Advil

Generic name: Ibuprofen
Drug class: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Usage of Advil

Advil is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Advil is used to reduce fever and treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as headache, toothache, back pain, arthritis, menstrual cramps, or minor injury.

Advil is used in adults and children who are at least 2 years old. For children under 2 years check with a doctor.

Advil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Advil (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke: chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, leg swelling, feeling short of breath.

Stop using Advil and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • changes in your vision;
  • shortness of breath (even with mild exertion);
  • swelling or rapid weight gain;
  • a skin rash, no matter how mild;
  • signs of stomach bleeding - bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
  • liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
  • low red blood cells (anemia) - pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating; or
  • kidney problems - little or no urinating, painful or difficult urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.

    • Common Advil side effects may include:

  • nausea, vomiting, gas;
  • bleeding; or
  • dizziness, headache.

    • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Advil

    Advil can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, even if you don't have any risk factors. Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

    Advil may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are using this medicine, especially in older adults.

    You should not use Advil if you are allergic to ibuprofen, or if you have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or an NSAID.

    Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have ever had:

  • heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you smoke;
  • a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
  • stomach ulcers or bleeding;
  • liver or kidney disease;
  • asthma; or
  • if you take aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke.

    • Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

    If you are pregnant, you should not take ibuprofen unless your doctor tells you to. Taking an NSAID during the last 20 weeks of pregnancy can cause serious heart or kidney problems in the unborn baby and possible complications with your pregnancy.

    Do not give Advil to a child younger than 2 years old without the advice of a doctor.

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    How to use Advil

    Use Advil exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Use the lowest dose that is effective in treating your condition.

    An ibuprofen overdose can damage your stomach or intestines. The maximum amount of ibuprofen for adults is 800 milligrams per dose or 3200 mg per day (4 maximum doses).

    A child's dose of ibuprofen is based on the age and weight of the child. Carefully follow the dosing instructions provided with Junior Strength Advil for the age and weight of your child. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.

    Take Advil with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.

    Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

    You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it.

    Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow the liquid medicine to freeze.

    Warnings

    Do not take more than your recommended dose. An ibuprofen overdose can damage your stomach or intestines. Use only the smallest amount of medication needed to get relief from your pain, swelling, or fever.

    What other drugs will affect Advil

    Ask your doctor before using Advil if you take an antidepressant. Taking certain antidepressants with an NSAID may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

    Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using ibuprofen with any other medications, especially:

  • cyclosporine;
  • lithium;
  • methotrexate;
  • a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven);
  • heart or blood pressure medication, including a diuretic or "water pill"; or
  • steroid medicine (such as prednisone).

    • This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with ibuprofen, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

    Popular FAQ

    There are no known drug interactions between Ajovy (fremanezumab) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), but you should talk to your doctor before you combine these medications. Serious side effects can occur with ibuprofen, such as stomach or intestinal bleeding, rash, swelling, problems with your kidneys, or an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Ajovy is used to help prevent migraine episodes in adults. Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter analgesic used as an acute treatment to help stop migraine pain already in progress. If Ajovy is not adequately helping your migraine, your doctor may want to switch you to a different migraine prevention medicine or drug class.

    Ibuprofen is short acting, while naproxen is long acting and more likely to cause an upset stomach. Naproxen and ibuprofen are both NSAIDs so they are similar in many ways, but there are important differences. Continue reading

    Tylenol (acetaminophen) is only effective at relieving pain and fever, but Advil (ibuprofen) relieves inflammation in addition to pain and fever. Other differences... Continue reading

    Even though aspirin and Ibuprofen are both NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and work similarly, there are several differences between the two drugs and they are not considered interchangeable. Continue reading

    Despite popular belief that you have to take ibuprofen with food, you can take ibuprofen on an empty stomach and this will give you faster pain relief than taking it with food. Food increases the time it takes for ibuprofen to be absorbed, although it won't affect how much is absorbed. There is actually no evidence that taking ibuprofen with food prevents gastric irritation – ibuprofen at OTC doses has a low incidence of gastric irritation anyway. Continue reading

    Although taking expired ibuprofen is not recommended by the manufacturer, the actual shelf-life is likely to be longer than that indicated by the expiry date, with FDA testing showing many drugs are active for years beyond their expiry date, although specific data on ibuprofen is not available. Within reason, an ibuprofen tablet that is a few months past its expiry date is probably safe to take. Ibuprofen that is years past its expiry date should not be taken. Continue reading

    There are no known drug interactions between Ajovy (fremanezumab) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), but you should talk to your doctor before you combine these medications. Serious side effects can occur with ibuprofen, such as stomach or intestinal bleeding, rash, swelling, problems with your kidneys, or an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Ajovy is used to help prevent migraine episodes in adults. Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter analgesic used as an acute treatment to help stop migraine pain already in progress. If Ajovy is not adequately helping your migraine, your doctor may want to switch you to a different migraine prevention medicine or drug class.

    Ibuprofen is short acting, while naproxen is long acting and more likely to cause an upset stomach. Naproxen and ibuprofen are both NSAIDs so they are similar in many ways, but there are important differences. Continue reading

    Tylenol (acetaminophen) is only effective at relieving pain and fever, but Advil (ibuprofen) relieves inflammation in addition to pain and fever. Other differences... Continue reading

    Even though aspirin and Ibuprofen are both NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and work similarly, there are several differences between the two drugs and they are not considered interchangeable. Continue reading

    Despite popular belief that you have to take ibuprofen with food, you can take ibuprofen on an empty stomach and this will give you faster pain relief than taking it with food. Food increases the time it takes for ibuprofen to be absorbed, although it won't affect how much is absorbed. There is actually no evidence that taking ibuprofen with food prevents gastric irritation – ibuprofen at OTC doses has a low incidence of gastric irritation anyway. Continue reading

    Although taking expired ibuprofen is not recommended by the manufacturer, the actual shelf-life is likely to be longer than that indicated by the expiry date, with FDA testing showing many drugs are active for years beyond their expiry date, although specific data on ibuprofen is not available. Within reason, an ibuprofen tablet that is a few months past its expiry date is probably safe to take. Ibuprofen that is years past its expiry date should not be taken. Continue reading

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