Ibuprofen
Brand names: Caldolor, Ibu, Ibuprofen
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 5,913,818
- Medicare drug cost
- $43.2M
- Average cost per prescription
- $7.30
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 160,288
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
Carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of Ibuprofentablets and other treatment options before deciding to use Ibuprofen.Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent withindividual patient treatment goals (see WARNINGS ). Ibuprofen tablets are indicated for relief of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated July 2025). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Boxed warning
Cardiovascular Thrombotic Events Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may occur early in treatment and may increase with duration of use. (See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS ). Ibuprofen tablets are contraindicated in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS ). Gastrointestinal Risk NSAIDS cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinaladverse events including bleeding, ulceration, and perforationof the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal. These eventscan occur at any time during use and without warning symptoms.Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinalevents. (See WARNINGS ).
The FDA’s strongest warning on a label. It doesn’t mean the drug is unsafe for most people; talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medicine.
Who prescribes it
- Family Medicine 21.6%
- Nurse Practitioners 15.9%
- Dentists (general) 15.2%
- Internal Medicine 14.9%
- Physician Assistants 7.7%
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons 5.1%
- Emergency Medicine 2.8%
- Periodontists 2.7%
- General Practice 1.9%
- Orthopedic Surgery 1.8%
- Pain Medicine 1.7%
- General Surgery 0.7%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions rose 11% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- Nevada +33%
- Louisiana +30%
- South Carolina +26%
- Georgia +24%
- Texas +24%
- Maine (smallest change) −26%
- Vermont (smallest change) −20%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 4 makers on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
Demoulas Super Markets, Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 200 mg | green capsule, 15 mm | 133 |
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 400 mg | white oval tablet, 8 mm | 4I |
| 600 mg | white capsule, 9 mm | 6I |
| 800 mg | white capsule, 9 mm | 8I |
Haleon US Holdings LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 200 mg | brown oval tablet, 16 mm | ADVIL |
| 200 mg | brown round tablet, 11 mm | ADVIL |
| 200 mg | brown oval tablet, 15 mm | ADVIL |
Nucare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 400 mg | white oval tablet, 15 mm | BI4 |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
Drug makers reported $276,535 in payments to clinicians that named this drug in 2025 (meals, speaking, consulting and similar).
- Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $213,285
- Perrigo Company PLC $63,250
Source: CMS Open Payments, general payments (not research), program year 2025. A payment is not evidence of wrongdoing. Payments by doctor
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
6 recalls since 2020
- Mar 2026 · Strides Pharma Inc · Class II
Presence of foreign substance: the firm received complaints for a gel-like mass and black particles in the product. - Oct 2024 · Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. · Class III
Failed Tablet/Capsule Specifications - Aug 2024 · Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc. · Class II
Failed impurities/degradation specifications: results for unknown impurity, were 0.13% and 0.11% respectively, exceeding the 0.10% specification limit. - Apr 2022 · McKesson Medical-Surgical Inc. Corporate Office · Class II
cGMP deviations: Temperature abuse - Oct 2020 · Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. · Class III
Labeling Not Elsewhere Classified: Ibuprofen Oral Suspension is missing dosing cups. - Mar 2020 · GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings · Class II
Labeling: Lacks Warning or Rx Legend- Certain lots does not include required safety warning information in the Drug Facts Panel.
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.