How Much Ibuprofen Can I Take And How Often?

Ibuprofen is a commonly used pain reliever and fever reducer that can be easily found in most households. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by blocking the production of prostaglandins, which are responsible for causing pain, inflammation, and fever. However, while Ibuprofen can be an effective medication, it is important to use it safely and responsibly. One question that often arises is how often can you take ibuprofen. The medicine can have some side effects if consumed more than the recommended dosage. Since it is highly accessible, knowing how often it can be taken is essential. In today's blog, we will look at the correct ibuprofen dosage and the side effects of overconsumption.

What is Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is a pain reliever and comes in the category of NSAIDs; it can help reduce inflammation or swelling. Ibuprofen can come as Advil, Motrin, and other drugs. People can buy lower-strength Ibuprofen over the counter; higher strengths are available by prescription. Ibuprofen is available in tablets, capsules, liquid gels, and liquid suspensions or drop formulations; it is also an ingredient in treating cold and allergy medications.

What are the recommended doses of Ibuprofen?

The recommended dosage of Ibuprofen is only 200 to 400 mg per day, and every four to six hours, there should not be a dosage of more than 1200 g in the body as that can lead to severe side effects.

A slight overdose can cause minor symptoms, while a person taking too much Ibuprofen can become fatal. Thus, it is essential to stick to the normal range and not go overboard with it, even if you have forgotten about your medication. 

Also Read: From Conception to Birth: A Guide to Stage of Development of the Fetus

How many times can you take Ibuprofen?

The daily dosage of Ibuprofen can be in milligrams and milligrams per kilogram of the body weight of adults and children. However, an extra dosage of Ibuprofen can be suitable for different reasons and symptoms.

Let's understand the ibuprofen dose child per Kg:

For a fever, you can take 3 to 23 months or 24 months to 12 years old and take a medication of 5 mg per kg and 10 mg per kg per dose. Kids can take 5-10 mg or 40 mg per kg over 12 years. Adults can take 200 to 400 mg per dose, at most 1200 mg daily. It is essential to follow this dosage pattern to eliminate the fever or the infection causing it.

How often can you take Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen can be taken after  4-6 hours in adults and 6 to 8 hours in children. Sometimes doctors can prescribe a higher or maximum dosage as needed.

People often think in critical situations, "How much ibuprofen can I take?" During pregnancy, the dosage will be different, and it is advised to contact the doctor before taking Ibuprofen as it has been known to cause problems in the fetus. Breastfeeding and getting a dosage of 400 mg can be detected in the breast milk, and it can mean that you are exposing the drug to the baby's system; thus, breastfeeding mothers should stay away from Ibuprofen. In addition, sometimes healthcare providers may not be fully aware of the effects of Ibuprofen on breast milk. Thus, you can also do your due diligence. 

Also Read: Does ibuprofen have aspirin in it?

How does Ibuprofen work?

Ibuprofen works by blocking the production of hormones and can play an essential; role in inflammation when an injury occurs. They can cause skin flushing, heat, swelling, and pain. Ibuprofen blocks their actions by grinding the COX-1 and COX-2 receptors on an enzyme called synthase.

Only an appropriate amount of this medication is suitable for kids and children, while other is for adults. Pain medications are often used as drugs by adults, and they are also used to overdose on the amount. According to one report involved in Ibuprofen, this can make the NSAIDs commonly linked to overdose.

What are the symptoms of an Ibuprofen overdose?

Taking too much Ibuprofen can cause stomach pain, and most cases of overdose can be life-threatening, and some can also be fatal. About 1 % of the issues can turn out to be fatal. Some people can also have some serious complications from overdosing on the medication. There can be different ways of checking the symptoms and signs of overdosing on Ibuprofen; these are- If children have ingested the ibuprofen 100 mg/kg, there can be different experiences of any symptoms of an overdose. If you have ingested around 400 mg/kg, then there can be severe life-threatening side effects.

Signs of ibuprofen overlays can be seen within 4 hours, and taking too much of the drugs. You can look at these points to deal with the following issues-

1. Heartburn

One of the most common side effects of Ibuprofen can be taken at recommendation dosage, is heartburn, when Ibuprofen blocks and can disrupt the protective layer of the stomach. People taking too much Ibuprofen there can experience side effects like disrupting its protective coating.

2. Bleeding

People who have taken Ibuprofen faster than normal range from stomach pain to severe belling in the digestive tract. The bleeding can occur within a few hours of taking excessive Ibuprofen.

3. Kidney Toxicity

Kidney toxicity can occur in both children and faults who overdose on Ibuprofen, and it can be common to see that there can be chances of kidney toxicity. However, a review of Ibuprofen can occur in both children and older adults who overdose on Ibuprofen, and it is not common to see that people who have ibuprofen experience symptoms of kidney failure.

4. Central Nervous System Toxicity

If people have taken a dosage greater than 400 mg/kg, they may experience some loss of sensation and coma. Children may experience seizures, shocks, and decreased consciousness from a massive dose of Ibuprofen. Some children may even stop breathing. Emergencies may experience seizures and decreased consciousness from a massive overdose, and some children may even share breathless news. Thus, it is essential to get in touch with doctors and hospitals.

Conclusion

Ibuprofen is an easily accessible drug that can be taken over the counter; hence, it is possible to overdose. Thus, it is essential to understand that the higher drug dosage can cause many issues like digestive problems and internal bleeding or ulcers. People can experience symptoms of an overdose only to substantial dosages. It can be related to seeking medical attention immediately after ingestion, and doctors can usually reverse the damage. In case you are experiencing the side effects of symptoms or any overdosage, then you should get in touch with your doctor. I hope you get the answer to this query "How often can you take ibuprofen?" Do not take medication other than the prescribed dosage.

Also Read: Is Ibuprofen A Blood Thinner? Know use & side effects