Compare ibuprofen vs. Claritin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Relieves pain, fever, and swelling.
Advil (ibuprofen) works well for treating fever, inflammation, and a variety of mild to moderate pain conditions, but it doesn't last as long as other NSAIDs.
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4.0/ 5 average rating with 892 reviewsforibuprofen
Treats allergies.
Claritin (loratadine) is a once-daily medicine for allergies that won't make you as sleepy as other medicines that work like it.
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3.7/ 5 average rating with 1517 reviewsforClaritin
Upsides
- Advil (ibuprofen) is effective for treating fever, pain, and inflammation.
- Good for relieving pain due to common conditions like menstrual cramps, toothaches, backaches, and sports-related injuries.
- Advil (ibuprofen) is generally safe to use, cheap, and available over-the-counter.
- Advil (ibuprofen) causes less stomach problems than its alternatives.
- It comes in different flavored liquid forms that makes it easy for children to take.
- It doesn't cause daytime drowsiness unlike other antihistamines.
- Side-effects are mild, if any at all.
- Available over-the-counter without a prescription.
- It provides quick relief of allergy symptoms for both children and adults.
- It doesn't interfere with how a lot of other medicines work.
Downsides
- Advil (ibuprofen) doesn't last as long as other NSAIDs, so you need to take it a few times a day to get relief of your symptoms.
- It needs to be taken with food or millk to avoid getting an upset stomach.
- Advil (ibuprofen) is not as safe as other alternatives for pregnant women and people who are age 60 or older.
- It can cause serious complications like stomach bleeding and kidney problems if taken for a long period of time.
- Like all NSAIDs, Advil (ibuprofen) can raise your risk of getting blood clots, a heart attack, or stroke.
- It's not the best choice if you have persistent, daily allergy symptoms.
- It's not recommended for children less than 2 years old.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Chewable tablet
- Suspension
- Pill
- Chewable tablet
- Dissolving tablet
- Liquid
Price
Lowest price
$5.58
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$4.63
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Reviews
892 reviews so far
88%
saidit'sworth it
52%
saiditworked well
4%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Advil (ibuprofen)?
Leave a review1517 reviews so far
74%
saidit'sworth it
38%
saiditworked well
6%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Claritin (loratadine)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Advil (ibuprofen) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
19possible side effects
- Headache12%
- Drowsiness8%
- Nervousness or anxiety4%
- Wheezing4%
- Tiredness4%
- Rash3%
- Diarrhea3%
- Mouth or tongue irritation3%
- Dry mouth3%
- Hyperactive behavior3%
- Ear pain3%
- Bloody nose3%
- Sore throat3%
- Flu-like symptoms3%
- Abdominal pain2%
- Pink eye2%
- Lung infections2%
- Difficulty speaking2%
- Feeling uneasy or uncomfortable2%
Risks and risk factors
- Heart attack and stroke
- History of heart problems
- Taking Advil (ibuprofen) for a long period of time
- Stomach bleeding
- History of stomach bleeding
- Age 60 or older
- Taking aspirin, other NSAIDs, or blood thinners
- Drinking more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day
- Smoking
- Taking the medicine for a long period of time
- Severe allergic reaction
- Asthma
- Nasal polyps
- Aspirin allergy
- NSAID allergy
- Kidney damage
- Kidney disease
- Heart failure
- Liver disease
- Taking certain high blood pressure medications
- Age 60 or older
- Taking the medicine for a long period of time
- Harm to fetus (unborn baby)
- Women who want to or can become pregnant
- Pregnant women
- Difficulty concentrating
- Taking with alcohol
- Taking other medicines that make you less alert
- Excess phenylalanine
- History of phenylketonuria (PKU)