The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Posted by Jeanna (Sacramento, CA) on 10/28/2006
I've had acid reflux in 1987 again in 1992 when I was in the military. I got ibuprofen from the on call doctors. I had tendonitis in my legs so the I started to use for any problems. I had until 1998 when I had a pain in my stomach I was week a felt horrible like I wouldn't live. I saw a doctor in vermont about my symptoms he didn't know why I was sick a few days later I got even sicker my roommate said had a holistic doctor she wanted me to go to after she looked me over she found I Ibuprofen had built up in my system so much I nearly died. she then figured out what my body needed to get now I try not to take the ibuprofen any more
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Posted by Joanna (Santa Barbara, CA) on 10/27/2006
Got acid reflux three days ago after an approx. two week regimen of about 2-3 aspirins a day. I have always tried to avoid any drugs (because of well documented side effects) but gave in recently because of years of joint and muscle pain associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue. (Also, in the past few weeks, I have had to take about double my asthma meds."Advair and "Albuterol" because of flu/cold, and fires in surrounding areas.) I am 49 years old and up to about 10 years ago was very healthy and active and asthma was very,very seldom and no acid reflux. I hate this (and it's only been three days, 'can't even imagine all the people who have suffered years with acid reflux, there has GOT TO BE an answer) and do not want to take any prescription meds. for acid reflux. (I am thinking that asthma and acid reflux are connected.) Took apple cider vinegar, apples, dill pickles for one day and (NO aspirin, and less asthma meds.) so far still have acid reflux, but 'am keeping a record, so will write again in a few days. Hoping and praying it will work.
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Posted by Rhonda (Columbia, SC) on 10/25/2006
I started taking Tylenol PM at least three times a week in 2001 and suddenly started having symptoms in 2002. I have noticed that apple cider gives immediate relief of acid reflux surpassing tums, prilosec and maalox.
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Posted by Richard (Pompano, FL) on 10/24/2006
I herniated 4 discs and lived on morphine, and hydrocondine with ibuprofen x4 daily. After 1 year, got acid reflux real really bad. Halted all meds and used apple cider vinegar x2 daily. 1 tbspn acv 2 tbspn honey, in tea or what ever works for you. Didn't cure the back pain but the gerd is slowly going away, thank god!
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Posted by Danielle (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) on 10/22/2006
Wow, so it really is Ibuprofen. I had no idea something that should be helping me could do so much harm. I wish, ~ I wish~ I had known better. After a serious back injury at work, I began taking as many as 15 - 200mg of ibuprofen a day, while I can't remember exactly when it started, after 2 years I have occasional symptoms of acid reflux. At times I constantly had the taste of bile, and would wake several times a night with burning sensations. I tried several types of meds, pepsid ac, pepto bismol, tums, and nothing really solved the problem, they were only temporary and only masked it. Finally after an extremely painful gallbladder attack, I stopped everything, painkillers, vitamins, the salsa and spicy foods I love. I started chewing gum again,( I had stopped because I thought maybe it had something to do with my problem) focused on consuming as much water as I could stand and began drinking- pickle juice-. I feel, and believe that the pain of acid reflux was caused by poor diet choices, spicy foods, caffeine and not ENOUGH acids in my stomach.
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Posted by Ash (Japan) on 10/22/2006
'So far i have had acid reflux for over a year. my british doctor put me on omeprazole 20 mg caps. I took them as prescribed and all was good. I moved to japan with my wife and the doc gave me a few extra pack of omeprazole to have "just in case", i was taking them for a month which i have since found out was rather silly. anyhow, i now have no omeprazole and no heartburn cool.. until i get a migraine and need to take my regular painkiller. Nurofen (british) I bought loads of pills to take with me to japan as they are the best ones for my migraines. i asked for the stronger of the nurofens available and was happy. I took the migraine nurofen pill , rested, and all was fine. that was 2 days ago, i am writing this now because my acid reflux has flared up really badly and i was researching what to do, and found this site... wow, nurofen, good for one thing, bad for another, what am i to do . i found some websites that offer ebooks at varying prices, of which i can't afford, to give total cures to acid reflux, Can someone buy one of these and post the results here please. The sites say its a cure u can buy from your local supermarket, i think an apple is one of them, why do we have to pay to find out natural cures . I have been researching now for 5 hrs solid and need a break , this is by far the best site so far.. well done. keep up the good work and i wish you all a reflux free future.. ps on another note . please be aware of the new world order , we all need to understand something big is going to happen within 5 years. if the small make a stand, we may gain a chance to live in peace..
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Posted by Laura (Los Angeles) on 10/20/2006
★☆☆☆☆
I'm responding to the survey on ibuprofen and GERD. I was just diagnosed with GERD, which surprised me because I never have heartburn and assumed that my constant throat clearing and voice fatigue was due to allergies or LA air or something. Anyway, I vote NAY on the ibuprofen theory. I rarely take painkillers of any kind, but I do vote YES on the soda theory and would love to hear more responses to that. I've been drinking lots of Diet Coke for almost 20 years. I'm trying the ACV, but have no opinion yet.
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Posted by Lisa (Florida) on 10/18/2006
Excedrin Migraine is one painkiller that has torn up my stomach. An hour or more after taking it and I feel sick to my stomach and it burns really bad. Please be careful with how much Excedrin you consume. I use Chewing gum, antacids and milk to treat acid reflux. Chewing gum made me burp a little which helped some of the sting in my stomach and chest. I recommend milk though, it has always helped me.
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Posted by Charlene (Smithfield, RI) on 10/16/2006
I never thought there was a correlation between reflux and Advil/ibuprofen. I tend to think there is because I took it for my period last month and now have a terrible case of reflux which I'm treating with ACV, the only thing that helps me. I take 2tsp in a 16oz bottle of water daily. And of course avoid coffee and other trigger foods. I had very minimal heartburn until I had gallbladder issues and eventually had it removed last year. Now I seem to have chronic reflux that comes and goes along w/IBS. I have been trying to manage both conditions and it isn't easy, but the ACV does help tremendously. I am very medicine sensitive and most meds do not agree w/me, so I always try herbal remedies first before resorting to meds.
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Posted by Mark (Davenport, IA) on 10/14/2006
I ALWAYS THOUGHT IBUPROFEN WAS THE CAUSE AND EVEN TOLD MY DOCTOR THE FIRST TIME HE PRESCRIBED IT. AND WHEN HE TRIED TO PRESCRIBE IT FOR ANOTHER INJURY, I SAID NO. HIS STATEMENT WAS IT UPSETS EVERYONES STOMACH . IT'S NICE TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE'S RESPONSES.
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Posted by Reece (Brisbane, Australia) on 10/13/2006
★☆☆☆☆
Re: reflux caused by Ibuprofen sorry, I don't even know how to spell it, because i have never used it. I have reflux. I have never taken ANY pills too much, let alone that one. Very very rarely have i taken medication. This is not what caused my reflux :( MY friend uses ibuprofen all the time and has no reflux. So, there has to be yet another reason :(
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Posted by Moira (Topeka, Kansas) on 10/06/2006
Besides ibuprofen as a possible cause for reflux, what about antibiotics - used for ear infections, acne, bronchitis, etc?
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Posted by Lorraine (Half Moon Bay, CA) on 10/06/2006
I had a "frozen shoulder" and the physical therapy was a bit painful. I was told by the physical therapist, and previously by a chiropractor, that Advil was beneficial to help the inflammation. The chiropractor said that 2400 mg daily was okay, and I got into the habit of taking it 3 pills at a time. One day I started having lingering abdominal cramps and heartburn. I went to a doctor and he said there was a sore on my larynx that looked to be from stomach acid. he put me on Nexium and told me to stop taking Advil. He also gave me a list of foods not to eat (tomato, chocolate etc.) My symptoms got better on this program, but my stomach still seems more sensitive than it used to be.
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Posted by Mary (Los Angeles) on 09/30/2006
I now have Acid Reflux Disease. The Ibuprofen was given to me to cure Migraine headaches it caused me immense pain in my stomach. I took them on and off for about five years and since they did not help me I just stopped. Finally learned that the migraine was from an aneurysm in my brain. After the operation the headaches stopped. Many medications have such terrible side effects. They gave me Dilantan so I wouldn't have any seizures and it caused my gums to bleed severely. I only took them for about six months that was 6 years ago and my gums still bleed. We are all better off taking natural remedies. If you have to take meds make sure you take Acidophilus to give back healthy bacteria in your intestines. Good health to all. And blessings to the creator of this website.
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Posted by Jeannette (Northfield, Vermont) on 09/30/2006
I was taking Nexium for LPR Reflux.' Will try your cider vinegar remedy. I hate taking medication. I too, have been having sore throat so have been taking Advil. Seemed to make my condition worse (now I understand why!!!!). So bad that I would wake in the middle of the night with coughing fits that lead to my throat closing up and causing me to literally "gulp" for air. I too had tried the South Beach diet about a month before I starting having a problem with sore throats. To top it off, I have been recently drinking a lot of 100% grape juice. Hope this remedy works!
