Is it okay to use arnica?

[JenniferW]

I have rheumatoid arthritis and take hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate and the biologic abatacept.

I have been seeing a physiotherapist recently and she suggested using arnica cream for muscles aches, which you rub on the skin. (She also mentioned tiger balm, which I hadn't heard of).

I toddled off to Holland Barrett to pick some up, rubbed it on my neck at night and my neck felt significantly better in the morning.

I have just looked it up on a health website and it says it has a similar action to diclofenac and ibuprofen.

I can take naproxen and ibuprofen as pills (not together obviously) but not diclofenac (gel), according to various pharmacists. Does anyone know if arnica has a similar interaction? Should I ask the pharmacist next time I am in? I just knew arnica as something that is traditionally rubbed on bruises and hadn't really expected it to work.

Thanks for any help.

[AgedCrone]

Arnica & Tiger Balm are both both well known old remedies from the Far East… ..if a U.K. physio has recommended them they should be OK.

However ….don’t make a special apt..but next time you speak to your rheumy nurse run it by her/him.

[medway-lady in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes I've tiger balm in the cupboard it's great for colds etc too. I like the smell. x I buy the red one.

[AgedCrone in reply to medway-lady]

I use Arnica for bruises..l don,t know how, but it seems to fade them fast.

[JenniferW in reply to AgedCrone]

Great, thanks. It will be a while before I see a rheumy again as it's not long since my last appointment, but I'll check with the pharmacist in the meantime.

[Runrig01]

the advice is usually to avoid arnica if you are on any meds that thin the blood, including aspirin and clopidogrel. It can also cause tachycardia and high blood pressure, so if either of these is an issue, I would seek your rheumatologists advice. Despite being used for bruises it does increase bleeding. Always check with your specialist or pharmacist when considering no supplements and already on meds

[JenniferW in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you. I don't have those problems, thank goodness (got enough other ones ) so hopefully I will be okay. I will definitely check though.

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Runrig01]

I was thinking of buying arnica for some bruising I have from a small fall. Or will it be better to let bruising go on its own? Grateful for your knowledge.

[Runrig01 in reply to MJSlide1958]

Certainly if you’re not on blood thinners, and don’t have hypertension, it’s certainly worth a try. I’ve used it in the past on bruises and it quickly eased the discomfort

[MJSlide1958 in reply to Runrig01]

As long as it does not raise my blood pressure (although I am normally low blood pressure). I am not on any blood thinners, apart from eating lots of fish, omega rich fish.

[greynot]

I use arnica cream for bruising (and currently for post op swelling). I'm not on blood thinners and have a nice low blood pressure for my age.I'm on methotrexate 20mg for RA

[Blackberrywine]

I've used both whilst taking meds. Still do use arnica cream. No problems.

[JenniferW]

Update - spoke to the pharmacist and he checked for me and said what Runrig01 , it's fine so long as you aren't taking blood thinners.

Thank you for your help everyone.