Q: I take Advil fairly regularly for pain, how do I know if I'm taking more than is safe?
headache. Fever. Menstrual pain. Back pain.
These are all symptoms that can be treated with ibuprofen, a drug better known by one of its brand names, Advil.
Given the drug's widespread pain relief, excellent safety profile, and over-the-counter availability, it's no wonder some people pop the tiny brownish-red pill every time they feel the slightest bit of discomfort. there is no.
“When I'm in pain, this is my go-to,” said Candy Tsourounis, a professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco.
Still, ibuprofen, which is also sold under brand names such as Motrin and Nupurin, can pose certain health risks, especially for people with kidney or stomach problems.
Here's how to feel good and stay safe.
How to tell if it's too much
Scanning the over-the-counter ibuprofen label recommends that adults and children 12 years and older take one 200-milligram tablet, caplet, or gel caplet every 4 to 6 hours (two tablets if needed) You can see that it is. Symptoms persist. And people taking this drug should not exceed 1,200 milligrams (or 6 tablets) in 24 hours.
But it can be difficult to determine how much is too much because doctors prescribe much higher doses of ibuprofen, sometimes up to 3,200 milligrams per day.
This contradiction is rooted in safety concerns. The Food and Drug Administration has strict dosage limits for over-the-counter drugs because they can be taken by people with a variety of risk factors, Tsourounis said. Your doctor may prescribe a higher dose if side effects are less likely to occur.
Even when using over-the-counter ibuprofen, the anti-inflammatory effects are better at higher doses, so doctors can give patients up to 3,200 milligrams per day for short periods of time (up to 1 to 2 weeks), says Lauren Hagerty. We may advise you to take it. Clinical pharmacist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. This can happen after an injury or surgery, she says.
If you haven't talked to your doctor about how much is safe or aren't sure about your risk factors, it's best to not exceed the recommended daily intake of 1,200 milligrams, Dr. Tourounis says. Stated.
Ibuprofen can cause stomach upset, so consider taking it with at least a few mouthfuls of food. Dairy or non-dairy alternatives are particularly effective, Dr. Tsourounis said.
Be careful not to accidentally take more than you intended. “Some patients don't know that Advil and generic ibuprofen are the same thing, so they might take both,” says Sarah Ruff, M.D., a physician at UNC Family Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.
Ibuprofen may also be added to certain cold medicines, such as Sudafed PE Head Congestion and Pain Relief, so be sure to read the drug's ingredient list before using it.
When to be especially careful
Ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduce pain and inflammation by blocking the activity of certain enzymes, Dr. Tourounis said. This is why you often feel better when you step on it.
But these enzymes also help maintain kidney and liver function and regulate fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, Dr. Tsrounis said. Therefore, taking ibuprofen can be dangerous for patients with kidney disease or kidney failure. People with liver damage or cirrhosis. Some people have diseases that put a strain on the kidneys, such as high blood pressure or heart failure.
Dr. Hagerty said people at high risk for these conditions, as well as stomach ulcers, heart attacks, strokes and bleeding problems, should consult their doctor before taking ibuprofen. The same applies if you are pregnant. According to the FDA, ibuprofen is not recommended after 20 weeks of age because it can have rare adverse effects on the fetal kidneys.
Ibuprofen puts a strain on the kidneys and heart, so people taking medications such as diuretics, anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) to manage cardiovascular disease should also be careful. It's necessary, Dr. Tsourounis said.
To reduce these health risks, Dr. Ruff cautioned, don't take the maximum recommended dose for more than 1 to 2 weeks at a time. “If you need it for more than two weeks, that's a good sign that you need to see a doctor.”
Taking ibuprofen for a long period of time may also increase the risk of stomach ulcers, Dr. Ruff said. Among other things, this drug inhibits an enzyme that helps produce mucus, which lines and protects the lining of the stomach. Therefore, without these enzymes, the stomach is more susceptible to irritation and damage.
And ironically, when people with headache disorders (such as migraines) regularly use ibuprofen, it can cause rebound headaches for reasons that doctors don't fully understand.
“It's really frustrating for patients because when you get into that situation, the only way to get rid of it is to cut off all pain medication,” Dr. Ruff said. “And it's a painful process.”
