AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
I live in Canada. I'm 34, and not taking any medicine. There's no way I can make this sound like I half even half a brain. About four months ago I suddenly developed bad back pain, and dental pain a month later. I had a small number of Tylenol 3s (300 mg acetominphen/30mg codeine), but I found that one did virtually nothing for either problem (two or three did, but I didn't have that many, didn't want to ask for more, didn't think I'd get an unlimited quantity, nor did I want to get addicted). What did work was 1200 mg of ibuprofen (normal doses were ineffectual). You can laugh now, the result was predictable. I had to stop taking the ibuprofen because my stomach? GI tract? hurt as much as the original pains. That was about two weeks ago, and it barely hurts now, but I don't think I should be taking any ibuprofen in the near future.
My back has improved, but it still hurts. I've had two root canals, but I had a huge filling replaced last week which still hurts. I see a third root canal in my future.
I don't know what to do. I don't think an enteric coated NSAID would be a good idea (it might have been a good idea at the beginning). I'd rather not use suppositories. Is there an injectable form of some NSAID available in Canada? What can I do? My teeth shouldn't hurt soon, but my back will. I feel like the world's biggest idiot. I would appreciate any advice you might have.
jenn.
Answer Dear Jennifer
If you react to ibuprofen like this it usually matters not whether they are enteric coated or even in suppository or injectable form. This being so because the drug just has to be in the circulation to lead to the stomach problems in susceptible persons. There is a direct effect on the stomach but this is not as important as the effect caused when the drug is in the bloodstream.
You'll need to get a prescription to another class of NSAIDS called coxibs which do not normally cause stomach problems. The most widely used is celecoxib. They are generally very safe in most people and completely non-addictive. If these do not work there are still other options but no point in going into them now until one sees how a coxib works.
