Advil
(ibuprofen)
Relieves pain, fever, and swelling.
Our bottom line
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.
- Drug class: Pain
- Rx status: Over-the-counter
- Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (ibuprofen)
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.
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What to expect from ibuprofen, on one page
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.
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What to expect from ibuprofen, on one page
Advil (ibuprofen) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It stops the inflammation process in your body, which relieves pain, swelling, and fever.
- Drug class: Pain
- Rx status: Over-the-counter
- Generic status: Lower-cost generic available (ibuprofen)
Prices and coupons
Skip prices section. Skip to what to expect section.- Kroger PharmacyGet free coupon$8.32
- CostcoGet free coupon$8.32
What to expect when you take Advil (ibuprofen) for Fever
Skip what to expect section. Skip to side effects section.- First few hoursHoursFirst few daysDaysFirst few weeksWeeksFirst few monthsMonths
- Effectiveness
- Full effects
It can take time for a drug to start working, or for some side effects to go away.
Source: FDA product label and Iodine pharmacistsSide effect rates for Advil (ibuprofen)
Manufacturers don’t say how common these side effects are when taking ibuprofen for null
- Swelling
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Unexplained weight gain
- Bloating
- Vomiting
- Ringing in ears
Risks and Warnings for Advil (ibuprofen)
Skip risks section. Skip to common concerns section.- Higher risk if:
- › History of heart problems
- › Taking Advil (ibuprofen) for a long period of time
Advil (ibuprofen) can increase your chances of getting blood clots, a heart attack, or stroke. To lower the risk of having these problems, take the medicine at the lowest dose and for the shortest time possible. Talk to your doctor right away if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness in 1 side of the body, or difficulty speaking.
This is a black box warning. The FDA requires this warning when there is a significant risk of serious or life-threatening effects that anyone taking the drug should consider.
Common concerns from people taking Advil (ibuprofen)
Final section. Do you want to return to drug navigation?- Take it with food or milk to prevent stomach upset.
- It needs to be taken with food or millk to avoid getting an upset stomach.
- Worth itSome hassleReviewed ibuprofenon 7/1/2016Take with food! Keep track of when you take your doses.29WomanPain
- Advil (ibuprofen) can damage your kidneys. Taking the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time lowers your risk. Talk to your doctor if this worries you, or if you already have kidney damage before you start taking Advil (ibuprofen).
- Do not take for more than 10 days for pain relief or more than 3 days for fever. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not go away.
- Good for relieving pain due to common conditions like menstrual cramps, toothaches, backaches, and sports-related injuries.
- Worth itReviewed ibuprofenon 8/11/2017Bare with the pain or bleed more tough call35WomanJust as neededMenstrual cramps
- Worth itSome hassleReviewed ibuprofenon 2/23/2017if you get stomach pain you can eat some food before taking the medication to coat your stomach and completely avoid pain23ManLess than a weekPain
- Not sureLow hassleReviewed ibuprofenon 10/25/2016Good for fever, and can make my head hurt less but doesnt make pain go away. Also it didnt work at all for muscle pain after injury, I had to use stronger meds20ManPain