Best Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug for fever
Top-rated pick: Advil — pharmaranks score 72/100, the highest of the 10 Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug drugs used for fever, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Compare them with all treatments for fever or the full Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug class. Not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 10 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug drugs we rate for fever, all are available as lower-cost generics, and most are capsule. Our ranking reflects each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for fever; the right choice depends on your situation, so confirm it with your prescriber.
How nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug work
NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes that your body uses to make prostaglandins, the chemicals behind pain, swelling, and fever. Lowering prostaglandins eases pain and inflammation and brings down a high temperature.
Source: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
Top nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for fever: 1. Advil · 2. Junior Strength Advil · 3. Advil Liqui-Gels
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 4 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 5 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 6 | 70/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 7 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 8 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 9 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 10 | Not yet rated | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $1 | View → |
Full ranking · 10 drugs
advil
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Advil (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsjunior strength advil
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Junior Strength Advil (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsadvil liqui-gels
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Advil Liqui-Gels (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsadvil migraine liqui-gels
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Advil Migraine Liqui-Gels (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsmidol liquid gels
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Midol Liquid Gels (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsmotrin ib
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Motrin Ib (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsmotrin migraine pain
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Motrin Migraine Pain (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsnuprin
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Nuprin (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formscaldolor
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Caldolor (Ibuprofen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bursitis, Dysmenorrhea.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.03· 7 formsvazalore
Over-the-counterFDA-sourced
Vazalore (Aspirin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fever, Gout, Inflammation.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.47/30· 2 forms Save up to 28% in classFrequently asked
- What is the best nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for fever?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — advil ranks highest among Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug drugs used for fever. Always consult a professional.
- Which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug drugs treat fever?
- pharmaranks lists 10 Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug products used for fever, per NIH RxClass drug-classification data — each independently rated and ranked above.
- How are these ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.