Posting for traffic. Severe pain. What is Max dose of ibuprofen?

[achetooth]

I posted last night in chat about toothache www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4595660-wisdom-tooth-pain-please-help?reply=118728576

Really struggling have had no sleep at all. Googling this morning has suggested that on prescription you can have more than 1200mg of ibuprofen each day, I've been taking 400mg 3 times a day alongside paracetamol and sometimes codeine but was wondering would it be possible to take 400mg 4 times a day?

Get some clove oil or the anaesthetic gel from the chemist- taking more than the max dose of ibuprofen is definitely not recommended

And make sure you always have it with water, food if poss. I ended up with long term stomach problems and can no longer tolerate ibuprofen because of this.

I've been using pretty much everything I can get my hands on from the chemist with limited to no relief. Oragel lessens the pain slightly but only for a very very short period of time

It says on the packet what the max dose is. You might be able to get some stronger codene from the pharmacy though. Topical pain relief gels (sometimes sold for teething babies) are good too for toothache - make sure your get one with proper stuff in it though as the pharmacy sometimes mix them up alongside homeopathic ones!

See a pharmacist. Please do not take advice on how many painkillers to take from strangers on the internet.

Are you also taking paracetamol? I had to use both when I had a bad toothache.

I'll go back and speak to pharmacist today. It was here that I was reading about more than the 1200mg that I am currently taking

www.elmsleighhouse.co.uk/pain-relief-guidelines

Yes I am taking paracetamol alongside ibuprofen and at times instead of taking paracetamol I'm taking solphadeine max. Trying to stagger the paracetamol pain relief around the 8 hour intervals for ibuprofen to try and always be covered by something but unfortunately I'm getting very little relief and any small bit of relief is very short lived

Boots sell ibuprofen and codeine tablets over the counter, and you can take these with paracetamol. That combination was the only way I coped with dreadful toothache.

I didn't stagger the doses though, took them together.

Is there any way you can see an emergency dentist? If OTCs aren't touching the pain you will probably need antibiotics.

I find if I take it altogether then I get maybe an hour of lesser pain then it is severe again until I can take more 6 hours or so later! So I've been trying to have something every 3-4 hours either ibuprofen or paracetamol depending on what's due and sticking within the max dosage to try and cover 24 hours because I'm literally awake 24 hours with it!
Toothache is the flipping worst!

I have been through horrendous toothache more times than I care to remember. The only things to help when it is at it's worst are cocodomol and PR Diclofenic. The PR is slow release as it goes in your back passage. It is more effective at keeping the pain away for longer. Topped up with cocodomol if needed (most of the time the diclofenic has been effective for 24 hours).
The GP can px this, which you can access through out of hours today, or if not, walk in centre. Failing that a&e is the only other option for adequate pain relief if none of the other services will help this morning. I have had to go there twice, and they were very kind and understanding. I have repeated tooth abcesses every couple of weeks as I have to wait for NHS dentistry to do the root canal needed. I now have a supply of both drugs that help the most. I also have an advance px of antibiotics so I can start it as soon as the toothache begins.
I also recommend taking an antisickness medication (I use buccastem) which you can buy over the counter. The amount of analgesia I had needed made me vomit and not be able to keep the any further down.

Unfortunately where I am emergency dental treatment doesn't seem to have reappeared since covid all the centres were closed and haven't reopened and I don't live in an NHS direct/111 area! I got the first available appt with my dentist but it isn't until the end of next week! I will phone again on Monday to see if I can get in on a cancellation.

The max dose for ibuprofen is 1200mg per 24 hours, so you can take 3 400mg or 2 x 600mg
as someone else suggested the ibuprofen with codeine is very effective I’ve used for toothache before. Often dispersible paracetamol is good for tooth pain and also strong mouthwash - corsodyl in particular I find helps. It’s the worst pain op hope you’re feeling better soon

@ThisMustBeMyDream that is horrendous that you have to wait for treatment so long and continue to go through this cycle. Toothache is so debilitating. I really hope you can get treatment ASAP.
This is the 2nd time in a few weeks this same tooth has flared up. Antibiotic a few weeks ago did stop the pain but unfortunately it didn't even appear gradually again just came back out of no where worse pain than it was the last time.

@serenghetti2011 I haven't tried dispersable paracetamol yet so I will give that a go today I'll go and speak with the pharmacist and get some while I am there. Rinsing regularly with corsodyl and pretty much hourly with salt water.

Re max dose - I take 800mg ibuprofen 4 times a day so 3200 in total

I must stress that this is under the gp.

Exh was prescribed 800mg 3 times a day for 5 days a while ago

Maximum dose is 2400mg daily in divided doses (800mg three times a day) but this would normally be prescribed by a doctor. If you are taking a large dose, I'd recommend that you take Omeprazole or Esomeprazole with it, to guard your stomach.
"Adults and children over 12 years of age: The recommended dosage of Brufen is 1200-1800 mg daily in divided doses. Some patients can be maintained on 600-1200 mg daily. In severe or acute conditions, it can be advantageous to increase the dosage until the acute phase is brought under control, provided that the total daily dose does not exceed 2400 mg in divided doses."

You could get neurofen plus which is 200 mg of ibuprofen with 12.8 mg codeine and take at the same time co-codamol with 500 mg paracetamol and 8 mg codeine. This might help until you get to see your GP/Dentist