Ibuprofen typically starts to work within about 20 to 30 minutes after oral administration, with meaningful pain relief often occurring around 24 minutes on average. Maximum effects are usually seen within 1 to 2 hours. For example, studies have shown median times to meaningful pain relief of approximately 24 minutes for ibuprofen 400 mg taken orally
. The onset can be faster with certain formulations like ibuprofen arginate or liquigel, which may provide relief in about 28 to 29 minutes, compared to standard ibuprofen tablets which may take closer to 44 to 52 minutes
. Intravenous ibuprofen also works within a similar timeframe of 30 to 60 minutes
. Food intake can delay absorption slightly, so taking ibuprofen on an empty stomach may lead to faster relief, though it might increase the risk of stomach irritation
. In summary:
- Oral ibuprofen: onset in 20-30 minutes, peak effect in 1-2 hours
- Faster onset with special formulations (arginate, liquigel)
- IV ibuprofen: onset in 30-60 minutes
- Pain relief duration typically lasts 4-6 hours
This makes ibuprofen a reliable option for rapid pain relief in various acute conditions
