Advil and Motrin are the same medication. Both contain ibuprofen as their sole active ingredient, and at standard over-the-counter strength, both deliver 200 mg per tablet or capsule. The difference is purely branding: Advil is made by Pfizer, while Motrin is a Johnson & Johnson product. If you have a bottle of each in your medicine cabinet, you’re looking at identical medicine in different packaging.
Why Two Names for One Drug
Ibuprofen is the generic drug. When it first became available without a prescription in the 1980s, multiple companies licensed it and sold it under their own brand names. Advil and Motrin emerged as the two dominant brands, and both have stayed on shelves ever since. Generic store-brand ibuprofen is also the exact same compound at the exact same dose. You can swap freely between any of them.
How Ibuprofen Works
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, commonly called an NSAID. It reduces pain, fever, and inflammation by blocking an enzyme your body uses to produce prostaglandins, the chemicals that trigger swelling, pain signaling, and elevated temperature at the site of an injury or infection. The drug binds to this enzyme rapidly and reversibly, which is why its effects wear off within several hours and you need another dose.
This mechanism is the same regardless of whether the tablet says Advil, Motrin, or a store-brand name on the label. The relief you feel, how quickly it kicks in (typically 20 to 30 minutes), and how long it lasts (4 to 6 hours) are all identical.
Available Forms and Strengths
Both brands sell standard 200 mg tablets and capsules for adults. Beyond that, each brand has expanded into slightly different product lines. Advil offers liquid-filled gel capsules (sometimes called Liqui-Gels), while Motrin has historically focused more on its children’s and infant lines. Both sell chewable tablets for kids in 50 mg and 100 mg strengths, plus liquid suspensions for younger children.
At prescription strength, ibuprofen comes in 400 mg, 600 mg, and 800 mg tablets. These higher doses aren’t brand-specific. Your pharmacy fills them as generic ibuprofen regardless of whether your doctor writes “Motrin 600” or “ibuprofen 600” on the prescription.
OTC vs. Prescription Dosing
Over the counter, the standard adult dose is 200 to 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours, with a daily maximum of 1,200 mg unless directed otherwise by a doctor. Prescription doses for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can go as high as 3,200 mg per day, divided into three or four doses. That upper range carries more risk of side effects and requires medical supervision.
The important point: whether you’re taking Advil or Motrin, the dosing rules are the same because the drug is the same. Taking one Advil and one Motrin is not “mixing medications.” It’s taking two ibuprofen tablets, and you need to count them together toward your daily limit.
Children’s and Infant Formulations
Both brands sell pediatric ibuprofen as a flavored liquid suspension. The children’s version contains 100 mg per 5 mL, while the infant version is more concentrated at 200 mg per 5 mL (meant for smaller volumes given with a syringe). The concentration difference matters more than the brand name on the box.
A 2023 study found that parents made significantly more dosing errors with the more concentrated infant formulation compared to the children’s version, with average errors of 39 mg versus 27 mg. Nearly a third of all dosing attempts in the study had errors greater than 50% of the intended dose. If you’re giving ibuprofen to a child, carefully check which concentration you have and use the measuring device that comes in the package, not a kitchen spoon.
Side Effects and Warnings
Because the active ingredient is identical, the risks are identical. The FDA requires the same warnings on every ibuprofen product, whether it’s branded or generic.
The most significant risk with regular use is stomach bleeding. Your chances are higher if you’re over 60, have a history of ulcers, take blood thinners or steroid medications, drink three or more alcoholic beverages daily, or take other NSAIDs alongside ibuprofen (including aspirin or naproxen). Signs of stomach bleeding include vomiting blood, or stools that are bloody or black.
Long-term continuous use also increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. This applies to all NSAIDs, not just ibuprofen, and the risk rises with higher doses and longer duration of use.
When Brand Choice Actually Matters
The only practical differences between Advil and Motrin come down to inactive ingredients: coatings, fillers, dyes, and flavorings. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to a specific dye or additive, check the inactive ingredient list on the back of each box. Some people also find that liquid-filled capsules absorb slightly faster than standard compressed tablets, which could mean a few minutes’ difference in how quickly you feel relief. But the total effect and duration are the same.
Price is the other variable. Generic store-brand ibuprofen is typically the cheapest option, and it delivers the exact same drug at the exact same dose. Paying more for a brand name gets you a familiar label, not a better medication.