Are Prescription And Over The Counter Ibuprofen The Same?

Answer

Thanks for reaching out! This is a great question and one that comes up often.

For all intents and purposes, the ibuprofen that you can get over-the-counter (OTC) is the same as what you get as a prescription. However, the highest strength of ibuprofen available over-the-counter is 200mg, while prescription ibuprofen comes in 400mg, 600mg, and 800mg per tablet.

Nevertheless, you could certainly just take more of the OTC 200mg ibuprofen to equal the dosage your doctor has recommended for you and avoid having to get a prescription.

Overall, there is no appreciable difference between OTC and prescription ibuprofen in regard to how it is absorbed or works in your body. Taking four tablets of 200mg over-the-counter ibuprofen would be essentially the same as taking one 800mg prescription tablet.

Prescription And OTC Ibuprofen Have Different Dosage Recommendations

It is important to mention here that even though OTC and prescription ibuprofen are the same (aside from the strength as I mentioned above), one of the main reasons why the drug is available as a prescription at all comes down to dosing.

The FDA has approved different single and daily dosages for ibuprofen, depending on whether or not an individual is self-treating with the over-the-counter product, or is using it as a prescription under the supervision of a doctor.

• For over-the-counter use, the recommended dosing is a maximum of 400mg per dose and a maximum of 1,200mg per day
• For prescription use, the recommended dosing is a maximum of 800mg per dose and a maximum of 3,200 per day

If you look at the drug facts for any over-the-counter ibuprofen product, you will see the directions match the recommendations for over-the-counter dosing only (which is a maximum of 1,200mg, or 6 tablets).

The reason why dosing recommendations are different between OTC and prescription ibuprofen is that high dosages of the drug increase the risk of side effects, such as stomach pain, bleeding, and ulceration. NSAIDs, the class of drugs ibuprofen belongs to, also have cardiovascular risk. Doses higher than 1,200mg per day should only be used under the supervision of your doctor.

Final Words

Going back to your question asking whether or not taking three of the over-the-counter ibuprofen is the same as taking one 600mg prescription pill, the answer is yes. They will have the same effect. Since that dosage has been recommended by your doctor, you are perfectly fine to use OTC ibuprofen to get to that dose.

Thanks again for reaching out and I hope this answer provided some clarity on OTC vs. Rx ibuprofen!