How many days can you safely take ibuprofen

Motrin Product Description


Drug Uses

Motrin belongs to a class of drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Motrin provides a combined therapeutic effect including anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects.

Motrin is used to relieve pain in the back, joints, muscles, headache, toothache and pain due to damage or stretch in the connective tissues. In addition, Motrin helps to reduce the frequency and duration of symptoms of primary or secondary dysmenorrhea, cold and flu.

Maximum symptomatic responses to Motrin is reached in about 60 minutes after oral administration. For the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate pain, it is recommended to take a dose of Motrin 300mg or 400mg every 4 hours. To facilitate the acute pain single doses of Motrin 800 mg may be used, but no more than 3200mg of the drug per day.


Missed dose

If you’ve missed an assigned dosage of Motrin, take the NSAID as soon as you remember. But if it is nearly time for the next dose of Motrin, do not take it at all. Resume the prescribed dosage of Motrin on the next day.

More Information

Motrin prevents the development of the active lipid compound prostaglandin, which is believed to be a major mediator of pain and inflammation. Prostaglandin participates in a wide range of body functions, so the duration of application of Motrin pills should be minimized.


Storage
Analgesic agent Motrin should be stored in a tightly closed container at controlled room temperature up to 25°C.

Motrin Safety Information


Warnings

Dosage requirements in patients with different types of pain and inflammation may vary from day to day, according to the analgesic response, disease exacerbation, physical and emotional stress. Minimum effective doses of Motrin are recommended to patients with a history of edema, or gastrointestinal bleeding.


Disclaimer
All information, provided in the review of anti-inflammatory agent Motrin, is intended for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice of the therapist or other medical specialist. The online pharmacy under no circumstances shall be liable for any damage, which may be caused due to improper use of the information on antipyretic agent Motrin.

Motrin Side Effects


Any undesirable effects are reported as rare during application of Motrin pills and normally do not cause harm to the body. From 1% to 3% of patients, taking Motrin, may complain of such undesirable effects as: decreased appetite, water retention, nausea, pyrosis, diarrhea, abdominal distress, dyspepsia, vomiting, headache, nervousness, dizziness, rash, pruritus, tinnitus, or weakness.

A small part of the patients taking Motrin may observe the following undesirable effects: depression, insomnia, confusion, somnolence, urticaria, hair loss, melena, gastritis, hepatitis, lazy eye, blurred vision, neutropaenia or hypothermia.

The popular OTC painkillers are designed for short-term use, and for good reason. 

 

I go through a bottle of ibuprofen every few months – it’s my go-to for all my aches and pains. Do I have to worry about taking it too much?

Dear Reader:

Yes, you do! Ibuprofen has been around since the 1960s and is one of the most popular OTC anti-inflammatories available, especially since it works so well for joint pain, which many of us have. But like any drug, it should be used sparingly and only in the short-term. This goes for all other types of drugs in the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) category, including other OTC medicines such as naproxen as well as prescription NSAIDs such as diclofenac sodium. When you become too reliant on these medications over an extended period time, it raises the risk of kidney damage.

Why the Kidney?

As a nephrologist, or kidney doctor, I have a unique vantage point. I have seen the damaging, irreparable effects that excessive OTC painkiller use can leave on the kidney, a life-sustaining organ that balances the electrolytes in our body and removes excess fluid.

The damage from NSAIDs happens indirectly. The medicines work by blocking the production of chemicals called prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation. But prostaglandin also plays a role in blood flow to the kidney, so when production drops, kidney cells don’t get enough oxygen from blood and they begin to die off.

Kidney cells have a limited capacity to repair themselves, so in many cases the damage is irreversible. Unfortunately, there is no treatment or cure for kidney damage – the condition can only be managed from getting worse. In severe cases, a dialysis machine is needed to do the work of the kidney.

Simple Testing Can Tell

All of this is easily avoided! Before you get ready to take that pill, ask yourself, do I really need this? Am I taking too much? A typical pattern is patients starting with one to two ibuprofen a week, and when that does not solve the problem, they increase their dosage and frequency. This is when problems may occur.

To further complicate matters, everyone tolerates ibuprofen differently. Some long-term users might have no kidney damage whatsoever, however, I had one patient who took NSAIDs for two to three months and ended up on dialysis. That is extremely rare, but it emphasizes the importance of being aware and getting a kidney screen at your next checkup. Some doctors may not order this simple urine or blood test routinely, so if you are a frequent NSAID user you should specifically request it.

If this screen comes back with elevated levels of creatinine, your physician will likely refer you to someone like me who can evaluate further. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms to indicate the onset of kidney damage, but one of the more common side effects of NSAIDs, stomach irritation, may be an indication that you are taking too many and you should see your primary care physician to get checked out.

Use Common Sense

As with any medication, moderation and common sense is best. Stick with a low dose and low frequency. Also, consider these alternatives that lessen the risk of kidney damage:

Remember, it’s always a good idea to review your recent medication history with your primary care physician during your annual checkups. Just because it’s OTC, doesn’t mean it is not without risks.

How many days a week can I take ibuprofen?

“It's not without risk, but you can feel pretty safe taking it for about three days,” she says. “Take no more than 400 to 600 milligrams, three times a day, with food. Otherwise, it can ruin your stomach.”

Is it harmful to take ibuprofen every day?

While you can continue taking ibuprofen for a few days, it's not recommended that you take it daily to relieve pain unless your doctor has prescribed it. Medications like ibuprofen can irritate your stomach lining and cause problems ranging from mild nausea to ulcers.

What happens if you take ibuprofen for too many days?

Long term side effects Ibuprofen can cause ulcers in your stomach or gut, especially if you take it by mouth for a long time or in big doses. If you need to take it for a long time your doctor may also prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach.

Can you take ibuprofen for more than 7 days?

Taking ibuprofen daily, with doses spaced out six to eight hours, for more than five to seven days is not recommended or viewed as safe by medical professionals, says Janet Morgan, M.D., an internist at the Cleveland Clinic. In this case, taking more than 600mg total each day is not recommended, either, says Dr.