Ibuprofen

[Vera70]

Does anyone know if ibuprofen is alright to take occasionally with PBC?

[butterflyEi]

Hi Vera70

I was told only paracetamol for pain but on occasion I have taken stronger meds. Perhaps you can ask your doctor what is best for you.

[Heleno]

I was told ibuprofen was OK to take. I believe it is aspirin that you shouldn't take if taking the ursodeoxycholic acid

[iagra]

My gastro doctor said taking ibuprofen occasionally is fine. I am trying to use non-steroidal cream (best Pennsaid pennsaid.com/ (or,1% Voltaren Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel) ) for occasional pain in my knees, shoulder, legs. Limiting Aleve or ibuprofen to only when I really have to.

If you need to take pain medicine every day, best to consult with your doctor.

[Hidden]

Hello Vera70.

According to the PBC Foundation leaflet Ibuprofen isn't recommended with PBC, paracetamol OK. The leaflet however states that we can tolerate 'most' medications unless we are at a later state of PBC.

I am currently suffering with sciatica. About 10yrs ago when I had a several week bout of it I just sailed through, no painkillers but I was younger and didn't have PBC (been diagnosed with PBC 6yrs). This time it has been rather painful and my left leg is excrutiating certain times in the day and night. I resorted to paracetamol last week, waste of time. I'd not had any painkillers or other meds apart from the urso since the year I started itching, 2010.

I rang the GP surgery and the doctor got back to me later in the day with a prescription for Codeine (only available on script). The dose was half to what someone without PBC would take. That was no use! the leaflet enclosed with the tablets did state OK to take with a liver (or kidney) disorder but at half dosage.

I started taking standard paracetamol and also a paracetamol with caffeine. Found OK for an hour or so. I've not bothered taking anything the last couple days as I am starting to feel it slowly ease off.

My family suggeted Co-codamol but apparently not recommended.

[ginam in reply to Hidden]

To me it sounds like the leaflet has it backwards. I stay away from paracetamol.

goodrx.com/blog/is-ibuprofe...

[Hidden in reply to ginam]

Hello ginam.

I stand corrected, just got the leaflet up on the site, it's a reprint but it states to avoid ASPIRIN though paracetamol OK.

When I contacted my GP surgery it was several hours before I got the call back as the doctor was checking things out and Ibuprofen was not mentioned though it is commonly purchased over-the-counter. I'd have preferred taking this as opposed to paracetamol as Ibuprofen are said to be NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory and might have been better in my present condition.

I've never been one for taking any medications during my adult life and if I can do without I will. But in the last week I have really felt I did need something. I'll find out more in the event I do need something in future though I keep my fingers crossed I won't. I know for me this last week has brought it home a bit more about having PBC as up until then I never really thought much about other things that we coiuld perhaps pose a Catch 22 situation with.

I also think that it depends at what stage or how we are doing with PBC as to what we are perhaps advised to have.

[Rockie in reply to Hidden]

Peridot. Thanks for all your useful knowledge. I started taking half a disprin daily and suddenly started feeling sick. B/P was very low and since I stopped using that, I feel better. Now it makes sense. I was told by relative to use it to thin the blood to avoid clots etc. One just cannot win with this PBC and Autoimmune conditions. All the best

[Hidden in reply to Rockie]

Hello Rockie.

I was raised with aspirin (known back then in the UK as 'cooling powders') but these days paracetamol is recommended. Never gone overboard with paracetamol myself. I turned to painkillers for a wee spell during 2009 when I had a bit of toothache until it was resolved by dentist and then early 2010 with the itching I wouldn't take anything and hadn't except urso since recently.

Aspirin I know thins the blood. My brother-in-law had a double heart bypass several years ago and he has to take half an aspirin daily (he pays for prescriptions too so buys aspirin over-the-counter, much much cheaper). I know he had a nosebleed some time ago and he said he never had before and it took a wee while longer to stop due to taking aspirin.

With PBC we can have trouble with those fat soluble vitamins as we are informed (Vitamin D seems to be the more commonly mentioned one - I am utilising the sun at the moment as we don't see much of it in the North West!)) but Vitamin K is one that is required for the blood so I suppose it makes sense with PBC and the liver regarding the taking of aspirin unless medically advised to do so.

I know so far I've not had a problem with the clotting time of my blood if I have tested (did a couple years ago when I was having nosebleeds that appear to have been resolved with ENT) but I expect one taking aspirin could probably encounter a very different result.

[Rockie in reply to Hidden]

Peridot. Thanks for quick response. I do take Vit A, D and K2. Calcium etc. Also suffers from Osteoporosis. There is no end to what this Immune system of mine is capable of, but I cannot let it get me under. Go well

[Kelly19 in reply to Hidden]

Silly question here.. but what is the paracetamol compared to in the US? I've never heard of it and I have headaches almost daily and bc I'm scared to take anything I suffer and some days to the point of vomiting.

[Vera70 in reply to Kelly19]

I hadn't heard of it either so I looked it up. In the US we call it acetaminophen (tylenol)

[ginam in reply to Hidden]

I meant to post this other article for you to read. I try not to take anything but when I do, I rotate between ultram, celebrex and dexamethasone depending on what type of pain I'm having. I take 400 mg of gabapentin nightly and I'm also on Enbrel.

express.co.uk/life-style/he...

[emerich in reply to ginam]

Hi Ginam

I wonder if that's for a healthy liver. I was told by the specialist not to take ibuprofen , but paracetamol is fine. Maybe ibuprofen is particularly bad with pbc effects.

[ginam in reply to emerich]

In the article that I posted it says ibuprofen is liver safe but adverse on the kidneys of which is reversible upon cessation.

[emerich in reply to ginam]

Yes I saw that, just wondered if it was referring to a healthy liver, and maybe any bad effect was specific to a liver compromised with pbc. From what I was told ibuprofen is definitely not safe for us to take, something to do with portal veins if I remember right.There are always so many contradictions.

[ginam in reply to emerich]

It could be because Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs like aspirin inhibit prostaglandins, and that can cause a problem since prostaglandins dilate blood vessels and by Inhibiting prostaglandins blood vessels would constrict causing decreased blood flow.

[chrissey7 in reply to Hidden]

Hi I too suffer from sciatica which is very painful like you I don't like taking any painkillers unless absolutely necessary I have been wearing an actipatch magnetic device for several months it has been amazing for me might be worth a try I bought mine in Boots for about 20pounds I just place mine on my hip inside my pants it seems to stay there by itself but it does come with a belt to keep it in place x

[Oidra]

A few years ago I was in excruciating pain as a spur of bone was growing into my sciatic nerve. Two different specialist would only allow paracetamol which even taking the full dose every day, did nothing. I put up with the pain until the op rather than cause any damage elsewhere. I do understand how desperate you can get for pain relief - at any cost.

Paracetamol seems to work for the odd headache.

[ginam]

Here's a link for you to read. goodrx.com/blog/is-ibuprofe...

[Vera70 in reply to ginam]

Thank you. That was helpful.

[cazer]

i was told definitely not to take ibuprofen but perhaps it if you have and cirrhosis or if you are pre.. this stage. best wishes cazer.

[bobbycat]

Hi, do ask your doctor. It didn't do me much good at all so I am not allowed it again but I do have late stage PBC ..I know some people on this forum take it OK. I am allowed codeine 15mg for back pain but only twice a day max.

[TracG]

Hi. I have been diagnosed with PBC for 7 years now. Right from the beginning my consultant told me to avoid any anti inflammatory meds such as Ibuprofen. I was advised to take paracetamol but always try to keep that to a minimum. Unfortunately I suffer from back pain and at times paracetamol does not ease the pain. At these times I have been prescribed Codeine Phosphate which has been a great relief. I was told I could take these and also Paracetamol but I only needed the Codeine. I think it would be a good idea for you to discuss this option with your GP. 😊

[Angel_b]

I was told no ibuprofen and only to take paracetamol twice a day if really needed. Hope you find out. Nothing worse than being in pain and not being able to get some relief.

[Hidden]

I was informed by my GP that iboprofen is not okay to take if you have PBC , my consultant also backed this up. Not good for the liver.

[liver-bird]

Hi Vera, I was told to avoid aspirin and ibuprofen but that paracetamol is ok. Hope this helps. 😃

[emerich]

Hi Vera

I was told to avoid ibuprofen and similar, paracetamol is ok. I also take small dose aspirin among other meds for heart condition.

[DCMurphy]

So confused.... My Gastroenterologist told me to stay away from Paracetemoll and only take low dose Ibuprofen as sparingly as possible. I was told it is harsh on the liver while Ibuprofen is harsh on kidneys. It was the only pain medicine I was prescribed after surgery last year and my research said it rarely impacts the liver.

[Becca75]

Don't know - I can't take it cuz I'm also on Celebrex so I can't double up on anti inflammatory Meds (though sometimes I'd like to cuz the Celebrex isn't enough )...

[ginam in reply to Becca75]

Celebrex inhibits prostaglandins just like aspirin and ibuprofen. They are all NSAIDS. Refer to my comment up above. I too take Celebrex on occasion.

[Becca75 in reply to ginam]

I've been on celebrex for the past 4 years (this july 2nd) due to a car accident. My liver specialist knows I'm on it and has not said to syop

[Pamela4475 in reply to Becca75]

My liver specialist has not said anything about stopping my 81 mg of aspirin that I take daily.... something else for me to ask about... why no ads? Bleeding? He said no ibuprofen because it lowers platelets

[dollydaydreams]

My hep said to take ibuprofen and no to paracetamol and my GP says no to ibuprofen and to take paracetamol, if they cant agree on it what hope have we got.