What is the difference between over the counter motrin and prescribed motrin?… by scott
I'm curious why do I need a prescription for extra strength (800 mg) motrin? Can't I just take four 200mg tablets in the over the counter motrin?
Best Answer:
Yes, you can.
Motrin used to be, long ago, only available by prescription. Now the only strength which requires a prescription is the 800 mg.
The 800 mg type is usually given to people who take the maximum daily dosage of 2400 mg for a long period of time. It's easier for them to take 3 pills a day than it is for them to take 12 pills a day. There's also the fact that those are coated, as they can cause stomach upset. If you take 4 of the 200 mg, you cannot be sure that they are all releasing their medicine at the same time, while taking just 1 of the 800 mg means that you do get all of it released at the same time.
The only other concern is that long-term treatment using ibuprofen at the 2400 mg level can be hard on your kidneys and liver. Doctors who prescribe that level of medication on a daily basis like to know who is taking what so they can do tests periodically to make sure everything is clearing your system the way it should and isn't putting too much stress on your organs.
I don't know if you have insurance or not, but I do know that my husband, who has had to take the 2400 mg daily, has found that it is less expensive to get the 800 mg by prescription than it is to buy the same quantity in milligrams over the counter. I don't know the prices exactly, but I know a big bottle of the 800 mg costs about $6, and I know from personal experience that a smallish bottle of the 200 mg costs about $5. The 800 mg are simply less expensive if you have insurance.
Other than that, you can take what you like. If the doc wants you to take 800 mg of ibuprofen (by the way, that's the generic name for Motrin), then it doesn't matter much which way you take it.
I hope that is of use to you.
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