OT(C): combining three pain relievers?

[Nancy T]

Anyone have any experience combining different over-the-counter pain relievers?

I have had unexplained achiness (muscles and to a lesser extent joints) for many years and now take both ibuprofen and acetaminophen daily. In the last few weeks it's been worse, and I've sometimes been taking the maximum daily doses of BOTH just to feel more or less normal.

NOW I've gotten some nasty virus that's going around and has about quadrupled my achiness, and the ibuprofen-acetaminophen combo relieves it sufficiently only for about an hour or two (two hours after the combined dose).

Would I be crazy to try adding naproxen to the mix til this virus is over? I know it's an NSAID like ibuprofen, but is it different enough that it might help, and be safe enough?

I know NSAIDs have risk of stomach bleeding, but I always take them with plenty of food and liquid and haven't had any problem with them in all these years.

I poked around online but didn't see any references to combining three OTC pain relievers except about being careful not to double up on acetaminophen.

I hate to call my doctor about something so trivial as a virus, but I am such a wimp and don't want to be achy all day, every day. Any advice?

Thanks,
Nancy T., a big baby when it comes to pain!

[Cat Dancer]

Just because a DRUG is an over-the-counter purchase, doesn't mean it's SAFE. And particularly it's not safe to take combinations of them! If you're really in that much pain, you need to see the doctor and get something stronger than self-dosing yourself with excess over-the counter stuff!

[lady_express_44]

I agree with Cat, basically.

Naproxen is the same thing as Aleve, but generally double the dosage. I believe that Aleve is taken at 250 mg, and Naproxen is often prescribed at 500 mg (or even 750 mg X 2 per day).

When I have inflammation, or am in considerable pain, I have a rx for 1000 mg of Naproxen to start, and 500 mg twice per day after that. I have free reign to take that when-ever I see fit, however I use it very sparingly, and never for longer then a week or so.

The reason that Naproxen is prescribed (even though it is readily available across the counter as Aleve) is because it is such a high dosage. I would imagine that our doctors like to keep an eye on us if we are using this regularly.

Cherie

[bluesky63]

Well, of course I agree that we should talk about regular use of pain relievers with our doctors. Especially acetaminophen, which causes liver damage.

But our pediatrician has told us it's fine to use ibuprofen and acetaminophen together when the kids are sick. And I had a neuro waaaaaay back when I used Avonex who specifically told me to take all three of those meds on a planned schedule on Shot Day to minimize side effects.

Nancy, I hope this link works:

http://www.medscape.com/druginfo/druginterchecker?src=google

If it does, you'll see that I entered all three OTC meds into a Medscape program to check for any potential interactions among them. They came up clean. :-)

I don't think pain is trivial. I think you *should* call your doctor and see about getting your baseline pain under control with something other than acetaminophen, and also see how you can be more comfortable now. (Have you ever tried a bath with epsom salts?)

[Nancy T]

Cat, you're right, I have always felt a bit uncomfortable taking so much OTC stuff. But I have always written exactly what and how much I'm taking on the doctor's history sheet, and she has never questioned it. So I've assumed it's OK.

Cherie, thanks for the info on naproxen. I have no experience with it, although my daughter was prescribed it for severe menstrual cramps. I didn't understand why she had to have a prescription for it, but that must have been the reason.

Bluesky, that's a neat site to check for interactions; thanks! I am only thinking about a temporary addition until this virus passes; my "baseline" pain is controlled well enough with the other two.

I have thought about going to a rheumatologist to see why I'm achy, but, for various reasons, I'm not optimistic it would be helpful from a practical standpoint. I'm sure they will just say "fibromyalgia" or "don't know," since my ANA is normal. Middle-aged women who ache--you can't do much with 'em.

I thought that acetaminophen only causes liver damage if you overdose on it, which I am careful not to do.

Epsom salts; now that's something I haven't thought about for a long time! I do seem to remember soaking myself, or my feet, in it in childhood, though I can't remember why. Unfortunately, that would mean cleaning the bathtub before I could sit down in it, and I don't have the strength right now. :) Maybe hubby will do it, if I can catch him between his insane work shifts.

It's true that pain isn't trivial if you're taking as much medication as I am for it, but I hated to call the nurse about a common problem like a virus that will go away in a few days. If I'm not better tomorrow, I will enlist someone to go buy some Aleve for the next few days.

Thanks much for the replies and advice, everyone!

Nancy

[MomtoM]

Hi Nancy,

I'm sorry you are in so much pain! It would be a lot better if you could get something else for it besides taking acetaminophen every day. It does cause liver damage with long term use.

Maybe next time you go to the dr you should make sure they are actually reading the pill update and tell them that some people you know are concerned that you may get liver damage from using it for so long.

Hope you feel better soon and FWIW, epsom salts are terrific for muscle aches! Maybe you could just use a basin and soak your feet for now? If it helps then you could make it a priority to get the tub ready for you. Just watch out for hot water! I can't even walk after a hot bath, lol, so the pain may go away but you won't have any legs to walk either!:)

Deb

[Erin]

Ooooooo! Epsom salt baths...

I wish I had a bathtub. Dad remodeled their bathroom and had the bathtub taken out to make a huge walk in/roll in shower for my mom before she had her knee replacements.

But, my dad has given me a mission to find a company that will install one of those walk in bathtubs (the ones that Ed McMahon<sp?> is always advertising for on tv) Our guest bathroom is big enough for one of those walk in tubs. At least I hope it is, but I've read a bunch of stuff about those tubs, and they're allegedly able to put one of those tubs into a closet if you need to.

[Nancy T]

Deb--thanks; yeah, I should really make clear to my doctor how much of that stuff I"m taking and not assume she knows (although I think she did order some liver test last year, maybe in connection with my cholesterol, and it was OK). I just hate to open up a discussion of my achiness with her; I had a bad experience with my last PCP when I did that.

Well, I really must try the Epsom salts. I've never enjoyed baths, but it sounds like it's worth a try!

Thanks, everyone. The acute shooting pains are considerably better this morning--I may actually live. :)

Nancy

[Abby2006]

You have to be careful, Motrin sent me to the ER with a stomach bleed.


Abby

[Nancy T]

Abby, how did you find out you had a stomach bleed? I mean, what happened?

Nancy