You shouldn't take more than 1,200 mg in a 24-hour period.
However, taking doses that are too large (usually more than six or eight tablets a day) may temporarily- and possibly permanently- reduce kidney function.
To avoid kidney problems, it is important to follow the instructions on the label. You should tell your health care team how often you use these drugs and how many of pills you take. You should drink plenty of fluids and avoid becoming dehydrated when you use these medicines.
According to the data, the median onset time of acetaminophen-related kidney injury was 2 days [interquartile range (IQR) 0–7], and the median onset time of ibuprofen-related kidney injury was 5 days (IQR 2–20).
And although many people assume that over-the-counter pain relievers are safe because they're easily accessible, abusing these medications can cause serious health problems down the line. Some common medications like ibuprofen and naproxen are known to even cause kidney problems.
Over-the-counter Tylenol (generic acetaminophen) is often the best choice for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney problems.
When your kidneys don't work as they should, you have to be careful about some medicines. They may harm your kidneys. Your doctor may tell you not to take them or may change the dose. Medicines for pain and swelling, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), can cause harm.
Don't take more than 1,200 mg of ibuprofen in one day. For OTC ibuprofen, this equates to a maximum of 6 pills per day. Additionally, avoid taking ibuprofen for longer than 10 days, unless directed to do so by your doctor.
Naproxen. Another anti-inflammatory drug, which works much like ibuprofen. Some studies show this may be a better choice than ibuprofen for people at risk for heart disease.
adults – can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (200mg) every 4 to 6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 1,200mg (6 x 200mg) tablets in the space of 24 hours.
For most adults and children ages 12 years and older, the recommended OTC dose of ibuprofen is 200 mg by mouth every 4 to 6 hours. If 200 mg didn't help enough, you have the option to take 400 mg at your next dose. You shouldn't take more than 1,200 mg of ibuprofen in a 24-hour period.
If you have trouble sleeping with pain, do not take this medication for more than five nights in a row. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options suitable for you if you have sleeplessness as a result of ongoing pain.
While you can continue taking ibuprofen for a few days, it's not recommended that you take it daily to relieve pain unless your doctor has prescribed it. Medications like ibuprofen can irritate your stomach lining and cause problems ranging from mild nausea to ulcers.
Because our kidneys have to metabolize these drugs, taking too much, especially for too long, can lead to decreased kidney output, chronic kidney disease or acute kidney failure. Recent data has also pointed to an increased risk for heart disease. Consistent use of NSAIDs can also cause what we call rebound headaches.
Perneger et al investigated 716 patients with renal failure, and concluded that increased paracetamol use was associated with an enhanced risk of renal failure in a dose-dependent manner. Approximately 9% of renal failure cases were attributable to increased paracetamol use.
Overall, treatment with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with a 1.7-fold increased risk of incident eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 1.9-fold increased risk of an eGFR decline of 30% or greater, a large study showed.
Ibuprofen, on the other hand, is removed from your body by your kidneys. Taking it for a long time can cause kidney damage and stomach bleeding. Using high doses of ibuprofen for longer than recommended can increase your risk of: blood clots.
Nonprescription pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others) can damage your liver, especially if taken frequently or combined with alcohol.
Generally, the renal failure with NSAIDs is acute and reversible, though analgesic nephropathy with papillary necrosis and chronic renal failure are reported.
Can I take 3 tablets of ibuprofen 200 mg at once? For over-the-counter ibuprofen, 200 mg to 400 mg is the dose that should be taken at one time. Therefore, it is not recommended to take 3 of the 200 mg ibuprofen tablets since that makes up a total of 600 mg which exceeds the maximum 400 mg per dose.
Ibuprofen did not interfere with sleep in this study. Subjects treated with ibuprofen 400 mg TID (maxi- mum daily OTC dose) had a mean sleep efficiency of 88.6% on night 3.
Follow your doctor's directions. Do not take more or less medicine than ordered. Do not lie down for 15 to 30 minutes after taking this medicine. This will help prevent irritation and possible swallowing problems.
The usual dose for adults is one or two 200mg tablets or capsules 3 times a day. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of up to 600mg to take 4 times a day if needed. This should only happen under supervision of a doctor.
Aim for 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day. Don't expect drinking a large amount of water at one time to be an effective way to remove drugs from your system. Staying hydrated requires frequency, not just volume. In addition to water, herbal teas and juice may help your body flush out toxins.