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Crohn's & Ibuprofen - A Question for the Ladies!

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Posted 1/3/2008 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
I've been advised not to take Ibuprofen since it can cause a crohn's flare up.  Plus, it makes me extremely nauseous.  Ladies-What do you take during your period that offers relief for cramping?  Tylenol doesn't work for me and I don't want to have to suffer thru the cramps. 
Posted 1/3/2008 9:53 PM (GMT 0)

I didn't know ibuprofen could cause a flare--glad I read this post!

I would like to know what pain relievers are considered safe.  I hope there are more options than tylenol!

Posted 1/3/2008 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
hi amy i take buscopan but im from the uk not sure what you would take in the us my doctor would not advise ibuprofen because it causes inflammation so im told.
Posted 1/3/2008 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly, I've never had a problem with ibuprofen causing or worsening a flare. But that's just me, it probably affects everyone differently. Tylenol does nothing for my menstrual cramps, so once a month I indulge in some ibuprofen to calm the pain. And a heating pad.
Posted 1/3/2008 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
My doc told me that there is new evidence that ibuprofen is not as bad as previously believed. I was still told to take the drug sparingly but was given the okay for use of monthly cramps.
Posted 1/3/2008 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had a problem with Ibuprofen and take it when needed.
Posted 1/3/2008 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Ibuprofen can cause flares. My old GI use to tell me to take it for my joints and when I had pain since he refused to script me pain meds...thats good hmm ur flaring...here have something that may make it worse.

I take pamprin or something like that. I use the one that has tylenol in it. I am flaring and that is even worse to take advil when u are in a flare. You also should never take naprosen (aleve). I typically found that I have less cramping since being on birth ontrol but I still have pain. I still have strong pain meds since my surgery. I try to go with heating pads and tea.
Posted 1/4/2008 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
My 13 year old is highly allergic to advil/aspirin products and she takes Premsym PMS or Midol teen formula (they have an adult one too. Both work great!!!

Christine
Posted 1/4/2008 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I also take Motrin if absolutely needed,I do find that when my knees/legs ache some Tylenol Arthritis works also.

Posted 1/4/2008 6:17 AM (GMT 0)
I just found this article that is about a study of NSAIDs and IBD. The researchers concluded that it is ok for some patients to take NSAIDs occasionally for pain.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/PepticUlcerDisease/tb/2616

Either way, I'd definitely talk to your doctor before taking anything. Hope this helps!
Posted 1/4/2008 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
Far as I know 5ASA meds like asprin, advil, ect can promote bleeding in the bowels, which may lead to worsening/causing flares.

Since I drink chamomile tea everyday (a natural anti-inflammatory and an aid for menstral cramps) I don't have to take anything for that pain anymore, on occassion if it's a heavier than normal period with some menstral cramping I use a heating pad or do stomach crunches which really does work, but likely because I exercise regularly and drink chamomile tea daily is the reason why I rarely ever get period cramps.

:)
Posted 1/4/2008 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
My gran and great gran both died from perforated stomach ulcers which was described as being caused by prolonged use of NSAIDs and all my doctors have always said not to take it as it could make the Crohn's worse especially with my family history. But when my arthritis is bad the only thing that will make the swelling and pain go down is ibuprofen so on bad days I do take it even though it puts the fear in me but sometimes with the amount of pain I'm in the pros of taking it outweigh the longterm risk, i know I may well regret saying that someday but I just live day to day and think that at least if I do get damage I'm closely monitored enough by my doctors for it not to cause too serious a problem.

I haven't had a period in over 2 years (I have the contraceptive implant) but when I used to have them I got really bad cramps and the best thing for it I found was relaxing rub and heat patches, no painkiller would ever quite get rid of the pain/horrible periody feeling for me!

Posted 1/4/2008 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
i take ibu for headaches, migranes, cramps and when my body is sore. I used to take tylenol because I know it is gentle on the stomach, but I hear it's bad for the liver.. but never noticed any difference in pain and discomfort like when i take ibu.
Posted 1/4/2008 1:38 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I'm going to try the natural route with chamomile tea and heating pads.  Hopefully, I can suffer thru and it will get better.  I love tea, but never realized chamomile could be so soothing.  Will give it a try!

Posted 1/4/2008 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Ibuprophen has aprin in it. That is probably why it is recommended to stay away from it. Asprin has been known to irritate the stomach.
Posted 1/4/2008 8:44 PM (GMT 0)

To the best of my knowledge Ibuprophen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, like aspirin.

It does not contain ASA.

Thanks

Kitt

Posted 1/4/2008 9:29 PM (GMT 0)

I took Advil for pain after my hemmroid surgery, which I believe contributed to the severity of my flare.  There were lots of other problems- I didn't know I had Crohn's and never should have had the surgery in the first place- but the amount of Advil I was taking definitely didn't help.

My GI has approved me to take Advil for joint pain, but so far I refuse.  I'm just too worried about what it might do to my guts.  I am considering trying it for my period next week, though.  The period cramps set off other cramping, and I spend the better part of the morning in the bathroom for two or three days.  If I can stop the period cramping, maybe the rest won't be so bad.

Posted 1/4/2008 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I take Midol or Pamprin and it helps a lot.
Posted 1/4/2008 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
I believe that the ASA in asprin and such is a completely different compound than 5ASA found in Asacol, ect.

:)
Posted 1/4/2008 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
I skip most of my periods (with birth control pills). I get horrible PMS, migraines, cramps the works. Plus it usually causes my stomach to act up. Now that I skip them I don't get all those symptoms.

But what I used to do, tylenol (since I can't take anything else) and use a heating pad! I was taking asprin for headaches a few years ago. It caused a major flare and a serious GI bleed. So my doctor has told me to NEVER touch any NSAID. Good luck!

Posted 1/4/2008 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
I took ibuprofen for years and it eventually caught up with me. I was hospitalized 4 times in a 6 month period. Becareful- b/c I didn't have any problems until about 15 years passed. During this time- I took ibuprofen and yes it will cause a flare.
Posted 1/4/2008 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
I take Nuprin and it seems to help a little bit. Just last week though, my cramps were so bad that I was throwing up from the pain and the Nuprin didn't work so I had to take a Vicodin.
Posted 1/5/2008 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
O.K. you guys are going to think I'm crazy, but my neighbor told me to drink jello water when I was bleeding too heavy and cramping bad. I tried it and it actually does better on my cramps than anything else. I just rip open a box of jello, heat a mug of water and pour in about half or more of a box. It slows the bleeding down too.
Posted 1/5/2008 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm, I think I will try the jello water thing. I usually take Midol when I have cramps, it works for me. My sister takes Tylenol PMS, says it works really good. I also heard from many people that ibuprofin can be hard on the stomach, as it can cause inflamation. Too bad though because whenever I used to take it for headaches, it worked better than anything else.
Posted 1/11/2008 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I do believe ibuprofen can be risky, especially in large amounts. I had serious internal bleeding and had to be hospitalized for a week in a remote part of Alaska and needed a blood transfusion. I thought it was my Crohns disease acting up but doctors could find nothing out and attributed it to the large amounts of ibuprofen I had recently been taking (for muscle aches, etc). I am nervous about taking it now but find it is the only thing that helps cramps hence I ONLY take it for the first day of cramping.
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