NSAIDS during or after meals

MayBee70

I’ve always used Voltarol gel. You mustn’t expose skin to the sun if it has Voltarol on it, though. I also take turmeric for my joints but you can’t take it if you’re on blood thinners. I really notice the difference if I don't take it.

I were prescribed Ibuprofen for couple years to help with fibromyalgia along with omeprazol once a day to line my stomach against ulcers. I always took Ibuprofen with couple biscuits if I needed to take it when not having a meal . I then had to suddenly stop taking them as now on blood thinners because of blood clots . I’m now on Turmeric with black pepper as natural alternative and my GP says taking it is perfectly fine along with blood thinners .

Ps , I must add that I find Turmeric has much better pain relieving qualities compared to ibuprofen and as it’s a natural pain reliever it’s much better for you .

Just because its “ over the counter” doesn’t mean its entirely safe.

Oh please do be careful taking so much ibuprofen. My kidney doctor said absolutely don't take it unless absolutely necessary. He said he has patients that nearly lost a kidney due to taking it so casually. I myself, have noticed the effect ibuprofen has on kidney lab tests just taking two or three tablets a week. It easily puts my in stage 3 kidney disease.

Ask for Omeprazole and definitely take with food. My son developed stomach ulcers in his late teens due directly to being prescribed Naproxen (Ibuprofen based), without adequate gastric protection.

If I remember correctly Omeprazole should be taken half an hour before the first meal of the day but read instructions. Also read possible long term side effects

I have OA in both knees and both shoulders. I have PMR for which I have been taking steroids for 2 years along with Omeprazole.
I'm unable to take any anti inflammatories as I have bad reactions to them. Ibuprofen makes every cell in my body vibrate. It also causes me to be unintelligible when I speak as sounds in words are transposed as are words in sentences! I talk utter rubbish! The GP told me that I must never take them again.
I have chronic pain so I take pregabalin for nerve pain and nerve damage and also have Co Proxamol (named patient basis) to help.
I also have OraMorph but try to take that as little as possible, otherwise I am permanently asleep!
Good luck with finding your best fit with your medications.

my gp said to have mine with a glass of milk, drink half the glass then take the tablet, i don't eat until about 2pm so i take milk for the other 14 tabs i need in the morning,

My gp told me to take ibuprofen and co-codamal tablets together if needed.
So far, they work for me.
I’ve been taking them for many years now without any noticeable side effects
I always eat before. Never take on an empty stomach.

My friend had a frozen shoulder and took ibuprofen for 9 months before seeing a GP. (She hates bothering the Dr) It has permanently damaged her gullet and would need surgery to repair it involving breaking two ribs to access the gullet. Don't take ibuprofen long term without medical advice HTH

Oh Katcoffee that is tragic, but so similar to my aunt's story I can truly empathise. She had no children and went into a home after she lost her husband. She looked on me as a daughter, but because I was only her niece the hospital didn't keep me in the picture so she died alone.
Perhaps we should learn from these two experiences and those of us on ibuprofen should consider having a serious talk with our GPs about pain relief!

I had frozen shoulder a some years back - it came out of the blue and I was due to go on holiday - I asked my doctor to refer me privately for less that £200 and 2 days I was completely better. They injected me with a steroid - it worked like a miracle for me - doesn't for everyone but it saved me so much pain and time - it's worth considering if you can afford it. I've never had a problem since (it must be over 10 years ago now)

Ex Dancer…Talk to your Pharmacist. Their knowledge of drugs is huge

I absolutely refuse to take Ibuprofen as I was with my mother when she was at death’s door in hospital. The drug caused an ulcer which went through to the main duodenal artery and she was losing blood faster than they could infuse her. They took her for surgery and tried to staple the hole but couldn’t see as there was so much blood so they stapled in the wrong place. Somehow my mother survived but she never spoke again and was a body in a bed for 4 years until she died.

I just have buttered crackers. Sometimes with cheese. Seems to work with naproxen. Along with one omeprazol each day.

I meant to add...didn't really read or possibly did but have forgotten!

Like Theexwife, I didn't really read the instructions on either ibuprofen or my prescribed Naproxen and so rarely take either with meals with no ill effects. I do take prescribed Omeprazole with the Naproxen.
As for before or after meals, I am a grazer, eating often (as my weight testifies) so any tablet taking could be classified as before or after meals in my case!

Grannynannywanny

Theexwife

I have never read the instructions on Ibubrofen and didn’t realise that were to be taken with food. I have never had side effects from them.

You’ve had luck on your side if you’ve been taking ibuprofen on an empty stomach. It can cause gastric bleeding even when taken with food. Not just ibuprofen but any non steroidal anti inflammatory tablets.

I am so pleased that I have read this thread, goes to show that the patient leaflet is important.

I shall take it with food in future.

Had frozen shoulders a few times, self-inflicted but took me a while to join the dots...steroid injection is definitely the way to go. Operational again within hours and no need for drugs by mouth. (Though obvs dr needs to diagnose first what is up with shoulder too but physio can be a long and painful route with slow and little reward. This is my experience but others may be different!) Good luck and hope better soon

How painful for you. Until you have a shoulder problem, you don't realise how much you use them!
I can't take NSAIDS even though I am on Omeprazole. Occasionally I have to take Voltarol as a suppository which is revolting but gives me some relief but there are far reaching consequences if you are intolerant to NSAIDS. I would take the bare minimum with a glass of milk and food to keep the pain under control.
If your physio is not helpful, absolutely insist you see a consultant. I kept being told that it was probably because of my diabetes, just an injury which would heal, etc. I had an op twice now and each time it has been amazing. Both times it has turned out to be something more than a rotorcuff injury or frozen shoulder. Both times I had physio and injections to no avail. I know from this journey, I am not alone.
I hope you have a swift recovery.

NSAIDS caused me dreadful digestive troubles, seriously, and I was told to never ever take them again. I think they are probably ok in the short term, but never longer.
I wish in a way I could take them for my back, but apparently they can lead to an ulcer.
Any food, I imagine. Toast would do I think.

I am aware of the damage done by ibuprofen, I'm convinced it killed my aunt who had chronic rheumatoid arthritis but died of a ruptured ulcer, so I do take omeprezole.

The reason I asked you knowledgeable ladies on here was to avoid cluttering up the surgery switchboard wasting time hanging on to the phone to get through to the receptionist and then the time wasted waiting at home for someone to ring me back.

BTW the 2 tablets do seem to give good pain relief.

I’m not actually a great fan of Omeprazole either as it creates its own problems but it’s probably the lesser of two evils when it comes to ibuprofen.

MayBee70

It might be worth asking your GP to prescribe omeprazole to take as well to protect your tummy? I don’t want to scare you but a friend of mine was very ill after being prescribed ibuprofen for pain. Failing that I’d query exactly how much food you need to take with it.

This.
Ask the doctor for Omeprazole or Lansoprazole. It will protect your stomach.

Grannynannywanny

Theexwife

I have never read the instructions on Ibubrofen and didn’t realise that were to be taken with food. I have never had side effects from them.

You’ve had luck on your side if you’ve been taking ibuprofen on an empty stomach. It can cause gastric bleeding even when taken with food. Not just ibuprofen but any non steroidal anti inflammatory tablets.

I’ve had both shoulders frozen at different times. I don’t tolerate codeine, nor any NSAIDs by mouth, which is why I suggested gels.
BTW, both my shoulders have frozen atone time or another. The first was sorted privately (eventually) with steroid injections and the other was operated on.

Theexwife

I have never read the instructions on Ibubrofen and didn’t realise that were to be taken with food. I have never had side effects from them.

You’ve had luck on your side if you’ve been taking ibuprofen on an empty stomach. It can cause gastric bleeding even when taken with food. Not just ibuprofen but any non steroidal anti inflammatory tablets.