advil

What is Advil?

From the FDA label:Uses temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: headache toothache backache menstrual cramps the common cold muscular aches minor pain of arthritis temporarily reduces fever

How to use

Advil is sold in more than one form (Tablet and Capsule), and each is dosed differently. The instructions below come from the FDA label for application NDA018989 — follow the label that came with the product you were actually prescribed.

Warnings

How long does Ibuprofen stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of ibuprofen is about 1.8 to 2.0 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. The label states a single serum half-life of 1.8 to 2.0 hours — it does not split the curve into a distribution and a terminal phase, so this is the elimination figure. Ibuprofen is not a prodrug, and the label names no active metabolite that outlasts the parent: the two major urinary metabolites (metabolite A, a hydroxymethyl-propyl derivative, and metabolite B, a carboxypropyl derivative) are described only as excretion products, and the label notes that excretion is virtually complete 24 hours after the last dose. This label does not report a different half-life for older adults or for people with kidney or liver impairment; it only advises caution in patients 65 and older and in those with impaired renal or hepatic function, so any change in clearance in those groups is not quantified here. This is a pharmacokinetic figure about how fast the drug leaves the blood — it is not a dosing instruction and not a drug-test detection window.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Ibuprofen tablets USP — FDA label, Clinical Pharmacology (DailyMed).

Frequently asked questions

What does Advil treat?

Advil (Ibuprofen) may be used to treat juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, dysmenorrhea, fever, gout, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Advil work?

Advil is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. 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.

How is Advil rated?

pharmaranks gives Advil a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Advil cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.04 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Advil?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Advil. To pay less, look for a store-brand version with the same active ingredient (Ibuprofen), which is typically cheaper, and compare unit prices. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Advil?

Advil is marketed by Haleon US Holdings. You can see Haleon US Holdings's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Advil a brand-name or generic drug?

Advil is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Ibuprofen. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Ibuprofen are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Advil available over the counter?

Yes. Advil is an over-the-counter (OTC) product — you can buy it without a prescription. Follow the label directions and ask a pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's right for you.

What forms does Advil come in?

Advil is currently marketed as tablet and capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Advil?

Advil is classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Advil FDA-registered?

Advil is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA018989. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Advil been recalled by the FDA?

Advil has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Advil safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Advil a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.