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Arthritis meds and UC

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Posted 4/22/2010 3:49 PM (GMT 0)

I was on a high dosage of Celebrex for years and then was diagnosed with UC and was immediately pulled off.  The Celebrex was great for my arthritis, but my doctor told me it was murder on my colon.  Needless to say, the last 5 years have been rough arthritis-wise.  I have had arthoscopy on my knees, and get synvisc every year.  My insurance won't cover but once a year.  I happened to meet a couple of people with UC and Chrons and each of them had been on Celebrex before discovering their UC. 

I was just wondering if anyone on this forum was taking any arthritis medication before the onset of their UC?

Posted 4/22/2010 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
What kind of arthritis do you have? Because I know at least one kind is autoimmune, in which case some of the same therapies are used for both UC AND arthritis.
Posted 4/22/2010 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Malkavian,

I have Osteoarthritis... The Synvisc is made from the combs of roosters and it is injected into my knees. The liquid gels in a couple of weeks and the relief is wonderful. It only lasts about 8 months though. Nothing for my shoulders, elbows and hands though.
Posted 4/22/2010 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had been on Celebrex while I had UC for a bit, but I can't recall if I was taking it before my current flare or not. I have some relatively minor back problems and the Celebrex helped take the edge off of the pain fairly well. I can't attribute it to anything though as I had signs of UC (trace amounts of mucus and blood, for instance) years before I ever had any back problems.
Posted 4/22/2010 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
I have primarily back problems(disks) but also osteoarthritis. I was using a prescription dose level of aleve for years prior to getting diagnosed with UC . I definitely think the Aleve at least helped trigger UC. I know tons of people that have had GI problems and wish they never took any of the anti-inflammatory drugs. Some of them had severe pain and went to narcotic pain killers others just quit like me. I honestly got better after my UC was treated. Connection? I don't know. It is possible I had undiagnosed UC for years and it made my back problems much worse..don't know.

I am not clear if sulfazine helps with just rheumtoid arthitis or osteo also?

I have got just as much relief in the evenings with ice packs as I did with Aleve. What Aleve did was keep me working longer...maybe.

Most doctors seem clueless that NSAIDS are not a good idea with UC which is pretty scary. I wouldn't touch Cox-2s like Celebrex because of the cardia issues...so just stuck I guess.
Posted 4/22/2010 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on NSAIDS throughout my time with UC. Fortunately they haven't caused bleeding, because I can't get by without them. I'd be taking something much stronger if I had to stop taking them. I went off the NSAIDs for two weeks before my knee surgery, and almost couldn't walk by the time of my surgery.

My new rheumatologist recently put me on Mobic. He said it's less likely to cause GI irritation than some of the others.

I don't believe the NSAID caused my UC.
Posted 4/22/2010 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
I also have OA and I take Celebrex 200mgs daily. At first I was only taking it when I needed it but I found that by taking it every night, it helps me sleep better. It doesn't affect my Uc now but when I first started it, it bothered it a bit. I also take Tylonel Arthritis. Both of these meds help my back and knees but it doesn't help that much with my hands.

Btw, this med regimine was approved by my GI as long as I stopped taking it if it started to bother my Uc.

Posted 4/23/2010 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
judy2,MOBIC!!!! are this doctor kidding . i tried this medicine before, 2(7.50) mg a day . it's vary well for all arthritics types but caused me 10 bloody diarrhea a day. i just stopped it a month ago it caused me the worst flare since 2005 ..... i tried every thing to treat arthritics .it is removing from the knee to other knee , shoulders and pelvis .......

i choosed sections and precautions of mobic:
"NSAIDS should be give with care to patients with a history of gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis and chron's) as these condition my be exacerbated ( see side effects)"

in the side effets. gastrointestinal disorders . rare (gastrointestinal perforation, gastritis , colitis )

arthritics is a mess ... arthritics with ulcerative colitis is a nightmare
Posted 4/23/2010 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
As I said, NSAIDS have not bothered my GI system, and I frankly have a choice to take them, remain stoned on narcotics or not be able to get out of bed, walk or do anything else. I had the arthritis before I had the UC.
Posted 4/23/2010 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
I was on one (and for the life of me can't remember its name) when I first visited my GI and he insisted I get off of it immediately. I never noticed any correlation between my symptoms and any of these anti-inflammatories, so when I had my next flare and was on Celebrex I asked to stay on it because it was really helping me. Surprisingly my GI was quite accommodating, saying I could use my own judgment, though later during a moment of desperation I voluntarily gave it up and haven't been on one since.
Posted 4/23/2010 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
They gave me Celebrex post-op with my hip replacement surgery during my few days in the hospital.... no problem for me.
For months I've taken Ryzolt, a new 24-hour time release version of tramadol. It helped my arthritis amazingly (OA) and didn't affect my gut at all.
I had taken Advil at the max OTC dose for about 3 days some 20 years ago and it had sent me into a bloody flare.... so I haven't taken ibuprofen since then.
Posted 4/23/2010 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like the OP's doctor is overracting.

The rationale to withhold NSAIDs in patients with UC has been suspect for some time.  It was believed that NSAIDs would cause a flare.  However, when the methodology of the study was scrutinized, it was found to be flawed.

It was thus:  Of patients who ended up in the hospital with a UC flare, how many had taken NSAIDs in the past two weeks (30 days?).  From there it was determined that NSAIDs will provoke a flare.

However, people pop these things like candy.  As an analogy:  Of patients who ended up in the hospital with a broken leg, how many had taken NSAIDs in the past two weeks?  No one would suggest causation in that case. . . .

That said, and what probably provoke the study, NSAIDs are hard on the GI tract (and liver and kidneys). 

I've taken NSAIDs with UC all along, and I've never had a problem.  I'd use my own good judgement and experience in guiding my choices.

Posted 4/24/2010 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting comments on NSAIDS and GI bleeding by a GI doctor and professor of medicine. It mentions that it is common for patients with diverticular disease to get severe bleeding after ingesting a single dose of NSAID.

http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/when-pain-relievers-cause-bleeding/

I think it is pretty convincing that NSAID will cause ulcers to bleed more and damage mucous lining. Apparently small and large intestinal bleeding is now more common that stomach bleeds.
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