Advil Fast Acting and Film Coated I am a member of Crowdtap where I get to try out products and give my honest opinion about it. I received 8 samples of Advil ....1 for me and 7 to giveaway for others to try and also some $3.00 coupons. The active ingredient in Advil is Ibuprofen. It is the fastest OTC medicine that has been proven to take pain away before it gets worse! The tablets are coated with a thin sugar shell that absorbs faster than other medicines and it wont give you the nasty medicine taste when its in your mouth. Use Fast Acting Advil for: Headaches, back pain, menstrual cramps, muscle aches, toothaches and aches and pains associated with having a bad cold. So a few days ago I woke up with a headache and I ate a few crackers and took my Advil! I have a problem swallowing pills and anytime the taste of the medicine seeps onto my tongue I literally gag but since these Advil 's are film coated and have a sugar shell