Advil/Ibuprofen has a half life?

[JEDI]

https://www.livealittlelonger.com/how-long-does-it-take-for-ibuprofen-to-work/

The half-life of Ibuprofen is about 2 hours, meaning that after two hours, only ½ of the active dose will be present in the system.
After 3 half-lives (or 6 hours) there is 1/8th remaining, which isn’t enough to make out any effects.
After 12 half-lives, there is only 1/4096th remaining or almost none.


I used to take 200mg of generic Advil (aka ibuprofen) when something hurts.
it usually lasts me 4hrs.

so according to the article, after 4hrs, there will be 50mg of ibuprofen left in my system.
that's barely enough to have any effects, thus probably why I start feeling a little pain again.

sometimes when I go out, I forget to bring it with me.

now I can take 3 pills (600mg) at once to last me the day (12hrs - 18hrs)?

 

[blackangst1]

uh....EVERY drug has a half life....

 

[nakedfrog]

Yes, you can take 600mg.

 

[JEDI]

uh....EVERY drug has a half life....

every non-extended release drug ive taken says take 1 every 4-6hrs.
I assumed my body will metabolize the entire pill in 4-6hrs, no matter the dosage.

so in my mind, the only difference between taking 200mg and 600mg of advil at once was that the 600mg will give 3x the pain relief levels but the same time duration (4-6hrs).

the article in my OP was an eye opener to me.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

https://www.livealittlelonger.com/how-long-does-it-take-for-ibuprofen-to-work/

The half-life of Ibuprofen is about 2 hours, meaning that after two hours, only ½ of the active dose will be present in the system.
After 3 half-lives (or 6 hours) there is 1/8th remaining, which isn’t enough to make out any effects.
After 12 half-lives, there is only 1/4096th remaining or almost none.


I used to take 200mg of generic Advil (aka ibuprofen) when something hurts.
it usually lasts me 4hrs.

so according to the article, after 4hrs, there will be 50mg of ibuprofen left in my system.
that's barely enough to have any effects, thus probably why I start feeling a little pain again.

sometimes when I go out, I forget to bring it with me.

now I can take 3 pills (600mg) at once to last me the day (12hrs - 18hrs)?

If I have a headache/other ache enough to warrant taking advil, I'll normally take 800mg so it actually works.

You're probably more likely to drown taking Advil than ODing on it, so don't be afraid to take a couple if you feel it's needed.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That is kinda interesting. I figured half life was mostly just for radioactive stuff. Though it does make sense that medication tapers off over time and not suddenly, as it takes a certain time to dissolve and then a certain time to be processed and work it's way out of the system.

 

[repoman0]

Prescription strength ibuprofen is 800mg ... if I bother taking it I'm taking 4 normal 200mg ones. Just take it with a whole glass of water and some food to avoid any possible stomach issues. Not that it's anything to worry about unless you're taking it all the damn time.

 

[VirtualLarry]

They call it "metabolic half-life". Caffiene is like that too.

 

[Thebobo]

If I have a headache/other ache enough to warrant taking advil, I'll normally take 800mg so it actually works.

You're probably more likely to drown taking Advil than ODing on it, so don't be afraid to take a couple if you feel it's needed.

Yep me too double the dose. I hate when you take the dose and hour later the same. DD always works, I might die sooner but F headaches!

 

[Iron Woode]

pffft...advil is for kids. Real men take Toradol.

 

[MrSquished]

That is kinda interesting. I figured half life was mostly just for radioactive stuff. Though it does make sense that medication tapers off over time and not suddenly, as it takes a certain time to dissolve and then a certain time to be processed and work it's way out of the system.

yep all medication seems to have a half-life. When I started taking pills for various afflictions I always studied up on the drug I was prescribed. And half-life came into the conversation all the time. It's important for me to know these things because for things like my insomnia, I take Lunesta over Ambien, and Lunesta has a longer half-life so it keeps me down longer, which is good. I have to keep my lithium levels up at the proper levels as well, so taking it twice a day is important as well, due to the half-life.

For Ibuprofen, 3 of the blue liqui-gels does the trick for me every time.

 

[zinfamous]

Just layer it with booze.

 

[TheVrolok]

You're probably more likely to drown taking Advil than ODing on it, so don't be afraid to take a couple if you feel it's needed.

Huh? NSAIDs are in no way incredibly benign drugs. There are a lot of people who really should avoid them entirely, and don't know it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Advil etc is also not good on the stomach lining, I would not want to OD on that, could probably cause serious issues. Also don't want to take it every single day. It's fine to take them when you need them but if you're taking them for more than a couple weeks you should probably see a doctor for whatever it is you're taking it for.

 

[Linux23]

Yeah, take double or triple of those NSAID drugs if you absolutely HATE your Kidneys.

People need to think, SMDH.

 

[interchange]

You are ignoring its absorption as part of the picture. Long acting formulations usually have delayed release mechanisms which don't prolong half-life but instead absorb the med slowly over time. Shorter acting drugs still may take some time to absorb and reach peak. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Really the best answer to how long it works is clinical.

 

[brianmanahan]

uh....EVERY drug has a half life....

i want a drug that i can take one time and lasts me the rest of my life

 

[Ken g6]

What's its half life outside the body? I have really old ibuprofen.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Just layer it with booze.

Well it's a fine balance actually... the Advil is for the hangover the next morning, which drinking is also the cure for later in the day...

No but seriously, Advil/Ibuprofen has been a lifesaver for me as far as hangovers and random headaches throughout the work-day.