PlainPill

Ibuprofen

People mainly take Ibuprofen for pain & inflammation, memory, focus. Based on 32 first-hand reports and 511 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #293 of 1,974 overall.

35
User score
Mixed
34% positive16% mixed9% negative41% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 58% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
511
meta-analyses
1,743
RCTs
18,521
papers

What Ibuprofen does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

BMJ · 2024 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Comparative effects of drug interventions for the acute management of migraine episodes in adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: Overall, eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan had the best profiles and they were more efficacious than the recently marketed drugs lasmiditan, rimegepant, and ubrogepant. Although cost effectiveness analyses are warranted and careful consideration should be given to patients with a high risk cardiovascular profile, the most effective triptans should be considered as preferred acute treatment for migraine and included in the WHO List of Essential Medicines to promote global accessibility and uniform standards of care.

PubMed 39293828 ↗
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2020 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Ibuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm or low birth weight (or both) infants

Conclusion: Ibuprofen is as effective as indomethacin in closing a PDA. Ibuprofen reduces the risk of NEC and transient renal insufficiency. Therefore, of these two drugs, ibuprofen appears to be the drug of choice. The effectiveness of ibuprofen versus paracetamol is assessed in a separate review. Oro-gastric administration of ibuprofen appears as effective as IV administration. To make further recommendations, studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of high-dose versus standard-dose ibuprofen, early versus expectant administration of ibuprofen, echocardiographically-guided versus standard IV ibup

PubMed 32045960 ↗
J Dent Res · 2023 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Acute Postoperative Pain Due to Dental Extraction in the Adult Population: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

Conclusion: Based on low- and very low-certainty evidence, most interventions were classified as no more harmful than placebo for most adverse effects. Based on moderate- and high-certainty evidence, NSAIDs with or without acetaminophen result in better pain-related outcomes than opioids with or without acetaminophen (except acetaminophen 650 mg plus oxycodone 10 mg) or placebo.

PubMed 36631957 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

a few times a weekas reported
400 mgas reported
400 mg2x daily
1 tabletnightly
after drinkingas reported
morning and night (hypothetically)as reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

stomach issues ×3headache ×1stomach ulcers ×1liver toxicity ×1ulcers ×1heart attack ×1stroke ×1high blood ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“I recently went through analgesic rebound headaches from years of too much acetaminophen and ibuprofen”
Source discussion ↗
“exercise and ibuprofen can reduce the headaches and stress/anxiety of the withdrawal period”
Source discussion ↗
“I doubt that *one-time* use of 400mg of ibuprofen is gonna kill me.”
Source discussion ↗
“Ibuprofin : Helps a bit with cognitive stuff, nothing too significant”
Source discussion ↗
“the concern for combining NSAIDs and alcohol is the increased risk for GI bleeding”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for pain & inflammation

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate