Ibuprofen Dosage

For most people over 12 years of age, the recommended non-prescription ibuprofen dosage is 200 mg by mouth every four to six hours as needed to control pain or fever. The starting prescription ibuprofen dose for most people with mild to moderate pain or painful menstruation is 400 mg by mouth every four to six hours as needed to control pain. Factors that can also affect ibuprofen dosing include such things as the specific ibuprofen product you are taking and other medical conditions you may have.

 

Ibuprofen Dosage: An Introduction

The dose of ibuprofen (marketed under brand names such as Motrin®, Advil®, Genpril®, and Nuprin®) your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The specific ibuprofen product
  • The medical condition for which you are being treated
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your ibuprofen dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so. Also, you should not take over-the-counter ibuprofen for pain relief for more than 10 days -- or for more than 3 days for a fever -- without talking to your healthcare provider.
 
Acute Pain, Including Painful Menstrual Periods or Fever
The recommended non-prescription dose for most people over 12 years of age is ibuprofen 200 mg by mouth every four to six hours as needed to control pain or fever. If one tablet or caplet does not work, two may be used. However, the daily non-prescription dose of ibuprofen should not exceed 1200 mg (six tablets, caplets, or capsules), unless your doctor directs you to do so.
 
For infants or children under the age of 12, follow the directions on the label or call your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
 
For pain relief, do not self-medicate for more than 10 days without talking with your doctor. For fever relief, you should contact your doctor after two to three days if the fever has not improved, or immediately if the fever is accompanied by a sore throat.
 
The starting prescription dose of ibuprofen that healthcare providers recommend for most people with mild to moderate pain or painful menstruation is ibuprofen 400 mg by mouth every four to six hours as needed to control pain. You should not take this amount of ibuprofen unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
(Ibuprofen Dosage Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;