anti inflamatories

Hello Jean

I personally never take antiinflamatory tablets just cope with Paracetamols but I am sure others do Cocodamel and Ibrufen but Im sure they will advise you especially Eileen !

Mrs G

Hi Jean - long time no hear!

The main reason for not taking NSAIDs together with steroids is because both have the capacity to irritate the stomach and - in the long term - cause ulceration. However, there are some doctors who will tell patients to use both - how confusing! Almost all pharmacists will say NO! I think that what they really mean is no to using both of them longterm but simply say no if you ask them.

I use small amounts of ibuprofen when I need a painkiller as paracetamol does nothing for me and anything with codeine just makes me feel ill (and there is the risk of constipation as well). However, I use the bright pink 400mg tablets which you get on prescription which seem to have a different outer coating from the stuff you buy OTC. I've mentioned this before, but when ibuprofen went OTC the company were furious because the correct way to use it is to take a flooding dose of 800mg - this is enough to fill up all the receptors (the things it binds to in the body to make it work), this stops the pain and then you top up with a much smaller dose at intervals as needed. If you don't do this it isn't so effective in dealing with the pain and you actually end up needing more because you keep taking the small dose recommended on the pack as often as you are allowed.

More often than not I take 800mg once and that is it - don't need any more for pain that day. Taken like that for a few days maximum shouldn't cause any gastric problem - especially if you take it at the same time as food and if you also take a PPI (omeprazole or the like). I wouldn't take it every day for weeks and weeks - but you shouldn't do that anyway without asking the doctor why you need so much pain relief.

That's the best I can offer,

Eileen

Hi Jean

Like Mrs G, I never take anti-inflammatories, mainly because I have a kidney problem and they are known to be bad for the kidneys. However, in line with what Eileen has said, I did once see a Renal Consultant and he said it may be ok for me to take them just for a few days if ever I couldn't cope with my back pain. BUT that was in the days before steroids and I would hesitate to take them now on both counts. Eileen may be the best one to listen to here as she seems to have the experience of being able to take a one off large dose without problems. Do hope whatever your pain is that you can get relief somehow - PMR pain is quite enough to be going along with! :wink:

MrsO

Hallo Jean. Not much experience here but I enquired especially about Pred. and Cocodamol when I had a possibly difficult tooth extraction coming up and was assured it was ok.

I know Eilleen warns against inadvertantly overdosing on Paracetamol as it's an ingredient of various over the counter remedies so we do need to be aware and read the label on anything we take. Cannot believe that people don't, but there!

I found the permitted 2 tabs of cocodamol absolutely zonked me out and even one made me woozy. I have on two or three days lately taken just half a tab and that was enough to take the edge off the pain I was getting. ( Own fault. Did too much heavy gardening )

Hope your pain soon subsides. BettyE

Hello Jean........ my rheumy told me I could take Co-Codamol safely alongside steroids......... I take 30/500 when pain is awful and it does take edge off it BUT as Eileen says, the effects not nice especially the constipation and feeling out of it!!! So try not to take anything until I absolutely have to....

PS They haven't caused constipation yet. Perhaps that's a side effect I am going to miss. I hope.

BettyE

I took codeine (not sure if that's the same) when I had a very painful bout of hip bursitis and seemed a bit constipado after so took lactulose doc had given me and within 12 hours it did the trick! However, I find a good old curry keeps you going!! Better than meds!

Beev

beev, as far as I can remember without digging the box out, I think cocodamol is a combination of codeine and paracetamol but the proportions vary.

I've taken codeine in the past for bad toothache and found it ok. Won't be happening much any more as there is only one tooth left. No need for sympathy; I prefer my plastic ones!