Taking too much ibuprofen usually causes only mild symptoms. But taking large amounts can lead to serious medical problems. Your child was checked by the health care team and can be cared for at home. This is a good time to review how to store and give medicines safely.

Home Care

• If your child had nausea or vomiting, start out with small meals with mild foods (such as applesauce, potatoes, or toast). Then slowly help your child get back to their regular diet.
• Your child can return to normal activities.
• Don't give ibuprofen again until your health care provider says it's OK.
• If your child took too much ibuprofen on purpose, follow up with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor as recommended by your health care provider.

Preventing Medicine Overdose

• Give medicines safely:
  • Follow the package directions for how much medicine to give and how often.
  • If the medicine comes with a dropper or cup, use that to give the medicine.
  • For medicines you will give more than once, or when giving more than one medicine, write down or note on your phone the name and dosage of the medicine and the time you gave it.
  • If you give more than one medicine, be sure they don't contain the same ingredients. For example, some cold and pain medicines contain ibuprofen, so don't give your child more ibuprofen along with these.
  • Don't call medicine "candy" when trying to get kids to take it.
• Store medicines safely:
  • Keep all medicines (even those you can buy without a prescription) in a locked cabinet, out of the reach of children. 
  • Put medicines away after giving a dose.
  • Keep purses and handbags that might contain medicines away from kids.
  • Make sure the lids to all medicines are tightly closed.
  • Always keep medicines in their original containers.
  • Keep track of how much medicine is left in a bottle. You can write the date on the label and the number of pills or draw a line at the level of liquid medicine.
  • Know about the medicines you have in your home. Get rid of those you no longer need. If you're not sure how to get rid of medicines, talk to your health care provider or visit fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines.

• You have questions about what dosage of medicine your child needs or if a medicine is safe for your child.
• Your child:
  • has nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), vomiting, or belly pain
  • is sweatier, paler, or more tired than usual
  • gets dizzy or has a headache
  • has blood in their poop or has black poop

You know your child best. If you see symptoms that worry you, call your health care provider right away.

Call 911 if your child passes out, is confused, has a change in their breathing, can't be awakened, or has a seizure (uncontrolled jerking body movements).

What products contain ibuprofen? Ibuprofen medicines are available as:

• a single medicine (such as Advil^®, Motrin^®, or store brands) you can buy without a prescription
• part of combination medicines for cough and colds (like Advil^® Multi-Symptom Cold & Flu, Sudafed PE^®), and store brands you can buy without a prescription
• part of a combination prescription opiate medicine for pain (Vicoprofen^® and Combunox™)

What can happen if someone takes too much ibuprofen? Too much ibuprofen may not cause any symptoms, or a person may feel sick to the stomach, vomit, and have belly pain. A very large amount of ibuprofen can cause more serious medical problems, such as kidney damage, ulcers and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, seizures, and coma.

How does ibuprofen overdose usually happen? Young children can get too much ibuprofen if they find the medicine and take it out of curiosity. Or a parent or caregiver might give too much if they're confused about the dosage, give more than one medicine that contains ibuprofen, or give more because they think it will help with the child's symptoms. Sometimes, kids or teens might take too much ibuprofen on purpose.

What should I do if I think my child got too much of any medicine? Call Poison Control right away for advice (800-222-1222). Keep the number posted in your home (for example, on the refrigerator) and put it in your phone contacts.