Advil Vs. Motrin IB: What Is The Difference?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the difference between Motrin IB and Advil.
Hi, I'm wondering if there is any difference between Advil and Motrin? I was told one was better than the other. Thanks!
Jan 20, 2022- Advil and Motrin IB both contain ibuprofen as their active ingredient and work the same way to relieve pain and inflammation.
- The main difference between the two brands is that Advil offers more product varieties and formulations available on the market.
- Store brand or generic ibuprofen products are typically cheaper alternatives that contain the same active ingredient as both Advil and Motrin.
Hello and thanks for reaching out!
The simple answer to this is that there is no significant difference between Advil and Motrin IB. Both are branded products that contain the same active ingredient, ibuprofen.
Motrin IB is a brand name owned by Johnson & Johnson while Motrin is owned by GlaxoSmithKline.
Now, each brand has several different product formulations available (e.g. liquid gels, chewable tablets etc...) and I detail these in the next sections.
The 'Advil' brand has far more individual products on the market than Motrin does, and I would say that is the major difference between the two brands. When it comes to the actual drug (or drugs) they contain, that is where there is no difference in comparable products.
Motrin IB Products
Motrin (sometimes referred to as Motrin IB) contains the active ingredient ibuprofen ('IB' stands for ibuprofen in Motrin IB), which is classified as an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
Below is a chart showing all of the commercially available Motrin IB products.
| Product | Active Ingredient(s) | Dosage Form |
|---|---|---|
| MOTRIN IB Migraine Liquid Gels | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Liquid Gel) | Gel |
| Children's MOTRIN Chewable Tablets | Ibuprofen 100mg (per Chewable Tablet) | Chewable |
| MOTRIN IB Liquid Gels | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Liquid Gel) | Gel |
| MOTRIN IB Caplets | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Caplet) | Caplet |
| MOTRIN PM Caplets | Ibuprofen 200mg; diphenhydramine 38mg (per Caplet) | Caplet |
| Children's MOTRIN Oral Suspension |
Ibuprofen 100mg/5mL | Suspension |
| Infants' MOTRIN Drops | Ibuprofen 50mg/1.25mL | Suspension |
Advil Products
As mentioned, Advil, just like Motrin, contains the active ingredient ibuprofen.
Below is a chart containing all of the commercially available Advil products (aside from their 'cold & allergy' products).
| Product | Active Ingredient(s) | Dosage Form |
|---|---|---|
| Advil Coated Tablets | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Tablet) | Tablet |
| Advil Coated Gel Caplets | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Caplet) | Caplet |
| Advil Liqui-Gels | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Liquid Gel) | Gel |
| Advil Liqui-Gels Minis | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Liquid Gel) | Gel |
| Advil Migraine | Ibuprofen 200mg (per Liquid Gel) | Gel |
| Advil Dual Action |
Ibuprofen 125mg; acetaminophen 250mg (per Caplet) | Caplet |
| Junior Strength Advil Chewables | Ibuprofen 100mg (per Chewable Tablet) | Chewable |
| Infants' Advil Drops | Ibuprofen 50mg/1.25mL | Suspension |
| Children's Advil Suspension | Ibuprofen 100mg/5mL | Suspension |
| Advil PM (Caplet) | Ibuprofen 200mg; diphenhydramine 38mg (per Caplet) | Caplet |
| Advil PM (Liqui-Gel) | Ibuprofen 200mg; diphenhydramine 25 mg (per Liquid Gel) | Gel |
I do want to mention here that Advil also has several additional products not listed above.
The Advil brand name is used for several multi-symptom cold and allergy products, such as 'Advil Multi-Symptom Cold & Flu', and 'Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain'.
Final Words
I hope this answer helped clear up any confusion!
It can be a little confusing sorting out all the different products, but the main takeaway here is that most Motrin and Advil products contain the exact same active ingredient (ibuprofen).
You really can't go wrong grabbing either product and you can expect the same relief from both.
As an alternative, most stores carry their own store/generic brand of ibuprofen, which are generally cheaper than Motrin or Advil. For example, Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid all have their own.
Thanks again!
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Ibuprofen
- A common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer that is the active ingredient in both Advil and Motrin.
- NSAID
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; a type of medication that reduces pain, fever, and inflammation without containing steroids.
- Active ingredient
- The substance in a medication that produces the intended therapeutic effect on the body.
- Diphenhydramine
- An antihistamine commonly used to treat allergies and is included in some PM (nighttime) pain relief formulations to help with sleep.
- Acetaminophen
- A pain reliever and fever reducer often used in combination with other medications like ibuprofen for enhanced pain relief.
- Dosage form
- The physical shape and format in which a medication is made available, such as tablets, capsules, gels, or liquids.
- Formulations
- Different versions or preparations of a medication that may vary in strength, ingredients, or physical form.
- Generic brand
- A medication product sold under a store's own name rather than a brand name, typically at a lower cost while containing the same active ingredient.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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