Ibuprofen
- Generic name
- ibuprofen
- Brand names
- Advil, Motrin (US), Nurofen (UK, Australia, New Zealand)
- Drug class
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
- Form
- Tablet, capsule, oral suspension
- Route
- Oral
- Legal status
- Available over-the-counter at lower doses and by prescription at higher doses in most countries checked. Confirmed Authorised in all 5 countries checked.
Supply Rules Vary
Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand
Australia: Nurofen (and generics) (4) · Full directory
What ibuprofen is and how it works
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and reduce inflammation in conditions such as arthritis and menstrual cramps. (1)
Like all NSAIDs, ibuprofen carries real, class-wide cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks that increase with dose and duration of use. It should generally be avoided in pregnancy from 20 weeks onward.
Mechanism of action: how ibuprofen works
Ibuprofen is a nonselective NSAID inhibiting both COX-1 and COX-2. Half-life 1.8-2.0 hours; peak levels at 1-2 hours; near-complete urinary excretion within 24 hours. (1)
What ibuprofen is used for
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Relieves signs and symptoms of these joint conditions. (1)
Mild to moderate pain
Provides relief for a range of mild-to-moderate pain. (1)
Primary dysmenorrhea
Treats menstrual cramping pain. (1)
Fever reduction (OTC use)
Widely used at OTC doses to reduce fever. (1)
Before taking ibuprofen
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Do not take ibuprofen if you have had asthma, hives, or an allergic-type reaction after taking aspirin or another NSAID. (aspirin/NSAID-hypersensitivity reaction history) (1)
- Do not take ibuprofen right before or after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) heart surgery. (CABG surgery) (1)
- Do not take ibuprofen from 20 weeks of pregnancy onward unless specifically directed by your doctor. (pregnancy from 20 weeks) (1)
Tell your clinician about
- Any heart, kidney, or liver disease.
- Any history of stomach ulcers or GI bleeding.
- All other medicines, especially aspirin, blood pressure medicines, diuretics, lithium, methotrexate, or warfarin.
- If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
How to take ibuprofen
- A typical prescription-strength dose is 400mg every 4-6 hours as needed, up to a maximum of 3200mg/day, under medical guidance.
- OTC doses and maximum durations are lower — follow the product label or your pharmacist's guidance, and don't use OTC NSAIDs for more than about 10 days without checking with a healthcare provider.
- Take with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Missed dose
If taking on a schedule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember; skip it if it's almost time for the next one. Do not double up.
Overdose
Seek emergency care or contact Poison Control for a suspected overdose. (1)
Side effects
Digestive symptoms are the most common side effects.
Stomach upset, heartburn, nausea
What to notice: GI complaints occurred in 4-16% of people in clinical trials.
What to do: Take with food; mention persistent symptoms to your clinician. (1)
GI bleeding or ulcer
What to notice: Black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, severe stomach pain.
What to do: Seek emergency care immediately. (1)
Cardiovascular events
What to notice: Chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech.
What to do: Seek emergency care immediately. (1)
Serious warnings
Cardiovascular risk (class-wide) — serious
Symptoms: Chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden weakness, or slurred speech.
Action: Seek emergency care immediately. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed, especially with existing heart disease. (1)
GI bleeding/ulceration (class-wide) — serious
Symptoms: Black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, severe abdominal pain.
Action: Seek emergency care immediately. (1)
Kidney effects — serious
Symptoms: Reduced urination, swelling, unusual fatigue.
Action: Contact your clinician promptly; ibuprofen is not recommended in advanced kidney disease. (1)
Pregnancy from 20 weeks onward — serious
Symptoms: Not applicable — a risk to discuss before use, not a symptom.
Action: Avoid use from 20 weeks of pregnancy due to a real risk of fetal kidney problems and low amniotic fluid; contraindicated in the third trimester due to a real risk of premature closure of a key fetal blood vessel. (1)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirin | Ibuprofen can interfere with aspirin's antiplatelet (heart-protective) effect if taken beforehand. | If you take low-dose aspirin for heart protection, ask your pharmacist about timing. (1) |
| Furosemide, thiazide diuretics | Ibuprofen can reduce their fluid-removing (natriuretic) effect. | Your clinician may monitor blood pressure and fluid status more closely. (1) |
| ACE inhibitors and ARBs | May reduce their blood-pressure-lowering effectiveness. | Your clinician may monitor blood pressure. (1) |
| Lithium | Ibuprofen can raise lithium levels by reducing its clearance from the kidneys. | Your clinician may monitor lithium levels more closely. (1) |
| Warfarin | Increases the risk of GI bleeding. | Your clinician will weigh this risk carefully if combining the two. (1) |
| Methotrexate | May increase methotrexate toxicity. | Combination requires clinician oversight. (1) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Renal impairment
Not recommended in advanced kidney disease; close monitoring is needed if used at all in this setting. (1)
Hepatic impairment
Mild liver enzyme elevations occur in up to 15% of people; more significant elevations occur in about 1%. (1)
Pregnancy
Avoid use starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy because of a real risk of fetal kidney problems leading to low amniotic fluid. It is contraindicated in the third trimester because of a real risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus (a key blood vessel) and related complications for the newborn. (1)
Breastfeeding
It is not known whether ibuprofen passes into breast milk in significant amounts; weigh the benefits of nursing against any potential risk with your prescriber. (1)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Review heart, kidney, and liver health.
- Review any history of stomach ulcers or bleeding.
- Review all other medicines, especially aspirin, blood pressure medicines, lithium, methotrexate, and warfarin.
- Discuss pregnancy status directly, given the real 20-week onward risk.
During treatment
- Watch for stomach pain, black stools, or vomiting blood.
- Watch for chest pain, shortness of breath, or stroke-like symptoms.
- Watch for reduced urination or unusual swelling.
Storage
Store at controlled room temperature per the product's specific packaging instructions.
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only. Non-US product, brand, and supply information is limited to what is explicitly documented in country-brand-verification.json and country-supply-classification.json.
United States
Indication: RA, OA, mild-moderate pain, primary dysmenorrhea (Rx); pain/fever (OTC)
Dose summary: 400mg q4-6h PRN, max 3200mg/day.
Renal context: Not recommended in advanced renal disease. (1)
United Kingdom
Indication: Authorised — 738 MHRA files.
Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.
Renal context: Not itemized. (3)
Australia
Indication: Authorised — real ARTG number confirmed (127272), Schedule 2 Pharmacy Medicine.
Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.
Renal context: Not itemized. (4)
Canada
Indication: Authorised — 170 real DPD-listed products.
Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.
Renal context: Not itemized. (2)
New Zealand
Indication: Authorised — multiple current Medsafe data sheets confirmed.
Dose summary: Not itemized in this pass.
Renal context: Not itemized. (5)
Hepatic guidance
Borderline LFT elevation in up to 15% of patients; notable (3x+ normal) elevation in ~1%.
Overdose note
Supportive care and poison control guidance. (1)
Frequently asked questions
Is ibuprofen safe during pregnancy?
It should be avoided starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy because of a real risk of fetal kidney problems and low amniotic fluid, and it is contraindicated in the third trimester because of a risk of premature closure of a key fetal blood vessel. Earlier in pregnancy, discuss use with your prescriber. (1)
Can I take ibuprofen with my daily aspirin?
Ibuprofen can interfere with the heart-protective antiplatelet effect of low-dose aspirin if taken before it. Ask your pharmacist about the right timing if you take both. (1)
How long can I take ibuprofen without a prescription?
OTC guidance generally advises checking with a healthcare provider before using it for more than about 10 days, given the real cardiovascular and GI risks that increase with duration of use. (1)
What is the mechanism of action of ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is a nonselective NSAID inhibiting both COX-1 and COX-2. Half-life 1.8-2.0 hours; peak levels at 1-2 hours; near-complete urinary excretion within 24 hours. (1)
What is the generic name of Ibuprofen?
The generic name is ibuprofen. It is sold under brand names including Advil, Motrin (US), Nurofen (UK, Australia, New Zealand). (1)
What class of drug is ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen is classed as: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). (1)
References
- Ibuprofen Tablets, USP — prescribing informationDailyMed / FDA · United States · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 1
- DPD active-ingredient query for ibuprofen (170 products)Health Canada DPD, public API · Canada · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 2
- IBUPROFEN substance page (738 files) plus ibuprofen lysine (44) and sodium (2) variantsMHRA Products · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 3
- Nurofen (multiple formulations) — ARTG-registered, Schedule 2 Pharmacy MedicineTherapeutic Goods Administration (Australia) / Healthdirect · Australia · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 4
- Multiple current New Zealand Data Sheets (Nurofen 12 Hour, Nurofen 400 Double Strength, Ibuprofen generic, Ibuprofen Ethics suspension, and combination products)Medsafe (New Zealand) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 5
- NSAID mechanism, GI/CV/renal risk, and the 2020 FDA pregnancy updateStatPearls / peer-reviewed literature, carried over from the NSAID family research pack · class_level_not_country_specific · accessed 2026-07-27 · source 6
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient ibuprofen names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- Motrin IB200 mg · r j general corporation
- IBU400 mg, 800 mg, 600 mg · proficient rx lp
- Advil200 mg, 256 mg · haleon us holdings llc
- Advil Liqui-Gels200 mg · lil' drug store products, inc.
- Medique at Home Iprin200 mg · sportpharm llc
- JUNIOR STRENGTH ADVIL100 mg · haleon us holdings llc
- Childrens Ibuprofen grape100 mg/5mL · guardian drug company
- PROPRINAL200 mg · hart health
- Childrens Ibuprofen bubblegum100 mg/5mL · guardian drug company
- Migraine Relief200 mg · bionpharma inc.
United Kingdom
- Nurofen (and generics) (3)MHRA licensed 738 files · 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg · multiple
Canada
- ADVIL
- MOTRIN
- CHILDREN'S MOTRIN
- SUPER STRENGTH MOTRIN IB
- MOTRIN GELCAPS
- CHILDREN'S ADVIL
- INFANT'S MOTRIN
- JUNIOR STRENGTH ADVIL
- JUNIOR STRENGTH MOTRIN
- CHILDREN'S IBUPROFEN
Australia
- Nurofen (and generics) (4)ARTG registered Schedule 2 · 200 mg, 400 mg · Reckitt Benckiser and others
New Zealand
- Nurofen (multiple formulations); Ibuprofen generic (5)multiple current medsafe data sheets · 200 mg, 300 mg, 400 mg · multiple