Omeprazole and NSAIDs

[kellehbeans]

I've just had the most random of all conversations with a duty doctor. I have a lot of joint pain at the moment, and ibuprofen gel does not seem to be doing the job. I literally have pain in my lower back, both knees (left worse) and right ankle keeps seizing up. I honestly just called my doctor to ask him what I could take.

He told me I had a virus, and apparently this virus can mimic joint pain (???????), and the best way is to take the NSAIDs, even with my stomach pain. He has prescribed me Omeprazole, which I have taken before (but for GERD), but apparently they can help protect your stomach and stop ulcers from forming?? Personally, I've never heard of this myself. I just did a quick Google search, and there are articles saying that it can help from duodenal and peptic ulcers from forming. But, nothing on if this can safely be done with somebody with CD or UC. (Undiagnosed at the mo)

So my question is, has anybody had this prescribed before and how did you get on?

Thanks

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

Omeprazole is alright and I've taken it before. But, NSAID's are a sure nogo for me!!!! The caffeine in it alone will bring me to a sure flare. I don't like using it often. But, when all else fails tylenol 3 will work for really bad pain and discomfort.

 

[kellehbeans]

They suggested ibuprofen with me, which has no caffeine in at all. I'm not sure what they call that over the puddle! It's not a high dosage, just OTC painkillers, but want me to take 2 - 4 times a day. I just can't believe I got diagnosed with a virus over the phone!

Is Tylenol paracetamol? Not entirely sure on the name differences. If so, hasn't been helping, not even for headaches I have been getting. [emoji17]

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Ibuprofen is ibuprofen in the US as well. The brand name of ibuprofen is Advil. Yes, Tylenol is paracetamol. It's also called acetaminophen here (acetaminophen is the generic and Tylenol is the brand name here). Excedrin is the one that contains caffeine, I don't believe any other NSAIDs contain caffeine.

Tylenol 3 is Tylenol with codeine in it, so it's a bit more effective than regular Tylenol (which does nothing for me either). Tylenol 3 is by prescription-only in the US although I believe it can be found over-the-counter without a prescription in some countries (Canada? Not sure about the UK).

 

[kellehbeans]

Ahhh, Tylenol 3 is our cocodamol! You can buy it OTC in small amounts but I'm staying way away from that too because it can cause constipation!!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Ah, okay. That's not such a great idea then. Tylenol is really the only non-NSAID pain med that isn't going to cause constipation. I know you mentioned in the other thread that going into the hospital is an option - that might be the best choice at this point.

 

[kellehbeans]

Yup - shall prevail until Tuesday, when I can actually be examined! Going to try the ibuprofen and omeprazole, and if it makes me worse... Then OK, I'll be feeling worse, but I can maybe argue with them some more. Haha.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Good luck and I hope it doesn't make you too much worse! Keep us posted on what happens on Tuesday!

 

[Cody_1980]

Yeah Ibuprofen is a no go for me. I just use Tylenol or maybe a Norco if I have one.

 

[kellehbeans]

@Cody_1980 - I'm unsure why he's even done it to be quite honest. Tylenol (ha, I've got what it is now!) is really not helping me, not even headaches. Unsure why, guessing my body is just fighting too hard to keep everything inflamed!

 

[Cody_1980]

@Cody_1980 - I'm unsure why he's even done it to be quite honest. Tylenol (ha, I've got what it is now!) is really not helping me, not even headaches. Unsure why, guessing my body is just fighting too hard to keep everything inflamed!

Yep Tylenol does very little for me at this point. NSAIDS will just do more harm than good from what I can tell though.

 

[kellehbeans]

Yep Tylenol does very little for me at this point. NSAIDS will just do more harm than good from what I can tell though.

That is the general rule it seems! We shall see. My bath hasn't really helped and it has been an hour since I took the tablets.. Oh well, better let it build up in my blood stream I guess!

 

[Hattie95]

Just thought I'd say I've been on esomeprazole 40mg for over a month and it had been amazing, drastically reducing my nausea. I'd definitely recommend it!

 

[kellehbeans]

@Hattie95 - Unfortunately, I've already tried Omeprazole for GERD, and it never helped me. This time round, it's basically just to apparently protect me from the nasty side-effects of NSAIDs. I am hoping that 5 days is not a long enough time for me to get the nasty side-effects of the Omeprazole when I come off of it - last time I had the worst nausea and acid reflux ever!

 

[Hattie95]

Oh that's rubbish, poor you! Hopefully it will help this time, fingers crossed!

 

[Bunty]

I take lansaprazole 30 mgs every morning and find it helps enormously with the chronic indigestion I get from steroids, which I'm currently taking for a flare. I also take ranitidine 300 mgs in the evening for the same problem, the combination of the two drugs has certainly seen off the indigestion.
As I understand it, the omeprazole is similar but different to lansaprazole, and will protect your stomach from the NSAIDs, as lansaprazole does in protecting mine from the steroids.
One thing always leads to another doesn't it??
Bunty x

 

[kellehbeans]

@Bunty - It definitely does - I'm having to be so careful with what I eat at the moment, as I have strict instructions not to take indigestion medicines with the Omeprazole and I know it doesn't help my GERD sometimes my indigestion makes me sick... I hate being on meds.. The NSAIDs seem to be helping my joints, but once the effect has worn off, still there.. Did a light cardio session tonight. Admittedly, it hurt. But without the pain relief, I think I'd have been a complete goner!

 

[SCCrohnie]

I've had Crohn's for almost 30 years and gastritis for 15 years. I've taken omeprazole without incident for years at a time for what it's worth.

 

[kellehbeans]

I've had Crohn's for almost 30 years and gastritis for 15 years. I've taken omeprazole without incident for years at a time for what it's worth.

Were you given NSAIDs at the same time though?

 

[kellehbeans]

As an update, I came off of the NSAIDs yesterday. A few hours after missing a dose, my knees started to cramp up again. Today, I am suffering from headaches again. Stomach has got considerably worse but I think that's in correlation to other problems I have, rather than taking NSAIDs.

 

[Bunty]

Kelle, I'm so sorry you're going through such misery with all this right now.
Something which might make you smile...I'm currently sitting in my static caravan having arrived here about an hour ago, it's about 100 metres from the River Thames and three miles from Marlow, not a million miles from Reading!
Bunty x

 

[kellehbeans]

@Bunty - I honestly thought it may help, along with the Uniroid-HC, the suspected Proctitis I have, but to no avail. *sigh*

I think I know *roughly* where you are! Marlow is a nice place, there's a few nice cafes there which do some amazing food! Enjoy your stay there! I bet you have lovely views!

 

[Bunty]

I developed an internal and external pile a couple of months ago after having to use Predfoam enema when I started to flare. It did nothing for the flare but did give me these two delightful piles, first I've ever had in my life.
I tried germaloids ointment and suppositories and when they didn't do anything I saw my doctor. She prescribed something which sounds similar to what you're using, a cortisone cream and suppositories. Again, these did nothing so I went back to the doctor. She said there was nothing else she could give me but that the piles would gradually decrease because I'm actually currently taking oral prednisolone to try and get on top of this flare.
She was right too, this nasty external one is now half the size it was, so I'm hopeful that in another three and a half weeks, which is when I'll have finished tapering off the prednisolone, this darned thing will have disappeared.
I know some people find Predfoam really works for UC and proctitis but it didn't do a thing for me...except give me piles! Mind you, they now say I have crohns, not UC which is what I was diagnosed with last year.
I hope you get a diagnosis sooner rather than later, and can get some treatment which works for you.
Bunty x

 

[kellehbeans]

I developed an internal and external pile a couple of months ago after having to use Predfoam enema when I started to flare. It did nothing for the flare but did give me these two delightful piles, first I've ever had in my life.
I tried germaloids ointment and suppositories and when they didn't do anything I saw my doctor. She prescribed something which sounds similar to what you're using, a cortisone cream and suppositories. Again, these did nothing so I went back to the doctor. She said there was nothing else she could give me but that the piles would gradually decrease because I'm actually currently taking oral prednisolone to try and get on top of this flare.
She was right too, this nasty external one is now half the size it was, so I'm hopeful that in another three and a half weeks, which is when I'll have finished tapering off the prednisolone, this darned thing will have disappeared.
I know some people find Predfoam really works for UC and proctitis but it didn't do a thing for me...except give me piles! Mind you, they now say I have crohns, not UC which is what I was diagnosed with last year.
I hope you get a diagnosis sooner rather than later, and can get some treatment which works for you.
Bunty x

Ouchies! My doctor diagnosed me with haemorrhoids, although in her notes she did not denote whether or not they were internal or external. I know I have an external fissure, and a very sore inside, so whether or not it is riddled with fissures - well, I'll find out in a few hours. I have only ever been given ointments, I've had the Anusol-HC and now Uniroid-HC. Neither worked, in fact, I seemed to have got worse. Because I am undiagnosed, there is no way I am probably going to get anything along those lines. I'm hoping tonight will shed some light. Surely with NSAIDs it'd help clear up inflammation, but I guess it's a little more complicated than that!

EDIT: 8 weeks and counting