Ibuprofen Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a popular prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever and fever reducer. It’s usually taken as needed, but you might take it on a schedule if you’re directed to by a healthcare professional.
It’s recommended to take ibuprofen every 4 to 6 hours. The maximum dose for self-treating with OTC ibuprofen is 1,200 mg per day. The maximum dose for prescription ibuprofen with a prescription is up to 3,200 mg per day, depending on what you’re taking it for.
Talk to your healthcare team before taking ibuprofen to make sure it’s safe for you. This is especially important for people living with kidney or liver problems or during pregnancy.
Ibuprofen is available as a brand-name medication. But you can also find it as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help make your prescription more affordable.
Table of contents
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a popular prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever. It’s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that treats pain, fever, and swelling in adults and children..
Before taking ibuprofen, it’s important to know the right dose to take. Even though it’s sold OTC, ibuprofen can have side effects and interactions that may affect your dosage. And it isn’t an appropriate medication for everyone. So it’s a good idea to check with a healthcare professional before taking it.
Here, we’ll cover what you need to know about adult ibuprofen dosages. Generally, most people self-treating with this pain reliever can follow the directions on the OTC package. If you’ve been prescribed ibuprofen, be sure to follow your prescriber’s directions for your dose.
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What ibuprofen dosage forms are available?
Ibuprofen is available as oral tablets, oral capsules, and as an oral liquid suspension. The liquid can be helpful for people who have trouble swallowing ibuprofen pills. If you choose to take liquid ibuprofen, use a medication dosing spoon or cup to measure doses. Household spoons won’t accurately measure liquid medication. You’ll also need to shake the liquid well before measuring each dose.
OTC ibuprofen tablets and capsules only come as 200 mg pills. The OTC oral liquid comes in a 100 mg/5 mL dose.
Higher doses of ibuprofen are only available with a prescription. Prescription-only ibuprofen tablets come in 400 mg, 600 mg, and 800 mg doses.
All forms of ibuprofen can be hard on the stomach, especially at higher doses. So it’s a good idea to take it with a meal or snack.
What’s the typical ibuprofen dosage for adults?
You can take ibuprofen as needed for your symptoms. It can also be prescribed to take regularly for a specific condition. Your dose and maximum daily amount will be different depending on why you’re taking it. The daily maximum dose of OTC ibuprofen is 1,200 mg per day. Prescription doses of ibuprofen may go up to a maximum amount of 3,200 mg per day.
Prescription-only ibuprofen is FDA approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), and dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps). It can also be prescribed for mild to moderate pain. OTC ibuprofen can be taken to self-treat minor aches and pains, as well as help with fever.
Children who are at least 12 years old can take adult ibuprofen dosages. For children younger than 12 years old, ibuprofen doses are based on body weight. Check out our children’s ibuprofen dosing guide for more details on safe doses for kids.
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Recommended ibuprofen dosages for RA and OA range from 1,200 mg to 3,200 mg total daily. This daily dose is split into three or four smaller doses that are spread out throughout the day. It’s recommended to take the lowest dose that’s effective for your symptoms to help reduce the chance of side effects.
Example prescription ibuprofen doses for RA and OA include:
Taking 400 mg by mouth 3 or 4 times a day (1,200 to 1,600 mg per day)
Taking 600 mg by mouth 3 or 4 times a day (1,800 to 2,400 mg per day)
Taking 800 mg by mouth 3 or 4 times a day (2,400 to 3,200 mg per day)
Ibuprofen dosages for kids: Here are the recommended ibuprofen dosages for children under the age of 12.
How long does it take ibuprofen to work? Learn the answer to this common question along with additional tips for taking ibuprofen.
Ibuprofen side effects: Read about common and rare side effects that can happen when you're taking ibuprofen, along with what to do if they occur.
Your prescriber may adjust your dose depending on your response to ibuprofen. The maximum daily dose of prescription ibuprofen is 3,200 mg.
Dysmenorrhea
Ibuprofen is typically only taken while you’re experiencing menstrual cramps. The typical prescription ibuprofen dosage is 400 mg every 4 hours as needed for pain.
Mild to moderate pain
The recommended prescription ibuprofen dosage for mild to moderate pain is 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
OTC ibuprofen dosages
Generally, the lowest effective dose of OTC ibuprofen should be taken for the shortest amount of time needed. This helps lower the risk of side effects.
The recommended OTC ibuprofen dosages for adults and children 12 years and older are as follows:
Take 1 tablet or capsule (200 mg) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
You can take 2 pills (400 mg) per dose if pain or fever doesn’t improve with 1 tablet.
The maximum recommended dosage of OTC ibuprofen is 6 pills (1,200 mg) in 24 hours unless otherwise directed by a healthcare professional.
If you’re taking OTC ibuprofen for a fever, you should only take it for a total of 3 days. If you’re self-treating for pain with this medication, you shouldn't take it for longer than 10 days. If your symptoms last longer than this, seek medical care for guidance.
Are there any ibuprofen dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
Your ibuprofen dosage may be a bit different if you have certain medical conditions. Kidney or liver problems can affect how your body responds to ibuprofen. If you have one of these conditions, your healthcare team can determine whether you can take ibuprofen, and if so, what a safe dosage would be.
If you’re pregnant, talk with your OB-GYN before taking ibuprofen. This medication is typically avoided during pregnancy. Ibuprofen can cause problems for the developing baby and complications during delivery. Your prescriber can suggest safer alternatives for pain if needed.
People with kidney problems
All NSAIDs can cause kidney injury. But some studies suggest ibuprofen may have a lower risk of kidney problems than others. NSAIDs affect blood flow to the kidneys. So if you have existing kidney problems, medications like ibuprofen could worsen your kidney function.
Discuss ibuprofen with your healthcare team before taking it if you have kidney issues. This includes OTC ibuprofen. Your prescriber may want to monitor your kidneys while you’re taking ibuprofen. And they’ll likely suggest taking a lower ibuprofen dosage.
People with liver disease
Typically, ibuprofen doesn’t cause liver damage. But if you have severe liver disease, ibuprofen may worsen liver function. Keep in mind, liver damage from ibuprofen is very rare, even in people with liver problems. But it is possible.
If you have liver disease, be sure to let your healthcare team know before you take OTC or prescription-strength ibuprofen. Your prescriber may want to monitor your liver function more closely, and they may recommend a lower ibuprofen dosage.
What happens if you miss a dose of ibuprofen?
If you forget to take a dose of ibuprofen, it’s usually not a problem if you’re taking it as needed. You can just take a dose when you remember. It’s always best to take the lowest dose of ibuprofen needed to relieve your symptoms.
If you’re taking ibuprofen on a set schedule based on your prescriber’s recommendation, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to your next scheduled dose, just skip the missed dose. Don’t take a double or extra dose to make up for a missed dose. This can raise your risk of side effects, such as heartburn or upset stomach.
What should you do if you take too much ibuprofen?
If you take too much ibuprofen, let your healthcare team know. They can help you determine if you need medical care or if you can manage symptoms at home.
If you’ve taken an extra dose by accident, it’s not likely to cause major problems. But you might experience more side effects than usual.
Large overdoses of ibuprofen can be more severe and result in ibuprofen toxicity. Symptoms might include nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, and confusion. In severe situations, seizures, slowed breathing, and even death can happen.
If you or someone you know has taken a large amount of ibuprofen, call 911 or get medical help right away. You can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
How to save on ibuprofen
There are many ways to save on ibuprofen, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 50% off the average retail price of generic ibuprofen. This includes OTC ibuprofen, as long as you’re able to get a prescription for it from your healthcare team.
OTC ibuprofen's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $4.11 with a free GoodRx discount. Prescription-strength ibuprofen's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $8.92 with a free GoodRx discount.
Frequently asked questions
You shouldn’t take ibuprofen more often than once every 4 to 6 hours. If your symptoms return in between doses, try alternating ibuprofen with acetaminophen (Tylenol). But you shouldn’t combine ibuprofen with another NSAID, such as naproxen (Aleve). If ibuprofen isn’t working for you at the recommended dosage, it’s best to seek medical care for guidance.
For OTC forms of ibuprofen, including Advil, you shouldn’t take more than 6 pills (1,200 mg) in a day unless a healthcare professional OKs it. There are risks involved with higher dosages, as well as drug interactions to consider. Your healthcare team can let you know how much ibuprofen is safe for you — but you should never take more than 3,200 mg per day.
Only if a healthcare professional recommends it. Taking ibuprofen long-term can raise your risk of stomach, kidney, and heart problems. So it requires approval from your healthcare team as well as regular monitoring. If you need to take OTC ibuprofen for more than 10 days, it’s best to seek medical care. This way, the cause of your symptoms can be addressed along with a personalized treatment plan that protects your safety.
The bottom line
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It’s available both over the counter (OTC) and with a prescription. The prescription-only version of ibuprofen comes in 400 mg, 600 mg, and 800 mg tablets. The OTC version comes in 200 mg tablets or capsules as well as a 100 mg/5mL oral liquid suspension. Your exact ibuprofen dosage depends on what health condition you're treating.
Typical maximum doses of ibuprofen for adults and children ages 12 and older range from 1,200 mg (OTC) to 3,200 mg (prescription) per day. You’ll likely take ibuprofen 3 to 4 times a day (every 4 to 6 hours) to achieve this total daily dose. Check with your healthcare team before taking ibuprofen to ensure it’s a safe option for you.
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References
Davis, A., et al. (2016). The dangers of NSAIDs: Look both ways. British Journal of General Practice.
Ershad, M., et al. (2024). Ibuprofen toxicity. StatPearls.
Ghlichloo, I., et al. (2023). Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). StatPearls.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. (2018). Ibuprofen. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Ibuprofen.
PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Ibuprofen- ibuprofen tablet, film coated [package insert].
Publix Super Markets. (2024). Ibuprofen capsules [package insert]. DailyMed.
Slate Run Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Ibuprofen tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. (2024). Ibuprofen suspension [package insert].
Wan, E. Y. F., et al. (2021). Comparative risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on CKD. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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