Ibuprofen Drug

In the United States, Ibuprofen is commonly known as OTC (over-the-counter) drug. However it is also common to hear of prescription strength Ibuprofen, or simply prescription Ibuprofen. The difference between the OTC Ibuprofen and its prescription counterpart is the dosage.

The FDA chose to make Ibuprofen an OTC medication only in low doses (specifically under 200mg). Higher doses of Ibuprofen are available through prescription use, however are not declared safe for self administration. Ibuprofen can cause adverse affects and with all medication can be very dangerous regardless of its over-the-counter status. In fact: Ibuprofen is commonly not an OTC medication in most foreign countries.

The difference between an ibuprofen drug’s over the counter counterpart and prescription ibuprofen is simple. Over the coutner Ibuprofen is distributed in low doses for use by adults and for administration to their children if neccesary. These small doses are considered safe for self use in some areas, although like any drug or medication can lead to serios repurcussions if used incorrectly. Prescription strength ibuprofen is handled in much larger doses, allowing the drug to have a much stronger affect. This form of the ibuprofen drug can be much more effective against certain problems than regular OTC ibuprofen.

Obtaining prescription strength ibuprofen is obviously not as simple. A doctor must prescribe the ibuprofen drug to you so your local pharmacist can fill it for you. This ensures that your doctor has made sure that your current health conditions and allergies will allow you to benefit from ibuprofen without suffering severe side effects that could endanger your health.