Ibuprofen gel?

[Adnamaxx]

Me again with yet another question. ... not even sure if it relieves any pain prefer deep freeze gel... but is ibuprofen gel okay with pred?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Not recommended to use ibruprofen with Pred - both can irritate stomach. Although the pharmacist did say can be used sparingly, and it's less likely to cause as much of a problem as ibruprofen tablets. I use it sometimes on back, alternate it with cold gel, which I usually use first if I've done something I shouldn't have! I also use heat patches after the initially cold treatment. It's just finding what best for you personally.

[piglette]

Why not ask your pharmacist for advice as to what is best with pred?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Preferably not - it is still absorbed into the tissues and then the blood stream - or it wouldn't work. I used it a bit and I also used ibuprofen tablets - one single high dose (the pink ones you only get on prescription) when necessary. Not that it ever did a lot for any PMR pain!

What do you want to use it for? Arnica cream also seems to help with muscle pain even though it rarely claims that.

[Adnamaxx]

Got shoulder pain today thought ig may help. Feeling very tired. had so many plans but just got to realise my limitations. Finding that tough. Just had lunch with a friend....bulger wheat salad! Big football match on today...arsenal playing and ground is right next to hospital have seen my husband once today and really cannot face getting on my bike to go down there again....driving would be worse...Most of all must keep spirits up. Thanx for listening.

[Gosingen]

I never ever use ibuprofen cause of the pred medication. But I have used something called Biofreeze for LB pain and sciatica and it's always been useful for me. Might be worth a try.

[Joyful13 in reply to Gosingen]

I also use the bio freeze. You can purchase it online, or sometimes find it in places that give therapeutic massage, chiropractors. I use it nearly every day on my back, hips, shoulders, knees, and neck.

My dad has very advanced Parkinson's and bio freeze is the only gel that helps him.

It comes in a gel, roll on, and spray. I personally like the gel.

Hope this helps for another alternative.

Joyful 13

[Hidden]

Ibuprofen pretends to be a steroidal anti-inflammatory. Pred is the real thing, a steroidal anti-inflammatory, which is why you have been prescribed it.

They counteract. Ibuprofen at best is a waste of time and money, at worst it will counteract the prednisilone.

If you want pain relief the only way to go is to tell (not ask or discuss), tell your doctor on your next prescription you want some of the following:

Solpadol 30mg/500mg caplets.

It is codeine and it works.

Your doctor will agree.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

"Ibuprofen pretends to be a steroidal anti-inflammatory" - no, it is a NON-steroidal antiinflammatory substance. Ibuprofen does not "counteract" the action of pred - the reason for not taking it together is they can both lead to gastric irritation on their own, together the risk is increased and can lead to a gastric bleed. They have different mechanisms of action so are unlikely to interfere with each other in any other way.

Codeine is not guaranteed to work on PMR pain any better than anything else - and is associated with its own risks of constipation and addiction.