How long does ibuprofen stay in your system?

In this article:

• How long does ibuprofen stay in your system?
• Factors that influence how long ibuprofen stays in your system
• Testing for ibuprofen in your system
• Side effects of long-term ibuprofen use
• The bottom line 

In this article

• How long does ibuprofen stay in your system?
• Factors that influence how long ibuprofen stays in your system
• Testing for ibuprofen in your system
• Side effects of long-term ibuprofen use
• The bottom line 

Ibuprofen, also known by the brand names Advil and Motrin, is the most popular member of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) drug class. This medication effectively relieves pain and reduces fever and is used for everything from backaches to migraines. You may be aware that it can be taken every six hours and must be careful due to stomach and kidney side effects. Many people are unaware that ibuprofen remains in your system for longer than six hours, a fact that can influence both its effectiveness and potential side effects.

How long does ibuprofen stay in your system?

When a dose of ibuprofen is taken, the drug starts to take effect within 30 minutes to an hour and will reach its peak concentration soon after. Two hours after taking it, half of the ibuprofen has been eliminated. A half-life of 2 hours means that in 10 hours, 97% of the drug and its effectiveness are gone.

Ibuprofen is eliminated by your metabolism, meaning that your body transforms ibuprofen into inactive products. Your liver is responsible for the metabolism of ibuprofen. The inactive metabolites are then excreted in urine.

After a single 200 mg tablet of ibuprofen is taken, about 100 mg of the drug is still lingering around two hours later (or one half-life). That is a typical dose strength for over-the-counter (OTC) ibuprofen tablets. In comparison, a prescription 800 mg ibuprofen tablet can be taken, and 400 mg hangs around two hours later. Higher doses can be more effective and last longer. Either way, the drug is gone for all intents and purposes after about 10 hours.

Repeated doses of ibuprofen can lead to a steady state of drug concentration in the system. This permits consistent beneficial effects in reducing pain, inflammation, and fever but also exposes one to an ongoing adverse effect potential. After taking the last in a series of repeated doses, the drug would still be eliminated in a similar manner and time. The timing may be different in overdose cases, according to a case report.

Liver disease and the ability to metabolize ibuprofen can affect how long it lasts in the system before being eliminated. Kidney disease can prolong the time its metabolites last before being excreted. More importantly, ibuprofen can directly harm kidney function. The use of ibuprofen in the setting of kidney or liver disease requires particular caution and sometimes must be avoided completely.

Factors that influence how long ibuprofen stays in your system

Ibuprofen functions as an antipyretic and analgesic until the body breaks it down. Usually, ibuprofen is quickly metabolized by the liver into inactive compounds. In the setting of liver disease, however, ibuprofen is not metabolized as readily, which results in a longer duration for ibuprofen to be both beneficial and harmful. More kidney problems can come from ibuprofen use among those with liver function impairment.

Other medicines can impair the liver’s ability to metabolize ibuprofen. The antifungal Diflucan (fluconazole), which is commonly used for vaginal yeast infections, inhibits the CYP2C9 enzyme that breaks down ibuprofen. As a result, ibuprofen could cause more adverse reactions when taken with Diflucan. 

Additive side effects are another concerning type of drug interaction. For example, taking aspirin and ibuprofen together increases the risk of stomach ulcers, while combining angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with ibuprofen raises the risk of kidney function impairment.

Genetics is another influencer of ibuprofen potency. If a person has less CYP2CP enzyme activity genetically, then a dose of ibuprofen may last longer in their system. As a result, the individual may have a higher risk of serious side effects.

While you cannot speed up the clearance of ibuprofen from your liver, you can take precautions to ensure your safety.

According to a clinical study, staying well-hydrated while taking ibuprofen may reduce the risk of kidney damage. The study found that dehydration combined with ibuprofen increased the likelihood of renal impairment, whereas acetaminophen (Tylenol) did not have the same effect. Avoiding alcohol use while taking ibuprofen may lessen your risk of stomach irritation and bleeding.

Testing for ibuprofen in your system

Testing for ibuprofen would be highly unusual. It is not a drug of abuse, so it is not tested for in drug test screenings. In cases of overdose, signs, symptoms, and self-reported ingestion are how an ibuprofen overdose is diagnosed.

Side effects of long-term ibuprofen use

Long-term repeated doses of ibuprofen can wreak havoc on different body systems. From abdominal pain and nausea to stomach ulcers and bleeding, the gastrointestinal system is particularly susceptible to ibuprofen toxicity. Kidney damage, both acute and chronic, can occur from ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, too. To a lesser extent, liver injury can also occur. Heart disease is another concern with use over a long time because heart attack and stroke rates are higher with prolonged NSAID use. 

Cumulative effects over time and high doses may play a role in determining the extent of the risk of long-term use of ibuprofen. It is recommended to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. If price is a deciding factor when considering an alternative to ibuprofen, a SingleCare discount card can help reduce the costs of most medications.

Risks could be higher for those who are malnourished or have low protein levels for other reasons. While circulating through the bloodstream, ibuprofen becomes bound to the circulating protein molecule albumin, which effectively keeps ibuprofen from leaching into body tissues like the central nervous system. If there is less protein, then ibuprofen can more freely exit the bloodstream, permeate body tissues, and build up in your system, where it can cause damage. 

There are reasons for caution when it comes to ibuprofen. Generally, ibuprofen can be a safe and effective medication, but certain coinciding medications or health conditions can escalate the risk of side effects. Determining whether ibuprofen is safe to take at all or to take regularly is a matter of comparing the risks of side effects with the benefits of pain relief. Each individual’s circumstances will dictate the answer, but the conclusion should be reached with input from your team of healthcare providers and pharmacists.

Ibuprofen does not stand apart from other NSAIDs with these risks, either. For example, meloxicam and Aleve (naproxen) carry similar warnings, and ibuprofen has a shorter half-life in comparison. Due to its more selective cyclooxygenase inhibition, Celebrex (celecoxib) has fewer stomach side effects, but its risks are similar to ibuprofen.

The bottom line 

Maintaining a healthy nutritional status and staying hydrated are two ways to make ibuprofen therapy safer. Once you have taken ibuprofen, your body typically processes the drug quickly and eliminates it within about 10 hours without much you can do to influence it. Pre-existing medical conditions and certain concurrent medications can impact how long ibuprofen lasts in your system. To be safe, you should ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist for medical advice about whether it is safe for you to take ibuprofen at all and how often.