days in a row or your pain is getting worse, it’s time to speak with a healthcare professional. You should also reach out to them if you’re taking Advil PM for sleep for 14 days in a row.

Advil PM should not be used as a sleep aid for more than 2 weeks without talking to a healthcare professional. Both ibuprofen and diphenhydramine have certain risks when it comes to taking them every day.

Ibuprofen carries a risk of kidney damage, stomach ulcers, and even heart attacks when taken at high doses or for long periods of time. And in the short term, it commonly causes unwanted side effects, such as nausea and heartburn.

Diphenhydramine can also cause bothersome side effects, such as constipation and dry mouth. What’s more, research suggests it’s not effective for sleep when taken long term. That’s why experts don’t recommend taking it every day for insomnia (chronic sleep troubles).

What should you do if you take too much Advil PM?

Taking too much Advil PM could cause severe side effects. Both ibuprofen and diphenhydramine have serious risks when people take larger doses than recommended.

An ibuprofen overdose can be life threatening. Milder symptoms of an overdose include vomiting, stomach pain, or confusion. In severe cases, seizures and slowed breathing are possible.

A diphenhydramine overdose can also be fatal in severe cases. Early symptoms include feeling sleepier than usual and lower blood pressure. Serious symptoms include seizures, irregular heart rhythms, and a coma.

Many OTC products have the same or similar ingredients as Advil PM. So be sure to read your medication package labels carefully. Using more than one product containing an NSAID or an antihistamine can lead to an accidental overdose. Ask your pharmacist if you're not sure if a product contains these or similar ingredients.

If you believe you or someone else has taken too much Advil PM, contact a healthcare professional or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If anything seems severe or life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

How to save on Advil PM

There are ways to save on Advil PM, which is available OTC as both a brand-name and generic medication. If your medical care team writes you a prescription for Advil PM, GoodRx can help you save on the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Advil PM’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $5.68 with a free GoodRx discount.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sarah Morin, RPh

Sarah Morin, RPh, has been a registered pharmacist for over 25 years. She started out as a hospital pharmacist, working at Rhode Island Hospital and then at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Bailey E. Eason, PharmD, MS, BCPS

Bailey Eason has been licensed for 6 years and has held licenses in three states (North Carolina, Virginia, and Illinois). She has held positions as a health-system pharmacy administration resident, operating room pharmacy manager, pharmacy manager of clinical operations: surgery, neurology and controlled substances, and most recently as program director  of drug diversion for a large academic health system.

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