#26: ibuprofen (Motrin) | Rx and OTC Use for Analgesic and Antipyretic Effects

Ibuprofen is a very well known medication available over the counter (OTC) and by prescription (Rx). The most common brand names are Advil and Motrin. Ibuprofen is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that is often used for it’s non-opioid analgesic effect as well as it’s antipyretic effect. The OTC product comes in a wide variety of dosage forms but generally limited to a 200 mg strength. Strengths higher than that are Rx only. When treating pain in adults a common dosing regimen is 200-800 mg po 3-4 times daily (q6-8h) with the max daily dose at 3200 mg per day. When treating pain and fever in children there are weight/age/dose charts but the common rule of thumb is 4-10 mg/kg/dose po q6-7h with a max daily dose of 4 doses per day. Most common side effects are GI bleeding, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Taking the medication with food will help avoid stomach upset and GI distress caused to the patient.  Go to DrugCardsDaily.com for my episode show notes which will contain a drug summary, quiz, and a link to FREE drug card sheets. SUBSCRIBE on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or search for us on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. I will go over the Top 100-200 Drugs as well as throwing in some recently released drugs that peak my interest. Also, if you’d like to say hello, suggest a drug, or leave any constructive feedback on the show I’d really appreciate it! Leave a voice message at anchor.fm/drugcardsdaily or message us through twitter @drugcardsdaily