Ibuprofen with pred? The answer …

[calibriel]

… in case anyone’s still interested.

After going round a couple of unproductive loops trying to speak to a doctor about whether I could take Ibuprofen to ease my pain from arthritis in my hip, I followed my physio’s suggestion and asked a pharmacist: excellent advice! The clinical pharmacist called me back from the surgery (there is a pharmacy in the same building, and they work closely together), and this was his advice:

he did not advise taking Ibuprofen orally, even on my low dose of pred, because of conflict with another med I take for my blood pressure; but he said I could take it topically, as a cream, starting with a low dose, as less of that would be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Result! I will be unlikely to be able to assess how helpful it is - that’s the trouble with pain relief: you never know what it would have been like if you hadn’t taken it - but at least I got an answer from a specialist with access to my records.

Posting this in case it’s of help to anyone else.

[Sweetpeasoprano]

I asked my pharmacist the same question. I am on 1mg pred and have a very painful shoulder that was keeping me awake at night (not PMR related). He said it was ok as long as I took the tablets with food. We have a lovely local pharmacist where I live. With the doctors being impossible to speak to he is quite an asset!

[Zebedee44]

As you say, result. Pharmacists are often in a better position to advise on drug side effects and contra indications. Hope the treatment helps.

[Gossiplady]

Thank you calibriel! I am allergic to oral ibuprofen, but low dose cream sounds ok. Many thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gossiplady]

If you are thinking of using ibuprofen gel [you may still get reaction as it’s absorbed into skin] for osteoarthritis, Flexiseq may be better- not a drug so hopefully no allergic reaction -

flexiseq.com/pages/about

[Gossiplady in reply to DorsetLady]

Bless you. I will. Years ago I was in a golf tournament and doing well, for a change, had ongoing leg probs, took one ibuprofen that morning and in the afternoon took another. Started vomiting and when I was coughing up blood they decided to whisk me off to hospital! Ah, well! Happy memories. Sister at the hospital told me she was admitted for the same reason.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gossiplady]

I have a friend with PMR - when it started her GP told her to take ibuprofen. Third dose had her in the ED with a coffee grounds gastric bleed - which isn't nice for patient or staff!

[Plateman]

Well done to share this. One never knows whom it may help,

[calibriel]

Anyone with my issues (needing pain relief for another condition while being treated with pred for PMR, and considering taking Ibuprofen) please read ALL the comments above. Sobering stuff. We need to keep sharing our experiences. For what it’s worth, I’m going to try Flexiseq, as recommended by DorsetLady , before trying the Ibuprofen gel.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to calibriel]

Hope it works - might need a few applications… but you should know before you get to end of tube! 😊