Ibuprofen with Prednisolone?

[Phoenix51]

Evening. I seem to remember reading on here that some members mentioned that they sometimes take a one off, larger than normal dose of brufen with a meal to try and knock inflammation pain on the head. I am nervous of doing this as advice is not to take NDAIDs with Pred but I think I’d like to give it a try if someone would be kind enough to advise on dose. I also have tramadol and amitryptaline I could use instead ( prescribed when I first went to GP with occipital pain) Would appreciate opinions on this. I have just gone back up from 10mg to 40mg Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I personally wouldn't take ibuprofen on a regular basis while on pred, even with a PPI for stomach protection. My rheumy, a world name in the PMR/GCA field, uses courses of high dose i.v. NSAIDs for certain things - I was terrified, it was fine! (Well, not the infusions, they were a bit hellish!).

However, ibuprofen will only work really effectively when a 800mg flooding dose is taken to start with - that occupies all the receptors and leads to effective pain relief. Thereafter you usually need only 400mg at a time - and I find I don't need anything like as much total dose. Often that 800mg flooding dose is all I need for 24 hours. Paracetamol is enough as a top up - but paracetamol alone does nothing for me.

That is how the manufacturers designed and gained approval for the use of ibuprofen as a prescription only drug. They were furious when they applied for OTC approval - and the regulators said it must be a smaller dose on the grounds that would be safer. Except it isn't because it doesn't work as well and patients just keep taking more until it works.

[Phoenix51 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you very much. So my Ibuprofen tablets are 200mg each, so i take 4 of them as one dose?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Phoenix51]

Yes - 400mg are usually only with prescription in the UK, bright pink usually.

[Phoenix51 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I did not know that re company. No wonder when I ha r had them prescribed it's double dose. 🤔

[Bobbury]

I am sure there are people on here who are more qualified than me to give you an answer.

From a personal perspective, I wouldn't take Ibuprofen with pred. When I was first diagnosed with PMR some 10 years ago I was told not to take the two prescription together.

I did and had a reaction which I wont be doing again. As for amitriptyline, well I had a course prescribed as I had developed peripheral neuropathy ( which I think relates to taking pred)

had terrible side effects, nightmares and a general not being on this planet feeling. Never again. I just now put up with neuropathy.....

Hope the above goes same way to help

[steamloco]

sorry i cannot help my wife can only take paracetamol because of her other health problems

[Phoenix51]

Thank you for your replies, very helpful

[Mikev6771]

I have trouble swallowing pills and i was wondering if anyone knows if its safe to crush up the ibuprofen and put it in water then just drink it like that

[Mikev6771]

im only taking ibuprofen for my tooth i just got taken out