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 dosage 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 dosage 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 healthcare provider 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 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.
HealthSavvy Sign In
|
