WebMD:
Arthrotec 50 oral Warnings

This medication is a combination of 2 drugs, diclofenac and misoprostol. Do not take this medication if you are pregnant or think that you may be pregnant. Misoprostol may cause loss of pregnancy, premature birth, or birth defects. In rare cases, serious complications (e.g., uterine rupture) have occurred when misoprostol was used to start labor or used in combination with another drug to end pregnancy after the eighth week. These complications have resulted in harm to the unborn baby and mother.

Avoid pregnancy while taking this medication and for at least one month or one complete menstrual cycle after you have stopped treatment. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

If you are of a woman of childbearing age, do not use this medication unless you require a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as diclofenac and you are at high risk of having an ulcer or ulcer complications from NSAID treatment.

Female patients must meet the following four requirements in order to use this drug: 1) test negative for pregnancy within 2 weeks before starting treatment; 2) use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy; 3) receive oral and written warnings on the dangers of using misoprostol while of childbearing age and the risks of possible birth control failure; 4) start taking this medication only on the second or third day of the next normal menstrual period.

This medication must not be shared with others.

Diclofenac may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding from the stomach or intestines. This side effect can occur without warning at any time during treatment with diclofenac. The elderly are at increased risk for serious stomach/intestinal bleeding.

Drugs related to diclofenac have rarely caused blood clots to form, resulting in serious (possibly fatal) heart attacks and strokes. This medication might also rarely cause similar problems. The risk of these serious side effects may be greater if you have heart disease or increased risk for heart disease (for example, due to smoking, family history of heart disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes), or with longer use of this medication. This drug should not be taken right before or after heart bypass surgery (CABG).

Stop taking this medication and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: black stools, persistent stomach/abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech.

Perhaps it would be better if you took a COX-2 inhibitor like Celebrex.I've been taking a similar drug called Arcoxia for my OA and my stomach which used to hurt a lot is now better.Unfortunately Arcoxia doesn't kill the pains any more, I should undergo a total hip replacement (both joints).Life is terrible with OA.

Yes, I have read all the warnings about the drug. None of that is a concern here. I'm interested in how effective the drug is on pain. I have a back injury from 12 years ago. When it acts up, the only thing that helps me is percadan. Unfortunately, I just can't take that anymore because it triggers very severe migraines in me, so I need an alternative. I have indomethicine, but I've already given myself 2 ulcers from taking that drug. So there is my problem. I need something strong, but it can't be a narcotic. And the NSAIDs that are out there usually are not strong enough, so the amount I have to take is usually more than the recommended dose. Hence, why I have had the ulcers in the past. That's why arthrotec was recommended to me.

Celebrex didn't work for me. So if arthrotec is on the same level as celebrex, I won't even bother getting the script filled. I just really need an alternative to the narcotic.

Arcoxia is not approved by the FDA in the USA, because of hearth and stroke.
It is marketed outside the USA.
I have low tolerance to medicines, and I just use PT, meditation, self Hypnosis for pain, specially since I also beside OA I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

Yvette,

I tried Arthrotec and it killed my stomach. So I do not take it anymore. The Rheumatologist said it has a coating in it and should not bother my stomach but it did. I was so disappointed.
I cannot take NSAID's because my stomach cannot tolerate them.
Even tho it is supposed to have a protective stomach agent in the Medication it still caused my stomach to be like on fire and burning.
Also you cannot cut the pill in half because of how it is released in to the system. But everyone is different when it comes to Medications so the only way to really know is to try it and see what happens. It is at least worth trying. That is the only way to know if it will help you. But I did not take it long enough to see if it would have helped the Arthritis pain because of it causing me so much stomach pain.
Good luck to you whatever you decide to do.

DaisyGirl,

Thanks for replying. As I stated in one of my posts, I wanted this to replace my percadan because percadan gives me migraines. I just wanted to know how potent this medication is. I'm already on Indocin, which is very strong, but has caused me ulcers in the past. Arthrotec sounded like a good alternative, but perhaps I will just stay on the indocin and just double or triple my dose of prevacid.

Indocin is indomethacin.The frequency and severity of side effects and the availability of better tolerated alternatives make indomethacin today a drug of second choice.Contraindication-peptic ulcer or history of ulcer disease.

bstaykova- Thanks, but I don't need webmd cited to me about the medication I'm taking. I'm well aware of ALL of it.