Whats the difference between motrin and ibuprofen

Naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are two of the most popular medication choices for muscle aches, joint pain, and inflammation from conditions like osteoarthritis. Like the majority of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), both are also readily available over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacy and retail store aisles. So, it begs the question: Which one is better? Let’s take a look.

Is naproxen more effective than ibuprofen?

NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen are similarly effective for acute and chronic pain relief. Naproxen and ibuprofen work for aches and pains in the joints and muscles, just like other NSAIDs do. 

All NSAIDs are very effective compared to placebo, which is a pill with no medication in it. But the difference in effectiveness between NSAIDs is often unclear. Ibuprofen and naproxen are so similar that overall, there’s not one that is better than the other for adults. 

Adults and adolescents ages 12 and older might consider ibuprofen or naproxen for different types of pain and inflammation, including:

• Fever

• Muscle or joint pain

• Headaches

• Migraines

• Sore throat

• Menstrual cramps

But for children ages 3 months to 12 years, ibuprofen tends to be the clear choice. This is because ibuprofen is more studied in children under the age of 12.

While NSAIDs are helpful for migraines, triptans like sumatriptan (Imitrex) are first-choice medications to treat moderate-to-severe migraines. Researchers have found that using both a triptan and an NSAID is more effective for treating migraine headaches than using either type of medication alone. 

That said, different NSAIDs can be considered for migraines. However, some healthcare providers prefer using combination medications like Treximet (sumatriptan/naproxen) because of their convenience and effectiveness. 

Naproxen vs. ibuprofen: Which lasts longer?

Naproxen stays active in your body for longer than ibuprofen. This is because it is longer acting. Naproxen can last up to 12 hours. So, to get full 24-hour coverage, you’d only need to take naproxen twice a day (about every 12 hours). There’s also an extended-release version of naproxen that lasts a whole day, which is available by prescription only.  

Ibuprofen on the other hand is short-acting, meaning you have to take it every 4 to 6 hours. In most cases, taking a longer-acting medication like naproxen is more convenient, assuming you anticipate needing relief for longer periods of time. 

Naproxen vs. ibuprofen: Which is safer for the gut?

To sum it up, ibuprofen has a slightly lower risk of causing ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding (bleeding from the esophagus and stomach) compared to naproxen. With any NSAID, it’s best to take the lowest effective dose and avoid using it long term. 

And if you have to use an NSAID for more than a few days, you can consider talking to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They may prescribe a medication that is a combination of an NSAID and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to help protect the stomach, like naproxen/esomeprazole (Vimovo). Alternatively, they may suggest adding on a PPI such as:

• Omeprazole(Prilosec)

• Esomeprazole(Nexium)

• Pantoprazole (Protonix) 

Naproxen vs. ibuprofen: Which is safer for the kidneys?

If taken occasionally and as directed, NSAIDs are generally safe. But exposure to NSAIDs may cause acute kidney injury. And your risk may be higher if: 

• You are older than 65.

• You are taking diuretics.

• You have pre-existing kidney problems.

The risk for kidney damage is similar among all NSAIDs — so naproxen is neither better nor worse on the kidneys than ibuprofen.

Naproxen vs. ibuprofen: Which is safer for the heart?

The FDA issued a warning saying all NSAIDs can potentially cause a heart attack or stroke if taken at high doses for long periods of time.  

For people with heart disease who will be taking NSAIDs for longer than a month, naproxen at doses up to 500 mg twice daily is recommended over other NSAIDS. Why? In several large studies, taking higher dose naproxen did not result in more cardiovascular problems. In fact, some research suggests that naproxen may have a lower risk of heart issues than other NSAIDs.

Still, there isn’t enough information to say for sure that naproxen — or any one NSAID — has a higher or lower risk of potentially causing heart problems compared to other NSAIDs.

Naproxen vs. ibuprofen: Which is better for kids?

As mentioned earlier, ibuprofen has been more widely used and studied in children under the age of 12. In fact, ibuprofen is the only NSAID approved for kids 3 months and older and is the most commonly used NSAID in kids. But in some cases, your child’s pediatrician may recommend naproxen. 

So, both naproxen and ibuprofen are effective in treating pain and inflammation in children. And for kids under 12 years old, the recommended dose varies based on weight. 

One major difference between the two medications for children is that ibuprofen comes as a liquid and as a chewable tablet OTC — two dosage forms that are often necessary for children who are unable to swallow a tablet whole. 

Since ibuprofen has more supporting data for use in children than naproxen, your child’s pediatrician is more likely to recommend ibuprofen. 

What’s the difference between prescription and OTC naproxen and ibuprofen?

The short answer: prescription naproxen and ibuprofen are available at higher strengths than their OTC versions.

OTC vs. prescription naproxen

Many people think of naproxen as a prescription medication. In fact, at a strength of 250 mg per tablet or more, naproxen is commonly prescribed by healthcare providers for acute and chronic pain. But what many don’t know is that while naproxen is available OTC as a generic, it’s also available as brand-name Aleve — just at a lower dose.

Aleve is a 220 mg tablet you may use every 8 to 12 hours (maximum total daily dose of 2 to 3 tablets). This differs from prescription-strength naproxen, which is often dosed at 500 mg two times daily with a maximum total daily dose of 1375 mg. A liquid version (oral suspension) of naproxen is also available by prescription at different doses.

Again, because of potential risks and side effects discussed earlier, you should take the lowest dose of any NSAID that works for you. And if you don’t need naproxen at prescription strength, you might want to give OTC naproxen a try.

OTC vs. prescription ibuprofen

Similarly, ibuprofen is available both OTC and by prescription, and the difference is the tablet strength. Ibuprofen OTC tablets come as 100 mg or 200 mg tablets, whereas prescription-strength ibuprofen can be 400 mg, 600 mg, or 800 mg tablets. 

Directions for OTC ibuprofen usually recommend most adults and children 12 years and older to take 200 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Depending on the strength of your medication, this might be 1 or 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours. If you find that 200 mg isn’t helping, you can take 400 mg of ibuprofen at your next dose. But it’s important not to take more than 1,200 mg of OTC ibuprofen in a day.

For prescription ibuprofen, it’s also often recommended to take 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours as needed, but the medication strength is usually higher. Your dose may vary depending on specific instructions from your healthcare provider. The maximum dose of ibuprofen given by prescription is 3,200 mg per day.

The bottom line

Overall, both naproxen and ibuprofen have similar effectiveness and safety for common types of pain and inflammation. Both medications are available OTC and with a prescription, and both have risks of side effects. Generally, you should take the lowest dose of an NSAID for the shortest time possible to lower the risk of serious side effects like stomach, kidney, or heart problems.

Naproxen is longer-acting, so you need fewer doses to get a full day’s coverage. Ibuprofen tends to have less risk of damage to your stomach. It is also preferred in children ages 3 months to 12 years because it has been more studied in this age group.

De Martino, M., et al. (2017). Working towards an appropriate use of ibuprofen in children: An evidence-based appraisal. Drugs.

Ghlichloo, I., et al. (2021). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). StatPearls Publishing.

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Fanelli, A., et al. (2017). Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors: Latest evidence and clinical implications. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety.

Krymchantowski, A., et al. (2007). The experience of combining agents, specially triptans and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for the acute treatment of migraine — a review. Recent patents on CNS drug discovery.

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MedlinePlus. (2020). Ibuprofen dosing for children.

National Kidney Foundation. (2022). Pain Medicines (Analgesics).

Ong, C.K.S., et al. (2007). An evidence-based update on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Clinical Medicine and Research.

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GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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