Ibuprofen is used to treat pain, inflammation and fever. Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects. Show
Note: the information on this page is about ibuprofen for adults. For information about use for children, see ibuprofen for children. On this page, you can find the following information:
What is ibuprofen?Ibuprofen is in a group of medicines known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It's used to treat different types of pain such as headache, migraine, dental pain, back pain or muscle pain, and pain from injury. Read more about pain and pain relief medication. It also helps to ease redness and swelling, and to treat fever. Ibuprofen is available in different brands and strengths
The lower strength (200 mg) tablets can be bought from a supermarket or over-the-counter from a pharmacy. The higher strength tablets (400 mg, 800 mg) tablets are only available on prescription from your doctor. DoseThe dose of ibuprofen will be different for different people depending on your condition and which strength of medicine you are taking.
How to take ibuprofen
When is taking ibuprofen a concern?For most people taking ibuprofen is safe but extra care is needed in some situations, for example if:
It can be harmful if you take ibuprofen when you are dehydrated or have been sick with diarrhoea (runny poos) or vomiting. Read more about the risks of NSAIDs.
Taking ibuprofen with other pain medicinesIbuprofen is found in many pain medicines you can buy from the pharmacy such as Nurofen Plus® and Maxigesic®. Serious side effects can happen if you take more than one ibuprofen-containing medicine. If you do take other medicines that have ibuprofen in them, be careful not to take more than the recommended dose of ibuprofen each day which is usually 1200 mg. Do not take other anti-inflammatory medicines such as diclofenac, naproxen or celecoxib while taking ibuprofen. This can increase your risk of side effects. It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol because they work differently. Taking ibuprofen with blood pressure medicinesIbuprofen interacts with some medicines, especially those used for high blood pressure, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking ibuprofen. Image credit: University of Otago, NZTaking NSAIDs together with blood pressure medicines can be harmful to your kidneys. This is called the ‘triple whammy’. If you are taking blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors or ARBs and diuretics) tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting ibuprofen.
Read more about the triple whammy. Possible side effects of ibuprofen
Learn moreThe following links provide further information about ibuprofen. Be aware that websites from other countries may have information that differs from NZ recommendations. Ibuprofen (Māori) NZ Formulary Patient Information,
NZ References
Additional resources for healthcare professionalsNSAIDs and risk of cardiovascular events Medsafe,
NZ Can I take 3 ibuprofen 3 times a day?The usual dose for adults is one or two 200mg tablets or capsules 3 times a day. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of up to 600mg to take 4 times a day if needed. This should only happen under supervision of a doctor.
What happens if you take ibuprofen 3 times a day?“It's not without risk, but you can feel pretty safe taking it for about three days,” she says. “Take no more than 400 to 600 milligrams, three times a day, with food. Otherwise, it can ruin your stomach.” And just because you can get ibuprofen over the counter doesn't mean that it shouldn't be treated like medication.
Can I take 600 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours?Take 600-800mg of Ibuprofen (Advil) every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. If additional pain relief is needed, take 1000mg of Tylenol with the Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours as needed.
Can I take ibuprofen two times a day?Official answer. Adults can take one or two ibuprofen 200mg tablets (200mg to 400mg) three or four times daily if they need to. You should only take ibuprofen every 4 to 6 hours.
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