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Ibuprofen
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.
Moderate400-800 mg
Duration
Onset1 hour
Total4-6 hours
Subjective Effects
Subjective Effects not written up yet
Pharmacology
Pharmacology not written up yet
Interactions
Interactions not written up yet
An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.
Tolerance
Tolerance not written up yet
Harm Potential
Toxicity
Gastrointestinal
Regular use can cause gastrointestinal ulceration, esophageal ulceration, and gastrointestinal bleeding; these effects are more common with chronic use or higher doses.
Cardiovascular
Chronic use is correlated with increased risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction, particularly among those using higher doses over extended periods.
Renal
Kidney impairment and acute kidney failure have been reported, typically in overdose or with chronic use; fetal kidney damage can occur with use during pregnancy.
Hepatic
Liver dysfunction has been reported rarely, primarily in overdose situations.
Respiratory
Can exacerbate asthma, sometimes fatally; respiratory depression and apnea have been reported in severe overdose, particularly in very young pediatric patients.
Psychosis Risk
Confusion has been reported as an infrequent adverse effect.
Seizure Risk
Convulsions and seizures have been reported in overdose situations, typically in individuals who consumed more than 99 mg/kg.
History & Culture
History & Culture not written up yet
Legality
By Country
Prescription1
CanadaPrescription onlyFood and Drugs Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-27, s. 29.1; Prescription Drug List: Human Use; Food and Drug Regulations, C.R.C., c. 870, ss. A.01.010 and C.01.04112345678
Under the federal Prescription Drug List for human use, ibuprofen and its salts are prescription drugs, except in an oral dosage form providing 400 mg or less per dosage unit or a modified-release oral dosage form providing 600 mg or less per dosage unit. The listing took effect on 18 August 2016. The Food and Drug Regulations prohibit the sale of listed prescription drugs unless the seller has received a verbal or written prescription or the exception in section C.01.043 applies. The federal classification restricts sale and does not establish a general prohibition on ordinary possession; provinces and territories may further restrict the sale of products that are non-prescription federally.
Legal / decriminalized1
United StatesLegal (regulated)Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act § 503(b) (21 U.S.C. § 353(b)), FDA Drugs@FDA approval records for Motrin IB (NDA 019012) and ibuprofen tablets (ANDA 071268), and current DailyMed Structured Product Labels91011121314
In the United States, approved ibuprofen products are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and FDA product approvals. FDA records classify Motrin IB 200 mg oral tablets under NDA 019012 as over-the-counter, while approved 400 mg, 600 mg, and 800 mg oral ibuprofen tablets under ANDA 071268 are prescription products. Under section 503(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a drug limited by its approved application to use under professional supervision may be dispensed only by prescription. Marketing status depends on the product's application, strength, dosage form, and formulation.
References
Citations
- Prescription Drug List: Human Use. hpr-rps.hres.ca (n.d.). https://hpr-rps.hres.ca/pdl-phu.php1
- Notice: Prescription Drug List (PDL): Ibuprofen. canada.ca (n.d.). https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/prescription-drug-list/notice-ibuprofen.html1
- Food and Drugs Act. laws-lois.justice.gc.ca (n.d.). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-27/section-29.1.html1
- Food and Drug Regulations. laws-lois.justice.gc.ca (n.d.). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.%2C_c._870/section-A.01.010.html1
- Food and Drug Regulations. laws-lois.justice.gc.ca (n.d.). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.%2C_c._870/section-C.01.041.html1
- Product information: APO-IBUPROFEN TAB 600MG. health-products.canada.ca (n.d.). https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?code=5917&lang=eng1
- Product information: IBUPROFEN EXTRA STRENGTH CAPLETS. health-products.canada.ca (n.d.). https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?code=85291&lang=eng1
- The Prescription Drug List: Overview. canada.ca (n.d.). https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/prescription-drug-list.html1
- openFDA Drugs@FDA record — NDA 019012 (Motrin IB). api.fda.gov (n.d.). https://api.fda.gov/drug/drugsfda.json?search=application_number%3A%22NDA019012%22&limit=11
- openFDA Drugs@FDA record — ANDA 071268 (ibuprofen tablets). api.fda.gov (n.d.). https://api.fda.gov/drug/drugsfda.json?search=application_number%3A%22ANDA071268%22&limit=11
Article Status
Step 1 · Automated synthesisAn autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins compiled this article's foundation from information published across the web.
- Step 2 · First-pass reviewPending
Not yet reviewed — this article is pending editorial review by Lyrea.
- Step 3 · Citation reviewPending
No one has reviewed this article's citations yet. That second pass checks each claim against the source it cites.
Recent changes7 human edits · latest
Times are UTCNewest first
24 January 2026
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more
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