Ibuprofen dosage please

[tenrec]

I have hurt my back and am in moderate pain. How many Ibuprofen 200mg tablets can I take in 24 hours. How many paracetamol can I take with them?

[tenrec]

Anyone please help!

[excelsior-1]

hello tenrec.
i'm a little hesitant to recommend a specific dose however, i'm on them for a wrist problem ... doctor put me on 400gm every four hours (preferably after a meal) maybe a guide for you.

[Sqad]

I wouldn't bother with the Paracetamol.

Take Ibuprofen 3*200mgms in one go as an when necessary up to 4 times a day.

[zebo]

I think it's 2 every 4 hours, the trouble is that when you're in such pain, the temptation is to pop them like smarties. Try and get Naproxin from your Doctor, marvellous for back pain. Good luck, it can be hell.

[vodkancoke]

I do what sqad does, forget the paracetamol. Hope you feel better soon x

[vodkancoke]

Sorry posted to soon. For back pain i take Diclofenic (sp) but you need to see your doc for it xx

[Aprilis]

Normal adult doses for both are to take two, four times a day. The best use is to start with either the Paracetamol OR Ibuprofen, then to take them alternately four hours apart. If the pain isn't controlled by this you can take them at 3 hourly intervals, but this assumes you will be asleep for 8 hours without medication. You must NOT exceed these doses and take more than eight of each per day.

[tenrec]

Thanks everyone for your help. I will just take Ibuprofen and hope I feel better in the morning. I have suffered over the years, but have had a long spell of "good back" so am feeling very down just now. I know I will be better soon and must keep positive. I don't like popping pills and had forgotten what the dosage should be. Many thanks all.

[Aprilis]

Sorry, that should have read *3 hours apart*. As Ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory properties, you might find that you can manage without the Paracetamol. However, if you find that the pain is too much between doses, that's when the paracetamol is useful. It allows you constant pain relief without overdosing on anything. Taking them both at the same time is a bit pointless. Only ever alternate them.

[tenrec]

Thanks Aprilis.

[percypineapple]

tenrec,
Beware if you have high blood pressure, don't take ibuprofen as they constrict the arteries ( so my doctor told me).

[Sqad]

I have never seen any reputable studies showing that Ibuprofen affects BP.

[tenrec]

Thanks for that percy. I'm pretty healthy except for a weak back.

[Aprilis]

Percy, I worked in pharmacy for ten years and I've never heard that. Ibuprofen is similar in a pharmacological sense to aspirin, small doses of which is given to people with high blood pressure and those at risk of stroke!.

[Aprilis]

Myself included!

[percypineapple]

From my experience of doctors, they never seem to be agreed on anything, but I had severe back pain for many years, and started taking ibuprofen, and it did help, but as my blood pressure was 105/180, my octor advised me not to take them as ( He said ) " they narrow the blood vessels". So I don't take them.
You are all probably right, they are safe if there is no evidence to prove otherwise, but I can't take a chance just in case, but if you are in good health, then no worries. I must just add, that after all the years of pain, and being unable to stand straight without severe pain, having to roll out of bed and climb up slowly to standing position etc i was given acupuncture. 3 times over about two weeks, and pain totally went, first time for 30 years i could move in any direction without gasping with pain.
Percy

[Hopkirk]

Sqad, your dosage advice for Ibuprofen conflicts with the advice leaflet given with them.

For 200mg cablets it says take one or two cablets every four hours if you need to.
It then says (in bold) Don't take more than 6 caplets in 24 hours.

[Aprilis]

I have back problems too, resulting in surgery a few years ago. It improved the pain for a long time, but I still suffer from problems. I've thought about trying acupuncture Percy, but how do you tell the professional practitioners from the charlatans?!?! I guess you can only tell by independant recommendation.

[Sqad]

Hoppy

\\\Sqad, your dosage advice for Ibuprofen conflicts with the advice leaflet given with them. \\

I disagree with many things.

[percypineapple]

Hi aprilis,
i had physio for several weeks, that made it worse, mind you, i was working for British telecom as a jointer, and spent lots of time bent double in manholes repairing cables, and trying to stand up afterwards was a nightmare, and probably made it all worse. My doctor got fed up with me, and conceded that it was not in my imagination, and sent for an x-ray on the spine. i don't know what it revealed, but He sent me to the specialist in the general hospital, who had a chat and asked if i wanted to try acupuncture. this was done in the Hospital. they gave me three sessions, then said if I wanted more in the future I would have to go private, but three did the job, pretty amazing I thought. It may be worth asking your health centre to reccomend a acupuncturist, as there a few dodgy ones out there ( a few chinese clinics in my town centre)
Percy