Does anyone find that paracetamol makes their IBS and/or diverticulosis worse?
If I take two tablets A DAY I am alright. Any more and I feel more pain and a sort of trapped wind feeling, mostly on the left and middle.
Does anyone else experience this? Thanks
I’m new to this forum. I would be interested in what other people say. I’ve been having to take 4 doses of paracetamol a day for months now, because of osteoarthritis, and my IBS is the worst it has ever been.
Thanks for your reply. I’m taking it for osteo arthritis too. I’m having to save my dose for bedtime. My pain is mild at the moment though.
I have been taking paracetamol + every day for about 5 years. 2 in the morning. My doctor says it's OK because I am also on lansoprazole. ( the + is caffeine ) I take it to help with fibromyalgia pain. I have tried to reduce it but end up taking it later in the morning. The pain will be worse so I end up taking more not less.
I'm sorry to hear that you're in such pain. Lansoprazole will help prevent side effects (ulcers) due to NSAIDs eg Ibuprofen, but paracetamol works in a different way and is usually associated with liver problems (and not ulcers). Is GP considering that Lansoprazole is protecting against the caffeine maybe? Caffeine certainly aggravates my gastrointestinal tract and so I avoid it at all costs (despite it being said to enhance pain relief).
I have been taking paracetamol + every day for about 5 years. 2 in the morning. My doctor says it's OK because I am also on lansoprazole. ( the + is caffeine ) I take it to help with fibromyalgia pain. I have tried to reduce it but end up taking it later in the morning. The pain will be worse so I end up taking more not less.
Thanks for your reply Edgar77. It’s good that it’s working for you but I’m sorry to know about your pain.
I take Paramol as I get quite frequent Migraine. It contains Paracetamol and Codeine. I have noticed that I get more cramping pain, and wind when I take them. This is a more recent development as I never used to suffer like this. I thought that it was just a coincidence but when I read your post I think there is more to this. I just wonder why it would cause this.
Thanks jimister. I’m wondering too, I will try some more looking up on line. Sorry to know that you are getting cramping pain and wind too.
Codeine can cause constipation for sure. Perhaps it's like slamming the brakes on, with your intestines then struggling to keep moving everything along.
Yes, I did think that. I might see what happens if I just take plain Paracetamol. Unfortunately when I have a migraine Paracetamol on it's own is not strong enough.
I have taken paracetamol for years for back and joint pain. Occasionally, I don't take any for a few days. For me, it makes no obvious difference to my guts. I also have codeine for occasional severe back pain, but very rarely take this because I don't want to rely on it and it makes me sleepy. It is there just in case. Ibuprofen is contraindicated for me.
Thanks BabsyWabsy. It’s good to know that it makes no difference to your guts
I also have osteoarthritis suffered with it since I was 50 years old I am almost 64 this year I was prescribed Co-codamol for the nasty pain ETC then just after the 1st lock down I had 2 colonoscopies polyps found then during that they found Diverticular Disease/IBS-D and they make me constipated so in my case if I don't take them the pain is bad and chronic at times so it's a "CATCH 22" with it all the time I just wish you well!!!
bungi1961
Please check the warnings and side effects. Different for everyone but can lead to kidney and liver damage in extended use.
Sorry to hear about your Catch 22 bungi1961. It’s so frustrating. Sending good vibes back to you
I suffered with headaches, muscle pain and IBS type symptoms for years and I practically lived on paracetamol at the time - probably taking 6 or 8 a day. My symptoms were awful and I'd have a constant headache, so the first thing I'd do every morning was take paracetamol. My symptoms just kept getting worse though and it reached the point where I could hardly keep food down and I was having vomiting episodes every few days.
One day I was so ill and feeling so weak that I was only taking sips of water and I couldn't even face swallowing the paracetamol so I had a whole day without it. The next day I felt much better and I didn't take paracetamol that day either. By day three my headaches were gone and I no longer felt constantly sick. Then I realised that after many years of suffering and thinking that paracetamol was the solution to the problem, it was actually the paracetamol that was causing it. I haven't taken paracetamol for 14 months now and the symptoms I had then have never returned.
That might sound strange and every medical professional I've told that story to has looked at me as if I'm mad, but that's what happened. Maybe over the years I took so much of it that my body took it upon itself to start rejecting it, or maybe I became allergic to it, I don't know, but I've barely even had a headache since the day I stopped taking it!
It sounds as though you developed an 'analgesia overuse headache'. I did the same with my anti migraine meds....stopping, though hard at first, was the solution!
Thanks! I didn't know about that, but yes it definitely sounds like what I had!
My goodness Scottfae, what you went through. It’s a big concern that paracetamol can cause such problems. It’s good to know that you have so few headaches now. Did your IBS improve too?
Not exactly. It was after that I was diagnosed with IBS and I spent a lot of last year being tested for different things, but they didn't find anything wrong. See the comment above re: paracetamol from Bracondale though - that's interesting!
Hi,
With Paracetamol I'm okay , for me its ibuprofen. I still take both at times, having chronic pain on top of IBS is no picnic
Thanks for your reply. Good to know that paracetamol is okay for you. But sorry to know you have chronic pain.
Thank you, I appreciate the sentiment. At the moment dealing with sciatica back pain , if it's not one thing it's another
My thoughts would be that paracetamol affects liver function. If the liver cannot function properly it won't make bile properly, which then affects digestion, which can result in gas/wind production.
Thanks Bracondale. I guess liver function won’t be as good in someone my age so I will have to be much more careful.
I also find that paracetamol upset my IBS. Some brands more than others. You can buy paracetamol really cheaply now I am wondering now if the ingredients are not the best. When I was younger I used to take Panadol in tablet form (no caplets available then) and if you didn't swallow them quickly they tasted horrid. I did not have IBS back then but I do not remember them causing me problems.
Thanks Sparrow58. I didn’t think of that angle. I usually buy the cheapest ones. I will have to think again.
If it is a licenced medicine, the active ingredients will be the same. You can find the licence number on the pack. The excipients (other ingredients) may differ, so it is worth checking what else is in your paracetamol. For example, some may contain lactose, which is no good if you have lactose intolerance.
Yes I was thinking about the other ingredients and coating on the tablets. I know that paracetamol side is well scrutinised.
Thanks BabsyWabsy
yes I the exact same I cannot take parcacetomal only if it’s small dose in co-codamol I have usually to resort to taking ibuprofen which can cause inflammation so no win stituation which is quite frustrating
Thanks for your reply Jacksback. Sorry to know that it also affects you. It is frustrating, I try and avoid ibuprofen too.
thank you for that Jackie. I do try to limit my paracetamol to only 1 or 2 a day, but I think I’ll try hard to manage without for a few days just to see if my chest pain will go away.
I hope that this works for you
Upper g.i. problems also
Reducing amitriptyline problems 
Intestinal motility problems
Antibiotic problems 
Problems with bowels - diarrhoea!!
