How often can you take 800 ibuprofen

Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex

Table of Contents Show

Missed Dose
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Types of ibuprofen
Who can take ibuprofen
Ibuprofen and pregnancy
Ibuprofen and children
How to take ibuprofen
Interactions with medicines, food and alcohol
Side effects of ibuprofen
Overdoses of ibuprofen
Can I take ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours?
How long does it take 800 mg of ibuprofen to wear off?
Can you take 800 mg ibuprofen every 2 hours?
What happens if you take 2 ibuprofen 800 at once?

For safe and effective use of this medicine, do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than ordered by your doctor. Taking too much of this medicine may increase the chance of unwanted effects, especially in elderly patients .

When used for severe or continuing arthritis, this medicine must be taken regularly as ordered by your doctor in order for it to help you. This medicine usually begins to work within one week, but in severe cases up to two weeks or even longer may pass before you begin to feel better. Also, several weeks may pass before you feel the full effects of this medicine .

To lessen stomach upset, you may take this medicine with food or milk .

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets and suspension):
- For fever:
  - Children over 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  - Children 6 months of age up to 2 years—Dose is based on body weight and body temperature, and must be determined by your doctor. For fever lower than 102.5 °F (39.2 °C), the dose usually is 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (about 2.2 mg per pound) of body weight. For higher fever, the dose usually is 10 mg per kg (about 4.5 mg per pound) of body weight. The medicine may be given every six to eight hours, as needed, up to 40 mg per kg per day.
  - Infants younger than 6 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
- For menstrual cramps:
  - Adults—400 milligrams (mg) every four hours, as needed.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
- For mild to moderate pain:
  - Adults and teenagers—400 milligrams (mg) every four to six hours, as needed.
  - Children over 6 months of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose usually is 10 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight every six to eight hours, as needed, up to 40 mg per kg per day.
  - Infants younger than 6 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
- For osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:
  - Adults and teenagers—1200 milligrams (mg) up to 3200 mg per day divided into three or four equal doses.
  - Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose usually is 30 milligrams (mg) to 40 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided into three or four doses.
  - Infants younger than 6 months of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Portions of this document last updated: Nov. 01, 2022

Ibuprofen is a painkiller available over the counter without a prescription.

It's one of a group of painkillers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and can be used to:

ease mild to moderate pain – such as toothache, migraine and period pain
control a fever (high temperature) – for example, when someone has the flu (influenza)
ease pain and inflammation (redness and swelling) caused by conditions that affect the joints, bones and muscles – such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
ease pain and swelling caused by sprains and strains – such as sports injuries

This topic covers:

Types of ibuprofen

Who can take ibuprofen

How to take ibuprofen

Interactions with medicines, food and alcohol

Side effects of ibuprofen

Overdoses of ibuprofen

Types of ibuprofen

You can buy most types of ibuprofen from supermarkets or pharmacies. Some types are only available on prescription.

Ibuprofen is available in many forms, including:

tablets
capsules
liquids
gels or creams
sprays

In some products ibuprofen is combined with other ingredients. For example, it's sometimes combined with medicine for a blocked nose (a decongestant) and sold as a cold and flu remedy.

Who can take ibuprofen

Some people should avoid using ibuprofen and others should use it with caution. If you have any queries about using ibuprofen or any other medicines, speak to your GP or pharmacist, or phone the NHS 24 111 service.

You shouldn't take ibuprofen if you:

have a history of a strong, unpleasant reaction (hypersensitivity) to aspirin or other NSAIDs
have a current or recent stomach ulcer, or you have had one in the past
have severe heart failure
have severe liver disease
are taking low-dose aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease

You should use ibuprofen with caution if you're aged 65 or over, breastfeeding, or have:

asthma
kidney or liver problems
lupus
Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
previously had any bleeding in your stomach
high blood pressure (hypertension)
narrowing of the arteries (peripheral arterial disease)
any problems with your heart, such as angina, heart attacks, or mild or moderate heart failure
had a stroke

Ibuprofen and pregnancy

Ideally, pregnant women shouldn't take ibuprofen unless a doctor recommends it.

But ibuprofen appears in breast milk in small amounts, so it's unlikely to cause any harm to your baby while you're breastfeeding.

It's best to tell your GP, pharmacist or health visitor about any medicines you're taking.

Paracetamol is recommended as an alternative to ease short-term pain or reduce a high temperature.

Ibuprofen and children

Ibuprofen may be given to children aged 3 months or over who weigh at least 5kg (11lbs) to relieve pain, inflammation or fever.

Your GP or another healthcare professional may recommend ibuprofen for younger children in certain cases – for example, this may be to control a fever after a vaccination if paracetamol is unsuitable.

If your baby or child has a high temperature that doesn't get better or they continue to experience pain, speak to your GP or phone the NHS 24 111 service.

How to take ibuprofen

Make sure you take ibuprofen as directed on the label or leaflet, or as instructed by a health professional.

How much you can take depends on your age, the type of ibuprofen you're taking and how strong it is. For example:

adults – can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (200mg) every 4 to 6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 1,200mg (6 x 200mg) tablets in the space of 24 hours
children under 16 – may need to take a lower dose, depending on their age; check the packet or leaflet, or ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice

The painkilling effect of ibuprofen begins soon after a dose is taken, but the anti-inflammatory effect can sometimes take up to 3 weeks to get the best results.

Ibuprofen shouldn't be used to treat conditions that are mainly related to inflammation.

Don't take more than the recommended dose if it isn't relieving your symptoms.

Adults can take paracetamol at the same time if necessary, but this isn't recommended for children.

Contact your GP or phone the NHS 24 111 service if your symptoms get worse or last more than 3 days despite taking ibuprofen.

Interactions with medicines, food and alcohol

Ibuprofen can react unpredictably with certain other medicines. This can affect how well either medicine works and increase the risk of side effects.

Check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if it can be taken with ibuprofen. Ask your GP or local pharmacist if you're not sure.

As ibuprofen is a type of NSAID, you shouldn't take more than one of these at a time or you'll have an increased risk of side effects.

NSAIDs can also interact with many other medicines, including:

some types of antidepressants – used to treat depression
beta-blockers – used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension)
diuretics – which reduce the amount of fluid in your body

Read more about medicines that interact with NSAIDs.

Ibuprofen can also interact with ginkgo biloba, a controversial dietary supplement some people claim can treat memory problems and dementia.

There are no known problems caused by taking ibuprofen with any specific foods or by drinking a moderate amount of alcohol.

Side effects of ibuprofen

Ibuprofen can cause a number of side effects. You should take the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time needed to control your symptoms.

See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of side effects.

Common side effects of ibuprofen include:

nausea or vomiting
constipation or diarrhoea
indigestion (dyspepsia) or abdominal pain

Less common side effects include:

headache or dizziness
bloating (fluid retention)
raised blood pressure
inflammation of the stomach (gastritis)
a stomach ulcer
allergic reactions – such as a rash
worsening of asthma symptoms by causing narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm)
kidney failure
black stools and blood in your vomit – this can indicate bleeding in your stomach

If you feel unwell after taking ibuprofen or have concerns, speak to your GP or pharmacist, or phone the NHS 24 111 service.

You can also report suspected side effects using the Yellow Card Scheme.

High doses

Taking high doses of ibuprofen over long periods of time can increase your risk of:

stroke – when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed
heart attacks – when the blood supply to the heart is blocked

In women, long-term use of ibuprofen might be associated with reduced fertility. This is usually reversible when you stop taking ibuprofen.

Overdoses of ibuprofen

Taking too much ibuprofen, known as an overdose, can be very dangerous.

If you've taken more than the recommended maximum dose, go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department as soon as possible.

It can be helpful to take any remaining medicine and the box or leaflet with you to A&E if you can.

Some people feel sick, vomit, have abdominal pain or ringing in their ears (tinnitus) after taking too much ibuprofen, but often there are no symptoms at first. Go to A&E even if you're feeling well.

Can I take ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours?

A: The maximum daily dosage of ibuprofen is 3200 mg. This translates to 800 mg four times a day, taken every six hours. If stomach upset occurs, take each ibuprofen dose with milk or food.

How long does it take 800 mg of ibuprofen to wear off?

Ibuprofen is rapidly metabolized and eliminated in the urine. The excretion of ibuprofen is virtually complete 24 hours after the last dose. The serum half-life is 1.8 to 2.0 hours.

Can you take 800 mg ibuprofen every 2 hours?

For most adults and children ages 12 years and older, the recommended OTC dose of ibuprofen is 200 mg by mouth every 4 to 6 hours. If 200 mg didn't help enough, you have the option to take 400 mg at your next dose. You shouldn't take more than 1,200 mg of ibuprofen in a 24-hour period.

What happens if you take 2 ibuprofen 800 at once?

Taking more Advil than intended can damage your stomach, intestines, or other organs. In some cases, an Advil overdose can be fatal. The recommended adult dosage is one or two 200 milligram (mg) tablets every 4 to 6 hours, not exceeding 800 mg at once or 3,200 mg per day.

ibuprofen