# How much Advil can I take ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-advil-can-i-take/174352 "2003-05-10T18:18:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zydoll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Zydoll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zydoll)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-advil-can-i-take/174352/21 "2003-05-11T00:57:06Z")
Wow, I JUST had the exact same problem- my tooth started killing me for no explainable reason- I finally went to the dentist and found out I needed a root canal (and was prescribed some vicodin- which REALLY did the trick) (until it made me vomit and pass out that is). SO, I had to go back to taking aleve- my dentist told me that I could take as many as needed, as long as I didn’t exceed 1,000 milligrams a day. (I think thats what he said) Well, I remember taking about ten for a few days with no problems- but I really don’t know if I’d recommend that much. And like a few people have said- it does take awhile to kick in, so be patient. Just go see the dentist. Hope you feel better! (the pain is a bitch, isn’t it? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ronbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@ronbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ronbo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-advil-can-i-take/174352/22 "2003-05-11T02:13:00Z")
800 mg of ibuprophen is the prescription strength of ibuprophen. That is considered about as strong as Tylenol with codeine. Do not take more than that. If you take 4 (200 mg.) over the counter ibuprophen, you are taking prescription strength. If you take 4 asprin or 4 Tylenol (acetominiphen), you are taking an overdose and could damage something. See your Dr. ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-advil-can-i-take/174352/23 "2003-05-11T04:54:34Z")
Just as an aside, and **I am no way advocating anyone else doing something this foolish** , but my wife regularly takes 1,600 mg (yes, eight 200 mg pills) of ibuprofen at a time, sometimes twice a day. She claims to suffer no ill effects, and refuses to listen to my concerns. I expect her liver to explode any day now. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-advil-can-i-take/174352/24 "2003-05-11T18:41:54Z")
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a good pain killer, often as effective as codiene. But if you need to take more than six tablets a day, it’s time to try something stronger, even though ibuprofen is not as toxic as acetaminophen (Tylenol) in overdose. In my emergency department, I would not give more than two 200mg tablets at once. In Canada, 800mg is DOUBLE usual “prescription strength”. That being said, a toxic dose might be something like 200mg/kg. Taking a few extra pills for one day won’t usually kill you, but it probably wouldn’t offer any additional relief beyond six tablets either I would suggest you visit an emergency room. For tooth pain, the doctor will likely add codiene or oxycodone and acetaminophen. If the recommended dose of a medicine doesn’t work, it is unwise to take more, even though this occasionally does help. I find ibuprofen tends to be more toxic to the kidney than the liver. It can also raise blood pressure and cause internal bleeding; and at higher doses these complications occur more often. ---
**Author:** ![miatachris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@miatachris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miatachris)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-advil-can-i-take/174352/25 "2003-05-12T19:55:00Z")
Max dose of ibuprofen is 800mg 4 times daily. I wouldn’t take that dose over long periods of time without a doctor’s approval. miatachris, R. Ph. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-advil-can-i-take/174352.md?page=1)