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Pain Killers make stomach pain worse???

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 10/7/2006 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I have recently experimented with pain killers (both Vicodin and Tyonel w/ Codeine) and have found that both times I have taken them they have made my stomach pains much much worse. In fact, when I took the Tyonel w/ Codeine, my stomach pain got so bad that I almost had to go to the ER. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Also, does anyone have any ideas at all why this may be happening?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Rob
Posted 10/7/2006 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rob,
I have a theory about Tylenol.... It has caffeine in it and most IBSers can't handle caffeine. I took it once, a long time ago, for a headache and it messed my stomach up pretty bad (pain, nausea, D).
Vicodin isn't all that unheard of to cause stomach problems. Lots of people can't handle it because it makes them super nauseous.
I'm pretty sure both medicines side effects include constipation. If you don't drink enough water, at least 8 cups of water a day, it can cause serious constipation which results in pain. Adding fiber to your diet when taking these is recommended as well.
Personally, I've never taken either of these medications. Hopefully someone will be around who has and can give you more info.
Take care.
Posted 10/7/2006 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Ya, I know it has Caffeine in it, but I drink Coffee in the morning and it doesn't mess my stomach up. I mean, when I say my stomach was hurting after I took the painkillers, it was hurting and burning so bad, I thought I was gonna die; so I don't think it was the caffeine. Something tells me that I might have an ulcer or somthing along those lines. Also, I didn't get constipated or naseaus from the Vicodin, just serious stomach burning/knawing. I do drink about 6 cups of water everyday and excercise and eat very healthy (also take fiber capsules).
I'm thinking that there's more going in my GI tract apart from IBS, and was just wondering if anyone else get these types of pains from Pain Killers.
Posted 10/8/2006 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
i have tried lots of pain killers with no luck, but just recentley i have been taking soluble paracetamol, and it has fetched the pain level down, along with a hot water bottle on the tummy, nothing else seems to work for me.
Posted 10/9/2006 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
I know OTC pain relievers--like ibuprofen and aspirin--are hard on the stomach, especially if you have an ulcer (aspirin, I believe, can even make ulcers bleed). You may want to get an endoscopy and have them look for ulcers and test for h. pylori bacteria.
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