What You Need to Know About Advil Arthritis

An effective arthritis treatment will provide both pain relief and helpful ways to adjust to your body's limits caused by the disease. Advil Arthritis (ibuprofen) not only helps with the pain from arthritis but also comes with an innovative cap for those who have difficulty opening bottles due to arthritis in their hands.

Living with arthritis can cause pain and limit your daily activities. Finding the right arthritis medication can help your quality of life. If you live with arthritis, you may not only be seeking relief from the pain, but also looking for ways to adapt to your changing joints.

Advil Arthritis is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve minor aches and pains caused by arthritis, headache, toothache, backache, menstrual cramps, the common cold, and muscle aches. Advil can also temporarily reduce fevers and reduce inflammation.

Choosing Advil Arthritis over other Advil products may help address any difficulties you may have in opening bottles, thus making access to your medication easier. Using Advil Arthritis to treat your arthritis pain can help increase your quality of life.

How Advil Arthritis Works 

Advil Arthritis works by stopping the body from releasing prostaglandins, a substance that causes pain, inflammation, and fever. The main ingredient in Advil is ibuprofen which has been proven to relieve pain and inflammation, resulting in arthritis pain relief.

The benefit of Advil Arthritis for people who live with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is that the cap is made to provide a comfortable grip which allows for easier opening. Advil Liqui-Gels and Tablets in an Easy Open Arthritis cap were awarded the Ease-of-Use Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation.

If you live with arthritis you may find that purchasing this version of Advil with the easy-open cap removes the frustration and pain out of accessing your pain-relieving meds.

Advil Arthritis Ingredients 

Advil Arthritis contains a variety of ingredients. The main active ingredient in Advil Arthritis is solubilized ibuprofen which is equal to 200 milligrams (mg) of ibuprofen. This version of ibuprofen is present as the free acid and potassium salt.

Advil Arthritis also contains inactive ingredients. They are:

• FD&C green no. 3
• Gelatin
• Lecithin (soybean)
• Medium-chain triglycerides
• Pharmaceutical ink
• Polyethylene glycol
• Potassium hydroxide
• Purified water
• Sorbitol sorbitan solution

Side Effects

Like all medications, Advil can have side effects. These can range from mild to life threatening. Understanding the possible side effects can help you stay aware of any adverse effects the drug could have on you and alert you to any symptoms that may require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

The most common side effects are:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gas or bloating
• Dizziness
• Nervousness
• Ringing in the ears

If any of these symptoms become severe or do not go away, contact your healthcare provider.

Serious Side Effects

Serious side effects can occur with any medication. Two of the most serious side effects of Advil Arthritis are stomach bleeding and heart problems or stroke. If you experience any of the following side effects, stop use and contact your healthcare provider immediately:

• Feel faint
• Vomit blood
• Have bloody or black stools
• Have stomach pain that does not get better
• Chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Weakness in one part or side of body
• Slurred speech
• Leg swelling
• Pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days
• Fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days
• Redness or swelling is present in the painful area
• Any new symptoms appear

Advil Warnings

Like all medications, Advil comes with warnings. It is best to be aware of these warnings to avoid adverse health effects. The major warnings with Advil are taking the drug with other NSAIDs and the effects of an overdose.

Other NSAIDs

Advil should not be taken with other NSAIDs such as aspirin, diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen. Since Advil is in the same class as these other drugs, you run the risk of increasing the side effects of the drug.

If you are taking low-dose aspirin for its cardio-protective benefits, there is some evidence that taking aspirin with Advil or other ibuprofen products can reduce the cardio-protective benefits and increase gastrointestinal risks. Please consult your practitioner to determine if the use of aspirin and Advil is right for you. Your healthcare provider may put you on specific dosage and timing of these drugs.

Signs of an Ibuprofen Overdose

Do not take more than the recommended dose of Advil Arthritis. An overdose can be a serious matter. While most people will recover from an overdose with prompt medical treatment, some people may develop chronic liver or kidney injury. In the case of a large overdose, recovery is less likely.

If you suspect you or someone close to you has accidentally or intentionally taken more than the recommended dose of Advil, alert emergency services.

The signs of an ibuprofen overdose are as follows:

• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Nausea, vomiting (sometimes bloody)
• Stomach pain that could indicate possible bleeding in stomach and intestines)
• Low blood pressure (shock) and weakness 
• Little to no urine production
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing
• Agitation, incoherent (not understandable)
• Drowsiness, even coma
• Convulsions
• Dizziness 
• Severe headache
• Unsteadiness, difficulty moving
• Rash
• Sweating
• Chills

How To Take and Store

Advil arthritis is taken orally with or without food. If you are 12 years of age and older, the proper dosage is one capsule/tablet every four to six hours to treat symptoms. If your pain or fever does not respond to one capsule/table you may take two.

However, you should not exceed six 200 mg capsules/tablets in 24 hours unless your practitioner has told you this is okay.  If you are under 12 years of age, ask your healthcare provider if this medication is right for you.

Advil Arthritis should be stored away from children and pets in a secure area that’s temperature controlled. Check the expiration date on your bottle. If your Advil arthritis has expired, it is not recommended you take the drug as it is possible it has lost its potency and you might not receive the right amount of pain relieving ingredients.