You can take 1 or 2 Motrin 200 mg tablets per dose, up to a maximum of 6 tablets (1,200 mg) in 24 hours. Start with 1 tablet, and if that doesn’t relieve your pain or fever, take 2 tablets for your next dose. Wait at least 4 to 6 hours between doses.
Dose-by-Dose Breakdown
The Motrin IB label spells it out simply: take 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours while symptoms last. If 1 tablet isn’t enough, you can step up to 2 tablets (400 mg) per dose. The hard ceiling is 6 tablets total in any 24-hour window, which works out to 1,200 mg per day.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Minimum effective dose: 1 tablet (200 mg) every 4 to 6 hours
- Stronger dose: 2 tablets (400 mg) every 4 to 6 hours
- 24-hour max: 6 tablets (1,200 mg), no matter how you split them up
If you’re taking 2 tablets every 4 hours, you’ll hit your daily limit in just three doses. Spacing them every 6 hours gives you more flexibility throughout the day. Sticking closer to the 6-hour interval is generally easier on your stomach.
How Long You Can Keep Taking It
Over-the-counter Motrin is meant for short-term use. For pain, don’t take it for more than 10 consecutive days. For fever, the limit is shorter: 3 days. If your symptoms haven’t improved by then, the problem likely needs a different approach rather than more ibuprofen.
Protecting Your Stomach
Ibuprofen can irritate the lining of your stomach and intestines, sometimes causing bleeding with no warning signs beforehand. Taking it with food, milk, or a full glass of water helps reduce that irritation. Your risk of stomach problems goes up if you’ve had an ulcer before, if you smoke, if you drink alcohol regularly, or if you’re over 60.
Avoid combining Motrin with other pain relievers that contain ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin unless you’ve been specifically told to. These all belong to the same drug class and stacking them increases your chance of stomach bleeding and kidney strain without adding much pain relief.
Who Should Use a Lower Dose or Avoid It
Several health conditions make ibuprofen riskier. It can raise blood pressure, worsen kidney disease, and increase the chance of heart attack or stroke, particularly in people who already have cardiovascular problems or who use it for extended periods. People with a history of asthma, bleeding disorders, liver disease, or fluid retention should be cautious as well.
If you’ve ever had a bad reaction to aspirin, especially breathing problems or swelling, you should not take Motrin at all. Older adults are more likely to have reduced kidney function, which means the drug clears from the body more slowly and can build up to harmful levels at standard doses.
Signs You’ve Taken Too Much
If you accidentally exceed the recommended amount, watch for these symptoms:
- Digestive: Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, or severe heartburn
- Neurological: Severe headache, confusion, unsteadiness, or seizures
- Kidney-related: Producing very little or no urine
A single extra tablet is unlikely to cause serious harm in a healthy adult, but if you’ve taken significantly more than 6 tablets in a day or you notice any of these symptoms, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or seek emergency care. The risks increase quickly in people with kidney problems, heart conditions, or dehydration.
Prescription Doses Are Higher, but Not Safer
Doctors sometimes prescribe ibuprofen at doses above 1,200 mg per day for conditions like arthritis. Prescription-strength doses can go up to 3,200 mg daily, but those come with closer medical monitoring for blood pressure, kidney function, and stomach health. The OTC limit of 1,200 mg exists specifically because it’s the highest dose considered safe without that supervision. Taking more on your own doesn’t make sense when a doctor can evaluate whether you actually need it and watch for complications.