Painkillers & Acid Reflux Symptoms: Unhealthy Relations

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Posted by Sandy (California) on 11/28/2006
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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!

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Posted by Carol (Cumberland, MD) on 11/20/2006
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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.

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Posted by Julie Anne (Lake County, FL) on 11/20/2006
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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.

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Posted by Kathy (Granger, IN) on 11/18/2006
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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.

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Posted by Teresa (Yorktown, VA) on 11/18/2006
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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.

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Posted by Sue (Toms River, NJ) on 11/17/2006
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I started taking ibuprofen for severe muscle spasms and I believe that was the beginning of my acid reflux issue.

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Posted by Donna (Waterloo, Iowa) on 11/17/2006
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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.

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Posted by Tana (Baton Rouge, LA) on 11/16/2006
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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.

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Posted by Sol (NC) on 11/13/2006
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I took Ibuprofen 600mg a day about 1 month and 1/2 ago to help with Strep throat and I have had the worst reflux since then. Currently on Nexium without result.

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Posted by Chris (Denver, CO) on 11/12/2006
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no question after years of ibuprofen use and eating the wrong foods, that ibuprofen is clearly the cause for my ills. I am off it, use tylenol only when necessary and use home remedies mostly. I no longer eat fast food, no shakes, no fries, (occasional burrito from taco bell, I just gotta) but that's it. My acid is gone, and I take ACV everyday with tea, honey, it's fantastic.

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Posted by Peggi (Buena Park, CA) on 11/12/2006
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My acid reflux kicked in about a year after I began taking Alleve for headaches related to jaw pain (TMJ). The acid reflux was formally diagnosed by medical tests and my doctor specifically asked if I had been taking ibuprofen or any pain relievers. When I mentioned taking Alleve, she advised that Alleve was probably the trigger for my gastro condition (GERD). Since then, my condition has worsened significantly and I am now taking prescription medicine morning and evening. I am ready to try the home remedy to get better relief.

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Posted by Louise (Fairhope, AL) on 11/11/2006
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I have taken Ibuprofen for about 20 years to deal with significant neck and shoulder pain caused from an auto accident when I was a child. It works wonderfully for the swelling which causes alot of pain. In the past few months, I have noticed a change in my digestion. Particularly surprising is that I have begun to have acid reflux symptoms, primarily nausea after eating, a "knot" in my stomach for hours after eating, and a frequent but mild burning in my belly after eating. I visited my Dr for what turns out to be chronic bronchitis and he asked me a series of questions about my digestion. He says I have acid reflux and that it may be decreasing the health and function of my lungs!! So he prescribed prevacid and I hit the internet looking for alternatives

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Posted by Cecil (Tyler, TX) on 11/11/2006
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ibuprofen for arthritis and meniscus tear in knee gave me acid reflux.

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Posted by Faith (Bothell, WA) on 11/10/2006
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I have taken Ibuprofen for YEARS for back and neck pain. I got clued in to the possibility of this causing or aggravating the situation through something I read on the internet. I don't however experience a real dramatic or seemingly direct correlation between the two. I have only had GERD symptoms for less than 1 year. I have also experience extremely painful esophageal spasms. I've been taking protonix (gave me severe stomach cramps), Famotidine (has started to give me the same problem), tums, Pepto Bismol, Maalox, Aloe Vera Juice. The Protonix made the sore throat that I'd had for a few months go away. The Famotidine did the same thing as long as I took it but a week or so after I stopped, everything was back. The Aloe Vera juice soothes my esophagus and with regular usage helps the burning pain.