The standard over-the-counter Advil tablet contains 200 mg of ibuprofen, and adults can safely take up to 3 tablets (600 mg) per dose, with a maximum of 1,200 mg (6 tablets) in 24 hours when self-treating. Each dose should be spaced at least 4 to 6 hours apart, and you should use the smallest amount that relieves your symptoms.
Standard Adult Dosing
For general pain or fever, the recommended starting dose is 1 tablet (200 mg) every 4 to 6 hours. If that doesn’t provide enough relief, you can take 2 tablets (400 mg) per dose. For menstrual cramps specifically, the effective dose is typically 400 mg every 4 hours as needed.
The key rule: don’t exceed 1,200 mg in a single day unless a doctor has specifically told you otherwise. Prescription-strength ibuprofen can go higher, but that requires medical supervision because the risks increase meaningfully above the OTC ceiling.
How Long You Can Keep Taking It
Advil is not meant for extended daily use. The FDA label directs you not to take it for more than 10 consecutive days for pain, or more than 3 consecutive days for fever. If your pain or fever persists beyond those windows, something else is going on that warrants medical attention rather than more ibuprofen.
Children’s Dosing Works Differently
Children’s doses are based on weight, not age. If you know your child’s weight, use that to determine the correct amount rather than relying on age ranges on the box. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours as needed, which is a longer interval than the adult minimum of 4 hours.
Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months old. It hasn’t been established as safe in that age group, and the FDA has not approved it for infants younger than 6 months. For liquid formulations, always use the syringe or dosing cup that comes in the package. Kitchen spoons are unreliable and frequently lead to dosing errors.
What Happens If You Take Too Much
Taking more than the recommended amount doesn’t just increase side effects proportionally. It can cause serious harm. Overdose symptoms include severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, confusion, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, ibuprofen overdose can cause seizures, dangerously low blood pressure, kidney shutdown, or loss of consciousness. Signs of internal stomach bleeding include black or tarry stools, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Kidney and Stomach Risks
Even within recommended doses, ibuprofen can irritate your stomach lining. Taking it with food or a glass of milk helps reduce that effect. At high doses or with prolonged use, ibuprofen can damage kidney tissue or reduce blood flow to the kidneys. This is true even in people with otherwise healthy kidneys.
The risk is significantly higher if you already have reduced kidney function, heart disease, or high blood pressure. People with any of these conditions should generally avoid ibuprofen unless their doctor has specifically approved it.
Alcohol and Advil Don’t Mix
Drinking alcohol while taking ibuprofen increases your risk of stomach bleeding. This isn’t a theoretical concern. Both alcohol and ibuprofen independently irritate the stomach lining, and together they compound the damage. If you’re taking Advil regularly for a few days, skip the alcohol during that period.
Quick Reference
- Single dose: 200 to 400 mg (1 to 2 tablets)
- Time between doses: at least 4 to 6 hours
- Daily OTC maximum: 1,200 mg (6 tablets)
- Maximum consecutive days for pain: 10
- Maximum consecutive days for fever: 3
- Children under 6 months: do not give without a doctor’s guidance