I'm 18, 120 lbs, so I'm small. I'm concerned that 2400mg/day is too much for someone my size. I have a sinus infection that is causing my face to swell and giving me headaches so that is what they are prescribed for.
My doctor prescribed me 800 mg tablets of ibuprofen to take 3 times daily, can I take that much?
Question posted by embergirl13 on 25 March 2014
Last updated on 18 October 2018 by noquit123
This question has also been asked and answered here: How do you take a prescription 3x or 4x a day?
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5 Answers
noquit123
19 Oct 2018
I am not a doctor but that dosage for 7 to 10 days should be fine. The MAXIMUM is 3200mg so you are 800mg below maximum
Inactive
5 Aug 2018
800mg 3x a day is probably a bit too much although some other comments said that this is the normal dosage. 600mg 3x a day is more appropriate. If you have sinus infection, amoxicillin 875mg/Clavulanic acid 875mg might be a better choice. Normally this med is prescribed for a week.
Rnazarkewich01
9 March 2018
800mg of ibuprofen three times a day is the prescription dose. It is perfectly fine when taken with food and milk for a limited time. Feel better.
DzooBaby
25 March 2014
Ibuprofen doesnt function as an anti-inflammatory until you take at least 400mg, under 400mg, it acts as an analgesic (for pain) and anti-pyretic (for fever) but it doesnt reduce inflammation until you get into doses of at least 400-800mg and it should be taken (4 times a day for 400mg) 3 times a day to keep the blood levels high enough to reduce inflammation. It has nothing to do with your weight or size. Kaismama is exactly right in explaining adult doses. If you want the swelling in your face to go down faster-take the medicine as prescribed. If you just want to relieve the pain, you can take less but it will take longer for the swelling to come down on its own and the longer you take an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) the greater chance you have of getting stomach issues. One thing you MUST ALWAYS DO is take each and every dose with food or milk to protect your stomach because this drug will erode the stomach liming if it is taken on an empty stomach.
It is best to take this medicine at mealtime so you have food in your stomach. If you cant take it at meals then take with a small snack. Also, do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Ibuprofen can cause sun sensitivity too so if you are going to be out in the sun, be sure to apply sunscreen because you can get a sunburn even if you dont normally burn and it takes less exposure time to burn you so apply before you go out. You can take 3 tablets of 200mg OTC but many people seem to find that the prescription 800mg tablets work better. I dont know why, as they are the same thing. It must have to do with some of the different binding ingredients but most people tell me the prescription form works better Also, it can take 1-2 weeks for full anti-inflammatory effects to occur but your condition should begin to feel better before then. , report any abdominal pain, burning or weakness, bloody or tar like stools or vomit with blood or that looks like coffee grounds as these can be signs and symptoms of GI bleed (this shouldnt be an issue if you always take the drug with food and NEVER on an empty stomach)
Your physician is never going to give you a dose of a drug to harm you (especially intentionally)! Any good physician knows therapeutic dosages and if they do not, there are multiple sources to look them up so overdosing you is not likely to be an issue. No one in the medical profession wants to be sued so they are going to make darned sure that they give you a correct dose!!
Rnazarkewich01
9 March 2018
Not intentionally.. physician error is the leading cause of hospital fatality.
kaismama
25 March 2014
Adult dosing doesn't go by size. That isn't too much, it is an adult dose. 120 lbs is not too small for this. You don't have to take 3 if you don't want to. If you find 2 a day are enough, and its helping, then take 2.
Related topics
infections, headache, sinusitis, ibuprofen, doctor, prescription, sinus, tablet
Further information
- Ibuprofen uses and safety info
- Ibuprofen prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Ibuprofen (detailed)
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