Painkillers & Acid Reflux Symptoms: Unhealthy Relations

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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.

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Posted by CJ (Colorado) on 11/10/2006
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The pain started after I began taking baby aspirin as ordered by MD

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Posted by Becky (Manchester, NH) on 11/09/2006
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I have to comment on pain killers causing acid reflux. I never had an problems until I started taking Vicondin for a knee surgery. I took it for 10 weeks. The combination of the pain meds and laying down cause a lot of problems for me so the doctor gave me Nexium. That was 4 years ago and the problem has gotten worse. I mentioned to my doctor that I never had these problems until I took Vicondin and he assured me they were not related. I have to say I disagree. I use to take ACV and the acid reflux was better but I have stopped. I need to start taking ACV again to see if it helps.

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Posted by Kevin (Aveley Essex England) on 11/09/2006
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It was about a year ago that I was taking nurofen for the relief of sciatic pain 3x400mg tablets a day for a week, about 8 months later I have been having acid reflux problems,don't know if there is a link but after reading some of these letters , it certainly makes you think.

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Posted by John (Montgomeryville, PA) on 11/09/2006
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I had my first severe bout of Acid Reflux this past April. I thought I was going to die in the middle of the night. I knew I ate too much that day so, I figured that was a major contributor. But now that I look back on that night, I recall taking some Ibuprofen right before I went to bed because I was very sore from golfing that day and doing lots of other strenuous activities. So, the Ibuprofen could have been what triggered it. Up until that night, I never had acid reflux in my life.