Motrin and Advil are the same medication. Both contain ibuprofen as their sole active ingredient, and they work identically in your body. The difference is purely branding: Motrin is made by Johnson &Johnson, while Advil is made by Haleon (formerly part of Pfizer). Choosing between them comes down to price, availability, and which formulation you prefer.
Same Drug, Different Label
Ibuprofen is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory sold under dozens of brand names worldwide. Motrin, Motrin IB, and Advil are three of the most recognizable in the United States, but they all deliver the same molecule at the same strength. A 200 mg tablet of Advil does exactly what a 200 mg tablet of Motrin does, at the same speed, for the same duration.
Because they are the same drug, you should never take Motrin and Advil together. Combining them doesn’t give you a different kind of relief. It just doubles your dose of ibuprofen, which raises the risk of stomach ulcers, bleeding, and kidney problems.
How Ibuprofen Works
Ibuprofen reduces pain, fever, and inflammation by blocking enzymes called COX-1 and COX-2. These enzymes help your body produce prostaglandins, chemicals that trigger swelling, pain signaling, and elevated temperature at the site of an injury or infection. When ibuprofen blocks those enzymes, fewer prostaglandins are made, and symptoms dial down. The effect is temporary and reversible: once ibuprofen clears your system, the enzymes resume normal activity.
This mechanism is shared by all ibuprofen products regardless of brand. No version of the molecule is modified or enhanced by either manufacturer.
Where the Brands Actually Differ
Although the active ingredient is identical, Motrin and Advil each offer a slightly different lineup of formulations. These differences matter more than the name on the box.
- Standard tablets and caplets. Both brands sell coated and uncoated 200 mg tablets. These are functionally interchangeable.
- Liquid-filled capsules. Advil Liqui-Gels are one of the brand’s most popular products. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that liquid-filled ibuprofen capsules provided meaningfully greater pain relief at 60, 90, and 120 minutes compared to standard solid tablets, though the difference at 30 minutes was not significant. Motrin does not widely market a liquid-gel equivalent, so if faster onset matters to you, Advil Liqui-Gels may have a slight practical edge over a standard Motrin tablet.
- Combination products. Advil Dual Action pairs 125 mg of ibuprofen with 250 mg of acetaminophen in a single pill, attacking pain through two different pathways. Motrin does not currently offer an equivalent combination product.
- PM versions. Both brands sell nighttime formulations that add diphenhydramine (an antihistamine that causes drowsiness) to help with sleep alongside pain relief.
Children’s Formulations
Both Children’s Motrin and Children’s Advil are liquid ibuprofen suspensions dosed by weight. The concentrations are standardized across brands: infant drops contain 50 mg per 1.25 mL, and children’s liquid contains 100 mg per 5 mL. As long as you’re matching the correct concentration and following the weight-based dosing chart, the two products are interchangeable.
The flavoring and inactive ingredients (dyes, sweeteners, thickeners) can differ between brands. If your child refuses one flavor or reacts to a specific dye, switching brands is a reasonable move without any change in effectiveness.
Dosing Limits to Keep in Mind
For over-the-counter use, the standard adult dose is 200 to 400 mg every four to six hours as needed. Most OTC labels cap you at 1,200 mg per day (three doses of 400 mg). Under medical supervision for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, doses can go as high as 3,200 mg per day, but that range carries significantly greater risk of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects.
These limits apply equally to Motrin and Advil. Switching brands does not reset the clock or let you safely take more. If you took 400 mg of Advil an hour ago, your next dose of any ibuprofen product should wait at least three to five more hours.
How to Choose Between Them
For a standard tablet or caplet, pick whichever is cheaper or on the shelf in front of you. Generic store-brand ibuprofen is the same drug at a lower price. If you specifically want a liquid-filled capsule for slightly faster relief, Advil Liqui-Gels are widely available. If you want a combination ibuprofen-plus-acetaminophen product, Advil Dual Action is currently the main branded option.
Beyond those niche formulations, there is no clinical reason to prefer one brand over the other. The ibuprofen inside is identical.