Does ibuprofen contain wheat or gluten as an excipient?

We cross-check each ibuprofen product label against four data sources: DailyMed (FDA Structured Product Labels), the European Medicines Agency centrally-authorised medicines database, the Plogsted curated gluten-free drug list, and the 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric pharmacy NDC analysis. Inactive ingredients are scanned against a 146-entry red-flag dictionary covering wheat, barley, rye, malt, source-ambiguous starches, and FDA gluten-free attestation phrases. Mostly yes — but worth a quick call to the manufacturer for some generics. Of 19 product labels we checked, 10 are clean, 0 are confirmed gluten-free by the maker, and 9 contain an inactive ingredient (typically a source-ambiguous starch) whose botanical origin isn't fully disclosed. None contained confirmed gluten.

Can different manufacturers' generic versions of ibuprofen have different gluten status?

Yes. Generics in the United States must use the same active ingredient as the brand, but they are not required to use the same inactive ingredients. Two generics of ibuprofen from different manufacturers can use entirely different starch sources, binders, and fillers. A pharmacy may also switch which manufacturer it dispenses between fills without notifying you. Each manufacturer-specific entry below corresponds to a separately-filed product label.

DailyMed checked live · reference data updated August 19, 2026 · 19 product labels screened

Is ibuprofen gluten-free?

By Ned Walsch

Founder and maintainer of Gluten Screen

Updated August 20, 2026

Not clinically reviewed — verify with your pharmacist

Looks mostly clean — worth verifying with the maker. Mostly yes — but worth a quick call to the manufacturer for some generics. Of 19 product labels we checked, 10 are clean, 0 are confirmed gluten-free by the maker, and 9 contain an inactive ingredient (typically a source-ambiguous starch) whose botanical origin isn't fully disclosed. None contained confirmed gluten.

Drug context

About ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is an NSAID used for pain, fever, and inflammation, sold under brand names including Advil, Motrin.

Why this matters

Different manufacturers, different ingredients

Generics of ibuprofen use the same active ingredient, but they aren't required to use the same inactive ingredients. Your pharmacy may switch which manufacturer they dispense between fills, sometimes without telling you. The list below shows each manufacturer's product label as a separate entry, because that's the granularity that actually matters when you're celiac.

The labels

The 19 we checked

01

Shield Pharmaceuticals Corp worth a call to confirm

US label (DailyMed) · IBUPROFEN TABLET, COATED [SHIELD PHARMACEUTICALS CORP] · label dated Aug 11, 2026

Worth a call to the maker: SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A

Inactive ingredients FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, UNSPECIFIED · POVIDONE · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A · STARCH, POTATO · STEARIC ACID · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
02

Actavis worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 7.5/200 [Actavis] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
03

Amneal worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 2.5/200 [Amneal] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
04

Amneal worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 5/200 [Amneal] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
05

Amneal worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 7.5/200 [Amneal] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
06

Amneal worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 10/200 [Amneal] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
07

Aurolife worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 7.5/200 [Aurolife] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
08

Gemini worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 2.5/200 [Gemini] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
09

Gemini worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Hydrocodone/Ibuprofen tablet 5/200 [Gemini] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
10

P & L Development, LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · IBUPROFEN TABLET, COATED [P & L DEVELOPMENT, LLC] · label dated Aug 17, 2026

Inactive ingredients FERRIC OXIDE RED · HYPROMELLOSE, UNSPECIFIED · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A CORN · STARCH, CORN · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · TRIACETIN
View source label →
11

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · CALDOLOR (IBUPROFEN) INJECTION [CUMBERLAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC.] · label dated Aug 17, 2026

Inactive ingredients arginine · hydrochloric acid · nitrogen · sodium chloride · sodium hydroxide · sodium phosphate, dibasic, unspecified form · water
View source label →
12

Amazon.com Services LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · INFANTS IBUPROFEN (IBUPROFEN) SUSPENSION/ DROPS [AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC] · label dated Aug 17, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS CITRIC ACID · GLYCERIN · HYPROMELLOSE, UNSPECIFIED · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM BENZOATE · SORBITOL SOLUTION · SUCROSE · WATER · XANTHAN GUM
View source label →
13

WALMART INC. (see also Equate) nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · IBUPROFEN PM (DIPHENHYDRAMINE CITRATE, IBUPROFEN) TABLET, COATED [WALMART INC. (SEE ALS… · label dated Aug 13, 2026

Inactive ingredients CARNAUBA WAX · CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 · HYPROMELLOSE, UNSPECIFIED · POLYDEXTROSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · SILICON DIOXIDE · STARCH, CORN · STEARIC ACID · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
14

AiPing Pharmaceutical, Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · IBUPROFEN TABLET, FILM COATED [AIPING PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.] · label dated Aug 12, 2026

Inactive ingredients CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · LECITHIN, SOYBEAN · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · STARCH, CORN · STEARIC ACID · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
15

Amazon.com Services LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · IBUPROFEN TABLET, FILM COATED [AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC] · label dated Aug 10, 2026

Inactive ingredients CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · FD&C RED NO. 40 ALUMINUM LAKE · FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 ALUMINUM LAKE · FERRIC OXIDE RED · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, UNSPECIFIED · SILICON DIOXIDE · STARCH, CORN · STEARIC ACID · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
16

L Perrigo Company nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · GOOD SENSE DUAL ACTION (ACETAMINOPHEN, IBUPROFEN) TABLET, FILM COATED [L PERRIGO COMPANY] · label dated Aug 10, 2026

Inactive ingredients CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · CROSPOVIDONE, UNSPECIFIED · FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, UNSPECIFIED · POVIDONE, UNSPECIFIED · SILICON DIOXIDE · STARCH, CORN · STEARIC ACID · SUCRALOSE · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
17

Lidl US LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · IBUPROFEN TABLET, COATED [LIDL US LLC] · label dated Aug 07, 2026

Inactive ingredients FERRIC OXIDE RED · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, UNSPECIFIED · POVIDONE K30 · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A CORN · STARCH, PREGELATINIZED CORN · STEARIC ACID · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
18

Shield Pharmaceuticals Corp nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · IBUPROFEN TABLET, COATED [SHIELD PHARMACEUTICALS CORP] · label dated Aug 07, 2026

Inactive ingredients CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 · FD&C RED NO. 40 · FD&C YELLOW NO. 5 · FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 · LECITHIN, SOYBEAN · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, UNSPECIFIED · SILICON DIOXIDE · STARCH, CORN · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
19

(manufacturer not listed) nothing flagged on the label

EU label (EMA) · Ibuprofen Gen.Orph 5 mg/mL solution for injection

Inactive ingredients Trometamol · Sodium chloride · Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment) · Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment) · Water for injections · water for injections. See section 2. Ibuprofen Gen.Orph contains sodium
View source label →

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Background

What “gluten in a medication” actually means

Gluten enters drugs through their excipients — the inactive ingredients used to bind, coat, fill, or stabilize the dose. The main concern is wheat starch as a filler. Source-ambiguous starches (plain “starch”, pregelatinized starch, sodium starch glycolate, modified starch) get flagged for verification because their botanical origin isn't always disclosed on the label.

The 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric NDC analysis (689 NDCs across the top 100 pediatric medications) found 1.5% contained gluten outright; another 25.7% couldn't be confirmed either way. Liquid and oral-suspension formulations carry disproportionate risk because wheat starch is a common thickener. Full methodology →

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