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.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Sharon (Roswell, NM) on 12/29/2006
I started having alot of acid reflux, tender stomach and nausea in June, 2006. Long story short I had suffered a back injury while playing in the ocean on vacation in May, 2006 and started taking ibuprofen as other meds would not help the pain. The acid reflux and sick stomach got bad enough that I went to an internist. He did an ultrasound, endoscopy, colonoscopy and several other tests and all was clear. He felt that it was due to the ibuprofen and put me on Nexium. Now it is December, 2006 and I have taken myself off of the Nexium and within 2 days I am just as sick to my stomach as I was before. I am quite excited to read Rosemary's story and my husband is going for yougurt & acidophilus as I am writing this e-mail. Hope this works!
Reader Feedback
Posted by Kerry (Long Beach, CA) on 12/27/2006
acid reflux may indeed be caused by an excessive amount of pain killers...i'm going to prove this out....i have acid reflux, and take a lot of pain killers, and i have for years.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Bernice (Rochester, NY) on 12/27/2006
I have been taking advil and generic ibuprofen for years because it works fast...all of a sudden this year, I stated having this acid reflux where as I had never had any problem like that in my life...I believe this study is correct . I was wondering why everyone I talk to say they have it.. wow. Thanks so much for this info
Reader Feedback
Posted by Diane (Montreal, Canada) on 12/27/2006
Since I can remember, I was always acidic, even at 6 years and the years to come. The main reason is probably that I did not eat any fresh fruits and vegetables as I dislike them.
Later on, I took so many aspirins around my 15 years old to stop the pain from gums problems, I mean like 6 a day for 8 months or so. At that time, I had no idea how dangerous using Aspirin was. Plus I started smoking, which has not help my sensitive stomach already. At 18, I started Acid Reflux on and off for many years, with no idea about what caused it. As the years went by, I used some antacids all the time and had to be careful about the food intake as in no fats and I had to eat on a regular basis or my stomach would start hurting.
Later on, after having had to use Vioox, Roboxacet, Advil and many medicines for back and neck pain prescribed by doctors, I got myself a very bad stomach and the acid reflux started to hurt me a lot while I was on nicotine patch. Then I could say the nicotine patch gave me an ulcer and since that time about 10 years ago, I fight acid reflux most of the time with only months of feeling better.
Pills are not the answer for most of our health problem as it seems it is responsible for this problem, good food, (as in no bread or white pasta) no stress and exercises on a regular basis should be prescribed to everyone. This should be emphasis by doctors and made it easier to the sick one to start this healthy program by health insurance company.
It should be understood by everyone around, this way we could heal a lot faster and make sure this acidity does not become chronic as it is for me, that use two Nexium's a day now. I read today that this consumption of antacids is probably responsible for osteoporosis as it minimize the absorption of calcium. Me again.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Amy (Pensacola, FL) on 12/26/2006
I developed acid reflux when I was only 15. I had no idea what could've caused it because I considered myself to be a healthy person with a good diet. Well, I had been working at a coffee shop during the summer when I was 15, so I drank a lot of coffee. My doctor says all that caffeine probably contributed to it, as well as the fact that I used ibuprofen every month for menstrual cramps. My doctor put me on prevacid, which I used for a month till it ran out. I'm doing fine without it. My doctor said my esophagus just needed to heal. Eating a lot of yogurt seems to help too.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Denise (Tallahassee FL) on 12/12/2006
oh my GOD i have been in so much pain and suffering for a month or more i have had acid reflux for years was on nexium the drug failed me when i started to get leg pain it turned out i was anemic well i was taking ADVIL two or three at a time over a 7 week period well my legs are fine but my stomach is trashed. i have what they call a sunburn on my stomach and in my biopsy report it indicates ibuprofen use as a culprit. this article made me cry. i was so happy to find it to read it. I am going to do what Rosemary did. i prayed to god today to give me an answer. thank you so much i am sorry for my sake that i just found it but so grateful. thank you Rosemary, thank you
Reader Feedback
Posted by Dawn (Glendale, AZ) on 12/12/2006
i too started taking the ibuprofen and have really bad acid reflux that starts about 1am in the morning and sometimes continues all day. I take the advil pms to sleep and more ibuprofen during the day for my back and knee. any suggestions?
Reader Feedback
Posted by Sandy (California) on 11/28/2006
Do not use Ibuprofen/Advil or any of the antiinflamatory drugs if you are suffering from acid reflux. These type of drugs cause tissue to constrict opening up the esophagus passage allowing more acid to pass through aggravating acid reflux. Before I was diagnosed with acid reflux, the doctor assumed it was muscular pain and prescribed a stronger antiinflamatory drug. Within hours I was in agony and nearly landed in hospital. If you must have pain relief medication, use non antiinflamatory drugs!
Reader Feedback
Posted by Carol (Cumberland, MD) on 11/20/2006
I definitely agree with the idea that ibuprofen aggravates reflux. Last christmas I had a bad tooth and the only pain reliever that worked was ibuprofen. I took 4 doses a day (I couldn't get an appointment with the lousy dentist) for a month. My reflux was so bad I gave up tea, coffee, seltzer water and most food and lived on yogurt,herbal tea, and white foods (bread, rice, potatoes) - no tomatoes or spices. I took Protonix for a week before it calmed down my reflux. I have been very careful about my ibuprofen intake since. It works great but I hate the burn. Another big cause of reflux for me is carbonated drinks - coke, seltzer water, mt. dew - all burn my throat at times. Seltzer water has no acid, sugar or chemical sweeteners in it so I figure it is the carbonation in it.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Julie Anne (Lake County, FL) on 11/20/2006
I've had acid reflux disease for at least 6 years. I am only 22 years old. Everything you do takes a toll on your body more than you think. I believe i developed it because i would eat candy on an empty stomach, I wouldn't eat right away as soon as i was hungry( or if i was hungry i ate bunch of candy) When i did eat my meals, i would have pizza, mcdonalds, soda, taco bell, french fries(i'm a skinny girl i was trying to gain weight). If you have acid reflux disease, you cannot eat fried or fatty foods. You have to have lean meat and fat free everything or else you'll end up with pain. I highly believe that ibuprofen and ALEEVE(naproxen sodium) have aggravated my condition. I told my doctor and he forbid me to take ibuprofen and Alleve ever again. tylenol is safe but the doctors will prescribe you to other painkillers (loracet, vicondin) and i'm wondering if those can take a toll after time too. Be careful what you stress about too. every time i get stressed, my throat burns and i can't swallow. allow yourself to relax when the pain starts(i know it's hard) and it could help your current symptoms.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Kathy (Granger, IN) on 11/18/2006
I just figured out this week that acid reflux was the problem so I haven't tried much. But the reason that I am commenting is that I don't do much to contribute to acid reflux. I don't smoke, don't drink alcohol or excess caffeine and am not overweight. I do, however, take Advil all the time due to fibromyalgia. So I am wondering if this is how I got this.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Teresa (Yorktown, VA) on 11/18/2006
My comment is in regard to the correlation between ibuprofen and acid reflux. I was taking 400mg of ibuprofen at night to help with back and neck pain. I would sometimes wake in the middle of the night and take it to help relax my muscles. Never had a problem in the past with any heartburn or digestion issue. For the past two months I have been struggling with LPR. That is the reflux that effects the larynx (breathing) and goes into the ears too. Stopped all pain medication and sought the help of a naturopath. I am currently taking three very powerful probiotics a day. Getting ready to try the ACV. And plan on starting an herbal treatment.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Sue (Toms River, NJ) on 11/17/2006
I started taking ibuprofen for severe muscle spasms and I believe that was the beginning of my acid reflux issue.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Donna (Waterloo, Iowa) on 11/17/2006
I have had lupus for 42 years and was treated with 8 Bufferin and prednisone everyday. I got along okay with my stomach until my doctors added the maximum dose of ibuprofen 3200 mg a day. This caused gastritis and a lot of intestinal problems and later on I also got acid reflux. I have been searching desperately for a remedy as Nexium helps somewhat, but not enough. I have a chronic cough and it is getting worse. I have suffered with GERD for over 20 years and I know it is going to kill me if I don't find a remedy. It is daily misery! My LES valve has weakened like worn out elastic according to my doctors. They say it won't get better. My rheumatologist at the university hospital said that people with Raynaud's disease seem to have more problems with GERD, but they don't know why. I have also had that problem. I would really like to find an answer to GERD. It is awful to live with.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Tana (Baton Rouge, LA) on 11/16/2006
I was enlightened tremendously by this wonderful site. I had been desperately searching for a site for another problem and saw there was a section on acid reflux. When I clicked on it and started reading comments I saw the information about ibuprofen causing acid reflux. This has been a MAJOR problem for myself for many months ending up in a hospital emergency room twice still not sure of the cause. When I read these comments I became positive ibuprofen was the culprit. I was taking the max dose daily for herniated disc pain. When I feared the ibuprofen was possibly a cause I stopped taking it, feeling immediate relief. Thank you so much for letting me know that I'm not crazy.
