Hypothetically would it hurt to take 4 ibuprofens at once? My wrist is really hurting tonight...

Oh yes and I will tell you the story about my niece and her taking Ibuprofens every day for her pains. She was about 18 years old and was having some pains in her body. She was stressed and tired from going to college plus several part-time jobs. When she was a freshman in college she went to a doctor due to not having a bowel movement for nearly a week. They scanned her and found that she had an impacted mass in her intestines and decided to do emergency surgery, removing 8 inches of intestine along with the impacted stools. She said the ibuprofens she had been taking had eroded her digestive lining and caused her bowel to stretch in that one spot accumulating the mass that refused to budge. And she was told to go on a gluten-free diet for a year so her gut lining could heal. Ibuprofens are so harsh on the stomach that they can potentially cause a bleeding stomach ulcer. Taking four at a time is dangerous

I was not able use them for painkillers due to having a sensitive digestion system. Took one for muscle pain at work after eating breakfast and doubled up in pain for a long time. It would be dangerous for me to use them, aspirin (which used to cause me to vomit) and was told by a dental surgeon that even regular Tylenol usage could cause gut problems eventually.

Coralmist · 41-45, F

I used to take four ibuprofen for severe cramps. It's prescription strength at that dose. If your pain is off the chart if assume four would be ok, but Bec I don't know your weight, I'd go just three. 600 mg helped me still. (Three ibuprofen at 200 mg each).

Mamapolo2016 · F

I found this at drugs.com, which must get some interesting correspondence.

It’s not so much how much you take at one time as it is how much you take in a 24 hour period.

“Ensure not to exceed the maximum daily limit for ibuprofen, which is 1200 mg for over-the-counter use.”

I doubt it would cause damage but many drugs have potential to cause cumulative damage.

Talk to your doctor tomorrow.

(I was having wrist pain and my doctor suggested wrist supports, which I wore at night and cost about $20.) That stopped the pain almost immediately. I was very surprised.)

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

Some of us can't take ibuprofen internally at all because of the issues it causes with the stomach and digestion. I'd seek medical advice first certainly before taking it long-term. It's not such a problem for external use applied topically to the area of pain.

fun4us2b · M

I agree that 3 or 600mg max - but 2 aleves are better if you have them...

I don't know what happened but Rest, ice, compress, elevate is usually helpful...

tindrummer · M

My orthopedist said do 4 but not on an empty stomach and don't.repeat time.after time for days.

DrawntoaDistance · M

Try the combo of 3 ibuprofen and 2 acetaminophen. It’s money. Hope you feel better.

HootyTheNightOwl · 41-45

Top it up with paracetamol... that's what I do when my sciatica is severe.

PHlover19701 · 56-60, M

Ive been told by doctors to do just that after a procedure to fight pain.

Elessar · 31-35, M

That stuff messes with my stomach badly so I guess overdosing would exacerbate that, even for those who don't have the issue 🙈

Captainjackass · 31-35, M

I’d start with just two, taking any more than that wouldn’t really make much of a difference. They didn’t give you anything for the pain?

TravisTx · M

Saw this online:

How much ibuprofen can I take in a 24 hour period?
OTC ibuprofen dosages

Take 1 tablet or capsule (200 mg) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed. You can take 2 pills (400 mg) per dose if pain or fever doesn't improve with 1 tablet. The maximum recommended dosage of OTC ibuprofen is 6 pills (1,200 mg) in 24 hours unless otherwise directed by a healthcare professional.