Ibuprofen

Thanks everyone. Only oldgreymare has come near to what I experienced though.

I was a pharmacist for 51 yrs up to 6 yrs ago.No longer registered so not supposed to give advice. l can tell you what I might have said if you'd asked me in 2006!
I take NSAID for arthritic knee and related hip pain.Up to last year was taking Paracetamol (not very effective),occasionally long-acting Diclofenac and Omeprazole ( to counteract gastric side effects) This worked well.
Now GP tells me they no longer prescribe Diclofenac !! She prescribed Naproxen and the Ibuprofen.Neither as effective as Diclofenac.
Pharmacists tend to take fewer medicines. Often this years wonder drug becomes a No-No in a few years time.
You can get up to date info by buying/borrowing BNF (British National Formulary 2012) or looking up online .
NSAIDs should of course always be taken with or after food.
Diclofenac Gel/Cream (Voltarol) is currently being heavily advertised on TV – .

Years ago, AlisonMA I was prescribed the above for a swollen knee. I felt most odd (sort of 'out of body' and that I was walking at an angle of 70/80degrees!) have avoided them ever since.

Annobel I am glad to hear that as I have been taking Omeprazole for about 7 years now

I asked my GP today whether the Omeprazole was responsible for the polyps. She said it definitely wasn't. The polyps are caused by the stomach acid which proton pump inhibitors are designed to control. Am now reassured.

I'm told the polyps don't matter as they are benign - but I would rather not have them so I severely limit my intake of Losec now.

alison not sure as not worked in pharmacy for a while so not up to date with do's and don'ts,however I believe that an over active thyroid is treated with the drug propranolol which is also used to treat anxiety which is the. Drug that I take for anxiety it is a beta blocker which helps that fight or flight feeling.
I know that isn't what you asked alison but is relevant to the thread
Any practicing pharmacists amongst us

I meant NSAID!

My regular NAISD was diclophenac. I blame that for a lot of things, but I do miss it for my joints!

Had a similar experience after regular use of Ibrop.
Reflux acid, larynx problems, voice like a smoker! GP sent me to a speech therapist for voice exercises and now take Omaprozale daily with no problems.

I also have some very small polyps, but the consultant was not concerned. I would prefer to have these rather than frequently lose my voice which I did before my diagnosis and treatment.

Mishap, do polyps in your stomach matter? We are bound to get some little blips here and there as we get older.

I guess we have to decide whether we want a nice life now, or prolong life for a year or two at the end, when we don't really know much about anything.

I know which I'll take!

That link doesn't work. On son's puter and can't it work very well. That is a direct quote from the latest guidelines, as far as I can see. (2004)

NICE still seems to advocate it (omeprazole) guideline states that long term care should emphasise ‘patient empowerment’, for example, by promoting ‘on demand’ use of the lowest dose of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)

Yup! - omeprazole dodgy long term too! It caused me to have little polyps in my stomach - guy looking down the camera said he had never seen so many!
We can't win!

I have been taking Omeprazole with no ill effects for several years to control acid reflux which affects my larynx. I also have Ranitidine and Gaviscon Advance. These were prescribed by the ENT consultant.

I have an Hiatus hernia and I know that if I take Ibuprofen for more than two days in a row I get terrible heartburn and pain, thats even when taken with Omeprazole !

I know you have to take it after some food, I get a nasty bit of sciatica from time to time (old slipped disc episodes) and Dr recommended using the cream locally......found it really works to take the 'edge off'.

nanaej would that also apply to Lansoprazole which is an alternative?

My GP said prolonged reg use of Omeprazole also not good!! I avoid Ibuprofen as it does trigger digestive probs for me but i guess sometines it is lesser of two evils!!

Doesn't even have to be prolonged use.

I'm not sure there is an anti-inflammatory that doesn't irritate the stomach when taken for any length of time. That's why doctors sometimes prescribe omeprazole with them, when they feel it's necessary.

My doc has never told me that artygran! Ibu can irritate the stomach if used long term. I would only advocate a fairly occasional use. The Omeprazole helps to protect the stomach when you do have to take it.

You just have to be sensible don't you?

JO4, I am taking daily Omeprazole and have been told not to take ibuprofen (which I have always set great store by as an anti inflammatory), only paracetamol (which I don't). ?????

Nellie some of the things which apply to diabetics also apply to people with thyroid issues, does this one?