The number of medications that contain animal byproducts is staggering. It becomes an arduous task for vegans to find over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and supplements that are completely animal-free, leading them to focus on supplements and diets to address symptoms. Here at VeganMed, we are regularly asked about animal-free pain medications, specifically asking if ibuprofen is vegan.
The first thing to understand when exploring vegan medications is FDA regulations, which require animal testing during the research portion of new drug development. Most vegan lifestyles prohibit the exploitation of animals for any reason. By that definition, medicines cannot be vegan. However, they can be animal-free, meaning they do not contain any animal products.
Ibuprofen (brand names include: Advil, Genpril, IBU, Midol IB, Motrin IB, Proprinal) in and of itself is animal-free, however, companies use a variety of animal products in capsules, fillers, and pharmaceutical ink. The VeganMed team took it upon ourselves to find a solution! We filtered through 1,387 possible products and found one ibuprofen product verified to be animal-free: Timely Ibuprofen 200mg Tablets.
Is Advil vegan?
Well, not every Advil product is genuinely animal-free, many of them like the standard Advil tablets have a film coating made of pharmaceutical glaze containing shellac and contain binding agents like beeswax or white wax. The Advil product we can confirm to be animal-free is the Advil Dual Action Caplets.
There are effective, alternative pain relief products that are also animal-free. The products linked below are verified to not contain any animal-derived ingredients but are not yet certified by VeganMed. Leave us a comment below if you would like these products to be certified!
Visit our Pain Relief Shop Page to learn more about Advil ibuprofen tablets and other animal-free pain relief products.
Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on VeganMed is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.
Looking for certified and verified animal-free products?
Thank you for your awareness and concern for animal-derived ingredients!
As a reminder, please comment on our FDA Citizen Petition, requesting clear labeling of animal-derived ingredients in medications. Together, we can make a difference.
If you have any further questions about ingredients in your medicines and supplements, feel free to reach out to the VeganMed team!
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The Aleve tablets linked to this posting contain Magnesium Stearate according to the ingredient list. Have you confirmed if that is from a plant based source? My understanding is that Magnesium Stearate is animal derived?
I would love to see these pain relief meds certified vegan by VeganMed! Thanks for all the research!