What happens if i take 800mg ibuprofen

The body breaks ibuprofen down into acidic compounds. When a person overdoses on it, the acidic compounds accumulate and can reduce the pH of the blood and body tissues. This makes the body more acidic. Ibuprofen overdose can cause sudden kidney failure and seizures, which can affect the production and elimination of acidic compounds. A blood test can reveal a low platelet count following an overdose. Prothrombin time, which is the time it takes for the blood to clot, will also rise.

It is vital for people to seek medical attention immediately if they believe they have ingested too much ibuprofen. In most cases, doctors can reverse the consequences of an ibuprofen overdose. The emergency doctor will take a complete history of how much ibuprofen the person took and at what time.

It is also vital for the person to mention whether they took other substances with the ibuprofen. Knowing this will help the doctor determine the best treatment and how best to manage the overdose.

Ibuprofen is easily accessible through prescription and over the counter. Perhaps because of this, overdoses are fairly common. People may experience symptoms of an overdose only at substantial dosages. If they seek medical attention immediately after the ingestion, doctors can usually reverse the damage. This article explores what opioids and opiates are, the difference between them, and how people can seek help for addiction and overdose.

NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Learn about their uses, the possible side effects, and what…. How much ibuprofen is too much? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. How much is too much? What is ibuprofen? Symptoms of overdose What to do in an overdose Summary Ibuprofen is an effective pain reliever, but taking too much of it can cause serious side effects.

Share on Pinterest Ibuprofen is a type of pain reliever. Do not chew, break, crush or suck them as this could irritate your mouth or throat. If you are prescribed ibuprofen as a regular medicine and forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.

If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

Taking too much ibuprofen by mouth can be dangerous. It can cause side effects such as:. Take the ibuprofen packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you. The amount of ibuprofen you put on your skin depends on the product you're using — check the package leaflet carefully for how much to use. Gently massage the ibuprofen into the painful area 3 or 4 times a day. Leave at least 4 hours between applications, and do not put it on more than 4 times in 24 hours.

Never use ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray on your eyes, mouth, lips, nose or genital area. Do not put it on sore or broken skin.

Do not put plasters or dressings over skin you've applied ibuprofen to. Don't worry if you occasionally forget to use it, just carry on using it when you remember. If you swallow ibuprofen gel or mousse by accident, you may get symptoms including:. If you get a headache, vomit or feel sleepy after accidentally swallowing ibuprofen gel, contact a doctor or straight away.

It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine. But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor. Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. If you take them together, ibuprofen plus aspirin or naproxen may increase the chance of you getting side effects like stomach ache. NSAIDs are also used in medicines you can buy from pharmacies — for example, cough and cold remedies.

Before taking any other medicines, check the label to see if they contain aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. The common side effects of ibuprofen taken by mouth happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:.

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to ibuprofen. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen tablets, capsules and syrup. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. You're less likely to have side effects when you apply ibuprofen to your skin than with tablets, capsules and syrup because less gets into your body.

However, you may still get the same side effects, especially if you use a lot on a large area of skin. Applying ibuprofen to your skin can also cause your skin to become more sensitive than normal to sunlight. These are not all the side effects of ibuprofen gel, mousse and spray.

Ibuprofen isn't normally recommended in pregnancy — especially if you're 30 or more weeks — unless it's prescribed by a doctor. This is because there might be a link between taking ibuprofen in pregnancy and some birth defects, in particular damage to the baby's heart and blood vessels.

There may also be a link between taking ibuprofen in early pregnancy and miscarriage. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking ibuprofen. It will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine.

There may be other treatments that are safer for you. Ibuprofen is safe to take by mouth or use on your skin if you are breastfeeding. Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding.

Ibuprofen applied to the skin is less likely to interfere with other medicines than if it's taken by mouth. For safety, tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking ibuprofen by mouth or using it on your skin:. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

It works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body. When you apply ibuprofen to your skin, it works in the same way as when you take it by mouth, but it only works in the area you've applied it to.

You should start to feel better 20 to 30 minutes after taking ibuprofen by mouth. For some types of long-term pain, you'll need to take ibuprofen regularly for up to 3 weeks for it to work properly. If you're applying ibuprofen to your skin, it should start to work within 1 to 2 days. Ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin are all effective painkillers. Ibuprofen is good for period pain and migraines.

It can also be used for back pain , strains and sprains, as well as pain from arthritis. Paracetamol is typically used for mild or moderate pain.

It may be better than ibuprofen for headaches , toothache , sprains , stomach ache , and nerve pain like sciatica. Aspirin works in a similar way to ibuprofen. Like ibuprofen, it's good for period pain and migraines.

If you have heavy periods, it can make them heavier. It won't do you any harm to use ibuprofen gel at the same time as taking ibuprofen tablets. But if you're already taking ibuprofen tablets regularly, you won't get any extra benefit from also using the gel. The gel tends to be best for when you have a pain under the skin and in a very small area of your body. The medication is used by millions to treat:.

The recommended dosage for adults is one or two milligram mg tablets every four to six hours. Adults should not exceed mg at once or 3, mg per day. Adults over the age of 60 should take as little ibuprofen as possible to manage their symptoms.

Older adults have a higher risk of kidney and gastrointestinal side effects. Ibuprofen for children is available in infant drops, liquids, and chewable tablets. Liquid measurements are given in milliliters mL. Make sure to read the label and measure carefully. Mixing ibuprofen with alcohol can also increase your risk of having serious side effects, like stomach or intestinal bleeding.

Not everyone will experience symptoms of an ibuprofen overdose right away. Mild symptoms may include:. Infants who overdose may show signs of lethargy unresponsiveness or apnea temporary cessation of breathing following a more serious overdose of ibuprofen. If you or someone you know has taken more than the maximum recommended dose of ibuprofen, contact your local poison center.

You can call this number 24 hours a day. Stay on the line for further instructions. At the hospital, doctors will monitor breathing, heart rate, and other vital signs. A doctor may insert a tube through the mouth to look for internal bleeding. Taking high doses of ibuprofen over long periods of time can also increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Always read product labels carefully and take the smallest amount of ibuprofen possible that will help relieve your symptoms.

A safe dose for children is much less than that. If you or someone you know has taken more than this, call your local poison center or your local emergency services.