Moderate Pain
Ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours as needed for pain (3 of the 200mg tablets you can buy at a drug store)
Severe Pain
Ibuprofen 800mg every 6 hours as needed for pain (4 of the 200mg tablets you can buy at a drug store)
Stick with ibuprofen if it is enough to manage your pain, and you may add acetaminophen if needed as a supplement. Stagger taking each medication every 6 hours.
Acetaminophen 500-1000mg every 6 hours as needed to supplement Ibuprofen (1-2 tablets of Tylenol Extra Strength)
Example of severe pain management:
6am – 800mg ibuprofen
9am – 1000mg acetaminophen
12pm – 800mg ibuprofen
3pm – 1000mg acetaminophen
6pm – 800mg ibuprofen
9pm – 1000mg acetaminophen