How Long Till Anti-inflammatories Start Causing Ulcers? Posted: 04-10-07 02:19am
Three questions:
1) How long does one need to be taking
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for until
they start to cause gastrointestinal
problems such as stomach/intestinal
bleeding and peptic ulcers?
2) Is Celebrex really what they claim it
to be and won't any stomach problems in
the long run? (claimed to have no or very
little COX-1 inhibition)
3) Has anyone taken indomethacin? I was
just presribed this NSAID because all the
others I've tried over a length of two
years haven't worked - but I'm scared of
taking this one because of serious
warnings about stomach bleeding and other
potential serious side effects.
Thanks for any help in advance!
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futurelovers
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 101
Posted: 04-26-07 22:43pm
Anyone know?
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Peale
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 46 Location: Brattleboro, VT USA
Posted: 06-04-07 18:33pm
I'm kind of curious myself. I took quite
a few ibuprofen over the years, and
recently have started having stomach pains
when I take them. Needless to say I'm
taking as few as possible now.
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sillyakchick
Moderator
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2691
Thanks: 6
Thanked:0
Posted: 06-04-07 18:39pm
All anti inflammatory medications can have
an effect on the lining of the stomach,
esophagus, and other GI organs. Stopping
the medications is usually the best way to
prevent the symptoms. Some patients can
take these medications for a long time
with no effects, while others are not so
lucky. Celebrex is purported to be the
least irritating of the NSAIDS, but this
certainly does not make it symptom free.
If you plan to take these medications for
a long period of time, be sure to contact
your doctor if you experience any black
tarry stols, bloody vomiting, or stomach
pain. Many physicians will prescribe
medications for the stomach to help
protect it like Nexium, Pepcid, etc. If
you are not taking the medications any
longer, I would doubt that any gastro
effects would be caused by previously
taking them. However, once a person has
had an ulcer or other major irritation
caused by these medications, they are
cautioned for life not to resume them.
Out of curiosity, what are you taking
these medications for? There may be
others which would provide grerater
assistance to you with fewer side effects.
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Peale
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 46 Location: Brattleboro, VT USA
Posted: 06-04-07 18:48pm
sillyakchick
wrote:
Out of curiosity, what are
you taking these medications for? There
may be others which would provide grerater
assistance to you with fewer side
effects.
A number of years back I read an article
regarding a scientist that was looking for
a cure for the common cold. And while he
hasn't found a cure, what he did when he
got a cold was to take a lot of ibuprofen,
since the symptoms of a cold are basically
a lot of inflammation.
I don't get a lot of colds, so I didn't do
this often. But about two months ago I
got really sick, and was popping them like
crazy. It put the symptoms on the back
burner, but obviously had an effect.
I stopped taking them about a two weeks
ago when I started having some sharp pains
in my stomach. Pain went away. Today I
had some pain in my back so I popped a
couple. Big mistake, right now I've got
some sharp pains right at navel level.
Next time I'll take Tylenol.
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sillyakchick
Moderator
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2691
Thanks: 6
Thanked:0
Posted: 06-04-07 18:53pm
Careful with the Tylenol, too. Too much
of that can cause liver problems!
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crisiscounselor
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Cookeville TN
Posted: 06-11-07 16:03pm
For me, it took about 4 months of taking
4-8 Excedrin Migraine daily (yes, I know
it was wrong). Ended up with 4 duodenal
ulcers, h. pylori, thickened stomach wall,
mysterious (biopsy-negative) mass above
duodenum, food retention in stomach and
now WBC of 21,000. No appetite, nausea
w/no vomiting, 15 pound weight loss.
Waiting on appt. w/Doc at Vanderbilt.
Also have been having pain under my left
arm area last 6 days - probably an
inflammatory response of the lymphatic
system.
