Motrin and Advil are the same medication. Both contain ibuprofen at the same 200 mg strength in their standard over-the-counter tablets. The only real difference is the name on the box: Advil is owned by Haleon, while Motrin is a Johnson & Johnson brand. Choosing between them is like choosing between two gas stations selling the same fuel.
Same Active Ingredient, Same Dose
Every standard Advil and Motrin tablet delivers exactly 200 mg of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen works by blocking enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2, which your body uses to produce chemicals that trigger pain, inflammation, and fever. Block those enzymes, and you get relief from all three.
The inactive ingredients are nearly identical too. Both brands use the same core fillers and binders: silicon dioxide, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, and others. Minor differences in coatings or dyes exist between specific product lines, but nothing that changes how the drug works in your body.
Available Forms
Both brands sell tablets, liquid-filled capsules, and oral suspensions. Liquid-filled capsules contain ibuprofen already dissolved, which can mean slightly faster absorption compared to a standard tablet that needs to break down in your stomach first. But the total amount of pain relief and how long it lasts are the same regardless of form.
For children, both Advil and Motrin offer liquid formulations. One thing to be careful about: infant drops and children’s liquid are not the same concentration. Infant ibuprofen drops contain 50 mg per 1.25 mL, while children’s liquid contains 100 mg per 5 mL. That makes the infant version twice as concentrated per milliliter. Mixing these up can lead to giving a child the wrong dose, so always check the label and use the measuring device that comes in the package.
How Long It Lasts
Ibuprofen has a short half-life of about two hours, meaning your body clears half the drug from your bloodstream in that time. In practice, a single 200 mg dose provides roughly four to six hours of relief for most people. For stronger pain like menstrual cramps, taking two tablets (400 mg) every four hours is a common approach, though you should stay within the limits printed on the package label.
Prescription-strength ibuprofen goes much higher. For conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, doctors may prescribe up to 3,200 mg per day split into several doses. Over-the-counter use should stay well below that ceiling.
Risks Apply to Both Brands Equally
Because Motrin and Advil are the same drug, they carry identical risks. The most important ones to know about:
- Heart and stroke risk. All NSAIDs besides aspirin raise the risk of heart attack and stroke, particularly with long-term use or higher doses. If you’ve recently had a heart attack, ibuprofen is generally not recommended.
- Stomach and digestive bleeding. Ibuprofen can cause ulcers or bleeding anywhere in your digestive tract, sometimes without warning symptoms. The risk climbs with age, smoking, alcohol use, and prolonged use.
- Pregnancy. Ibuprofen can harm a developing baby and cause delivery complications if taken at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Kidney and liver conditions. People with existing kidney or liver disease need to be cautious, as ibuprofen is processed through both organs.
- Asthma. Some people with asthma, especially those who also have nasal polyps, can have serious reactions to ibuprofen.
If you’re allergic to aspirin or another NSAID like naproxen (the active ingredient in Aleve), you should avoid ibuprofen in any form.
Why Two Brand Names Exist
Ibuprofen was originally developed in the 1960s and eventually went off patent, allowing multiple companies to sell it under their own names. Advil launched as a consumer brand and is now owned by Haleon, the same company behind Sensodyne and Centrum. Motrin became Johnson & Johnson’s version. Both compete for shelf space, but the product inside is pharmacologically identical. Store-brand ibuprofen, often a fraction of the price, is also the same drug at the same strength.
If you see Advil at one store and Motrin at another, or a generic bottle labeled simply “ibuprofen 200 mg,” you can use any of them interchangeably. The only reason to prefer one over another is price or personal preference for tablet size and coating.