Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

My mom was on ibuprofen for yrs but has not been able to take them anymore. She has an inflamed stomach and an ulcer. She also has pulps that were removed. The nsaids caused a lot of problems for her stomach. She has not found anything to help like they did. This is what I am afraid of. I am on 3 medications that can cause stomach problems. unfortunately It seems once you have this problem you can not go back on them. I am sorry you have pain and I hope you can find a anti inflamatory to help. Have you considered natural products that helps inflamation?

NSAIDS are infamous for causing gastro-intenstinal problems, Not only that but liver and kidney issues, as well. I don't know all your drugs, but are some prescription drugs, and does your doc know you are taking these? Must be, since you've had the endoscopy. I ask this because docs will usually tell you to take Prilosec OTC or prescribe something like omeptazole, which is the generic equivalent of Prilosec.

Have you seen or are you planning to see a rheumatologist? It would be a good idea, so you can decent treatment for tour RA. May I ask why your doc is decreasing the prednisone, yet allowing you to go on with NSAIDS. Just seems a little strange to me. Have you tried methotrexate or has your doc mentioned it? Anything else?

Just some things to think about. Good luck with this.
bc

Are you seeing a rheumatologist? I realize the NSAIDS are suppose to take care of inflammation, but many people also take them for the pain.

I have hydrocodone for pain and my doctor had to reduce the amount of tylenol in the pills from 500 to 375 because they were bothering my stomach. Now I get enough to help with inflammation while the opiate takes care of the pain. It has given me the ability to function at a higher level than I could before dealing with the pain.

I also take Plaquenil and Arava and I'm hoping the Arava will "kick in" in the next couple of months. My RA doc and I decided to try it instead of MTX because she thought it might cause me fewer side-effects and she says they are basically the same drug. I've had no side effects at all.

I wish you all the best in finding something that works for you.

I had to cut back to half my prescribed dose of naproxen because of bad stomach pains. My rhuematologist said that if the reduced amount didn't control the inflammation, he could also put me on Prilosec (or something similar). So far the new dose is working for me, and I know I have options if it's not enough.

I should have been a little more thorough! I do have a good rheumatologist and have been on injectable methotrexate (.8cc/week) for a few months, and have had a good response to it. It has taken away much of the inflammation but not all- which is why I'm still trying with the NSAIDS. I'm also on omeprazole to try to combat the effects of the NSAIDS, but so far it's not helping much. Thanks for all of your responses!

Sulfasalazine, it is not an nasid but it is an non killer anti inflamy. That is the first thing my rhumey put me on and it is fine on the stomach.

omeprazole is one of the milder ppi's, if it isn't helping you might want to try protonix or prevacid. i was on omeprazole, and got no relief at all. dr switched me to pantoprazole (generic protonix) and it works great! so you might want to talk to your doc about switching stomach meds. like all our lovely mixes, you just gotta find the one that works for you. good luck!

Tylenol Arthritis is the only pain med/anti inflamatory my doc wants me taking now (if I need it), since I had the same thing as you. I too take MTX 8cc/injection each week, and Plaquenil every day...perhaps that's an option to dicuss w/your doc? The combo seems to take nearly all the pain and swelling away for me. I do still get occasional mild flares, but nothing like it was in the beginning. Something worth discussing w/the doc...

My solution has been to not take any NSAID's at all. BC3 is right, they are notorious for causing stomach problems and cause many deaths in the US every year (from stomach perforation that may not even be accompanied with pain). I did take lots before I was formally diagnosed but did not take a single one after my diagnosis and once I was placed on Prednisone and Methtraxate. My doctor actually encouraged me to take some if I felt I needed them, but, I told him that I need to know if I have pain and how much of it I have, so I can monitor the tapering of the Prednisone better. So far, it has worked for me. I hope a similar arrangement will work for you, Caren28. Take care. Fran

Have you tried taking the NSAIDS with a med that coats your stomach and helps to absorb the acid, like AcipHex? It is a one per day pill and you take it with the NSAIDS. It definitely helps to coat your stomach.

I only take Motrin IB every day with food or milk and so far it has been okay. I do not eat anything acidy like oranges or tomatoes, or eggplant as they can aggravate my stomach.

My pharmacist also suggested taking Maalox or Mylanta as an OTC antacid when taking the NSAIDS.