Any alternatives to Ketoprofen suppositories?

[Cattledog]

Hi there, I've been taking anti inflammatory suppositories for donkey's years. I used to be on Froben but they were discontinued. I was then put onto Ketoprofen which I was quite happily taking along with Esomeprazole. A couple of weeks ago these were discontinued as well. I've been using 100mg Voltarol suppositories for the last week BUT my stomach is getting increasingly tender. There only seems to be Indomethacin ones left. The oral form gave me an ulcer 20 years ago. Anybody out there had a similar problem and been given ANY sort of alternative??

By the way, I'm also on Methotrexate and Leflunomide along with usual painkillers!

Thanks for any forthcoming help!

[Tillytop]

Hello Cattledog

I'm sorry you are having trouble with the suppositories and that you have trouble with anti-inflamms in general. After many years of oral NSAIDs I have had to stop taking them completely because of my stomach so I do sympathise. I can tolerate anti-inflammatory gel but it is not ideal for multiple joints. This might be a daft suggestion, but given that your stomach is not good even though you are having your anti-inflamms in the form of suppositories, I wonder if there would be any merit in taking stomach protecting meds (Omeprazole/Lanzoprazole) alongside to see if they help any. Other than that, my only suggestion is that if the mtx and Leflunomide and pain meds are still not helping you enough, maybe talking to the rheumatologist about adding another DMARD alongside might mean that the anti-inflamms are not so necessary.

Really hope you can find something which helps.

Tilly x

[Cattledog]

Hi young Tilly,

I am actually taking stomach protecting meds "Esomeprazole" as shown in my question!! I'm worried about adding another DMARD as I've been on them for twenty years and my platelets, neutrophils and Lymphocytes have been on a downwards trend for the last eight months! Platelets are now down to 153.

Thank you for your help though....and your kind concern. Hope you are doing OK.

[Hidden]

HI, just seen your question, I have IBS (requiring the loo quickly type), and I am unable to take any of the NSAIDs as they effect me badly. I only take one DMARD and a anti-tnf along with painkillers. I have to trust these meds to reduce the inflammation, it has taken longer but I am getting there.

[earthwitch]

An alternative to oral or suppository antiinflammatories is a topical gel - voltaren gel is easily available on prescription in the UK. It may seem like it isn't particularly strong, but I found that using it regularly it really did build up a good effect for me over certain areas, but only if I did use it regularly on the same areas of my body. The only downside of it is that you can't use it over your whole body - you have to really choose the main areas that are a problem and there is a limit to how much of the stuff you can use over a week (though I've never got up to that limit - think its as much as a tube a week). The gel obviously doesn't go through your gut, and it also doesn't put the same load on your liver and kidneys as the oral forms do.

[Cattledog]

Hi there,

Just an update for interested parties!!! I contacted Sanofi Aventis ( the makers of Orudis Ketoprofen suppositories ) and they have told me that said drug is still available around the world in different countries France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Israel etc. If my GP is willing to fund the drug then my pharmacist will import it directly from abroad for me. I've got an appointment for next week and so there may well be a good outcome!

Thank you to everybody for their replies!

[indy100 in reply to Cattledog]

not in Australia just been removed!

[indy100]

What I have is permanent there is no cure I was in a wheel chair 2 years thanks to painful costly myopatic massage and this wonder drug along with my other medications I can get around and have a half decent life now since the drug has been not only removed from PBS but private out of pharmacy altogether thankyou big drug companies your drugs just give people ulcers and make people more sick if anyone has migraines painful arthritis spinal pain this was the wonder drug to keep you moving give you quality of life took it for 15 years had bowel tests every 2 years no damadge now I am confined to bed mostly can hardly walk or sit am in terrible pain as for the alternatives they are very bad side effects don't work on the pain side effects for the alternatives don't go there I have heart burn upset stomach bleeding from the bowel after a voltaren suppositories 9 migraines in a month and the oral version of this drug Oridus is the one that should have been removed dosn't work and very nasty on tummy I can have the oridus suppositories if I rob a bank made by a factory at a cost of $160 per script for 40 plus a dispension fee I cannot afford this I am a disabled pensioner most of my drugs are private scripts maybe I should give up food because without this drug Iam getting sicker and sicker by the day and will end up back wheelchair again it is that bad I am very depressed and have had enough of pain and now going backwards what little quality of life I have has now been removed seriously! thankyou to the big wigs who make the disabled suffer over filling their pockets to help big drug companies push their drugs when long term it will cost you on patients with dudenol and stomach ulcers - they don't want us to feel better they don't care! at my wits end all these do gooders and their tests for migraine and arthritis pain here it is under your noses the answer the wonder drug and you removed it why?