Ibuprofen

During the 1980s, ibuprofen was only available as prescription-strength Motrin (500 mg per tablet), one of an emerging class of arthritis drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Of all the conventional prescription NSAIDs currently available, ibuprofen is one of the best-tolerated. As a result of its effectiveness and excellent safety profile, it has become available as a non-prescription pain reliever (200 mg per tablet) under such brand names as Advil, MotrinIB, etc.

Manufacturers claim (and clinical research tends to support their claims) that ibuprofen is gentler on the GI tract than ASA and that you need to take fewer pills per day than either ASA or acetaminophen for the same pain relief.

What should you choose when selecting a pain medication from the pharmacy shelf? The three major, non-prescription pain-relievers - ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Tylenol, Panadol, Exdol, etc.) and ASA (Aspirin, Entrophen, Anacin, Novasen, etc.) - are all about equally effective and well tolerated - provided you're not already taking a prescription (NSAID) for your arthritis.

If you are, then you're at slightly higher risk of side effects. Under these circumstances, acetaminophen becomes the preferred choice, because it can be safely mixed with a prescription NSAID for increased pain relief or for headaches and fever.

Ibuprofen - like ASA and acetaminophen - is also available in combination preparations, with codeine or muscle relaxants or both, for more pronounced pain relief, and cold remedies. Typically, the ibuprofen content in one dose of these combination medications or cold remedies equals two regular-strength tablets (200 mg each) of ibuprofen. If you wish to take just ibuprofen later in the day, remember to keep track of your earlier intake via combination drugs or cold remedies so as not to exceed the limit of 1600 mg in 24 hours.

If you haven't already, make sure you visit Pain Relievers: General Indications.

This page was last reviewed/updated on : 02/23/2008