Knowing this will help the doctor determine the best treatment and how best to manage the overdose. Ibuprofen is easily accessible through prescription and over the counter. Perhaps because of this, overdoses are fairly common. People may experience symptoms of an overdose only at substantial dosages.
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How much ibuprofen is too much? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. How much is too much? What is ibuprofen? Symptoms of overdose What to do in an overdose Summary Ibuprofen is an effective pain reliever, but taking too much of it can cause serious side effects.
Share on Pinterest Ibuprofen is a type of pain reliever. Symptoms of overdose. Share on Pinterest Taking too much ibuprofen can cause stomach pain. What to do if you suspect an overdose. Share on Pinterest A person experiencing an ibuprofen overdose requires immediate medical attention. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.
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Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. How much you can take depends on your age, the type of ibuprofen you're taking and how strong it is. For example:. 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.
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 service if your symptoms get worse or last more than 3 days despite taking ibuprofen. 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. 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. 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.
If you feel unwell after taking ibuprofen or have concerns, speak to your GP or pharmacist, or phone the NHS 24 service. Gently massage the ibuprofen into the painful area 3 or 4 times a day. Leave at least 4 hours between applications, and do not put it on more than 4 times in 24 hours.
Never use ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray on your eyes, mouth, lips, nose or genital area. Do not put it on sore or broken skin.
Do not put plasters or dressings over skin you've applied ibuprofen to. Don't worry if you occasionally forget to use it, just carry on using it when you remember.
If you swallow ibuprofen gel or mousse by accident, you may get symptoms including:. If you get a headache, vomit or feel sleepy after accidentally swallowing ibuprofen gel, contact a doctor or straight away.
It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine. But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor. Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. If you take them together, ibuprofen plus aspirin or naproxen may increase the chance of you getting side effects like stomach ache.
NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies — for example, cough and cold remedies. Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. The common side effects of ibuprofen taken by mouth happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:.
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to ibuprofen. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.
You're less likely to have side effects when you apply ibuprofen to your skin than with tablets, capsules and syrup because less gets into your body.
However, you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin. Applying ibuprofen to your skin can also cause your skin to become more sensitive than normal to sunlight. These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen gel, mousse and spray. Ibuprofen isn't normally recommended in pregnancy — especially if you're 30 or more weeks — unless it's prescribed by a doctor. This is because there might be a link between taking ibuprofen in pregnancy and some birth defects, in particular damage to the baby's heart and blood vessels.
There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking ibuprofen. It will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine. There may be other treatments that are safer for you.
Ibuprofen is safe to take by mouth or use on your skin if you are breastfeeding. Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding. Ibuprofen applied to the skin is less likely to interfere with other medicines than if it's taken by mouth.
For safety, tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking ibuprofen by mouth or using it on your skin:. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements. It works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body.
When you apply ibuprofen to your skin, it works in the same way as when you take it by mouth, but it only works in the area you've applied it to.
You should start to feel better 20 to 30 minutes after taking ibuprofen by mouth. For some types of long-term pain, you'll need to take ibuprofen regularly for up to 3 weeks for it to work properly. If you're applying ibuprofen to your skin, it should start to work within 1 to 2 days. Ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin are all effective painkillers.
Ibuprofen is good for period pain and migraines. It can also be used for back pain , strains and sprains, as well as pain from arthritis. Paracetamol is typically used for mild or moderate pain.
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