painkillers

[Scouse12]

is it safe to take the recommended doses each of the painkillers aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol all at the same time, e.g. 2 aspirin, 2 ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol at once?

Would this provide more (maybe even 3 times) 'pain relief' compared to that provided by one type of painkiller alone?

Would there be any particular reasons that any two or three of these painkillers should not be taken together in combination?

Phil

[shaneystar]

You should never mix painkillers.
And..never take paracetamol and iboprufen together.

Your doctor should be able to prescribe an appropriate painkiller if you are in a great deal of pain.Seek his advice before you swallow that lot down you!!

[keen2learn]

Have to disagree firmly with Shaneystar on this one. You can definitely take ibuprofen and paracetamol together safely, and they are an excellent combination for pain relief. Trust me here, it's my job. Don't, however, take ibuprofen and aspirin together; they are both NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) and you would run a high risk of gastric irritation or bleeding.

[happy_face]

Yes, I'm with Keen2Learn on that one. I've been prescribed ibuprpfen and paracetamol at the same time before and it's a good painkiller.
But I wouldn't take all of what your suggesting at the same time.
You've also got to remember that taking lots of painkillers might get rid of the pain but your poor stomach has got to digest them.

[FP]

Yes, Keen2learn is quite correct. I take ibuprofuen and Paracetamol together for pain relief on a regular basis, on the advice of my doctor.  Ibuprofen takes down inflammation (which obviously helps pain as well) and Paracatamol is a straightforward pain killer.  However, don't increase the recommended dose of either of the.  I never mix aspirin with either.  Also take care when buying the stronger versions of paracetamol (i.e. paracetamol plus) they contain other drugs such as codeine, so I wouldn't mix these with Ibuprofen.  Keen2learn would be better to give advice on this  than me as he/she obviously is trained on this subject.

[FP]

My advice is based on years of suffering from arthritis and information from pharmacists and my GP.

[Cheesefreek]

Scouse12, you may well have tried it - but my husband, who suffers from arthritis in his neck, swears by the natural remedy Glucosamine Sulphate with Chondroitin (what a mouthful!).  You can get it from any health food store.  You can take it with your normal painkillers.  After taking it for a month, my hubby started noticing a marked difference.  He takes it regularly and most of the pain and stiffness from his arthritis has disappeared.  It's certainly worth a try - as long as you don't expect too much for at least a month to six weeks.

[shaneystar]

Sorry to have given you wrong advice Scouse12.It's just that when I take a combination of iboprufen and paracetamol it upsets my stomach.I have had various cocktails of drugs over the years for arthritiis pain all of which irritate my stomach.Luckily I have now changed my doctor and he has now prescribed something which suits.Just didn't want to you have an upset tummy!!

[FP]

Shaneystar, I know the feeling well!  Fortunately, I hve a reasonable arythritis drug at the moment, but still hve bouts of upset stomach.  You are quite right, of course, any drugs can upset your stomach and ibuprufen can create havoc with mine.

[nicola_red]

Aspirin and ibuprofen are basically the same medication so shouldn't be mixed.  As others have said, paracetomol-based medicines are fine with one or the other.  When I had a tooth out last year and got a dry socket my dentist prescribed me ibuprofen for the swelling and told me I was fine to continue taking co-codamol (which are paracetomol-based) at the same time.  The only time I use ibuprofen is for swelling-type things (like when I have piercings) as aspirin-based medicines can sometimes upset your stomach.  The rest of the time I take co-codamol.

[shaneystar]

I am on Arthrotec FP as well as Co-Codomal.The Arthrotec has got something in it to protect the stomach lining but for the first few days of taking it I had a crampy tummy.I find taking them with my meals helps but they still make you feel sickly.
I wish there was a miracle cure for arthritis!!
Keep taking the tablets!!!

[Hippy]

When I take Ibuprofen for more than a couple days I get a nasty increase in tinitus (I already suffer this and it gets half as bad again in both ears, whereas normally it is just settled in one ear) and also blood in faeces. Quite frightening. When this happens I stop the Ibuprofen and put up with the pain for a week, transferring to co-codomol.

I get recurrent lower back pain that can be totally crippling for five or six days at a time if I don't zap it at the first sign.

[FP]

I did ask my doctor if he could prescribe some cannabis for me (I have never used it!), but he laughed and said only for people with MS.    I really hate filling myself up with chemicals!!!

Co-codamol and similar codeine products make me hallucinate really badly!!  I take Mobic and Paracetamol/

Bl**dy Arthritis - still we all get by and you can't give in to it.

[ann_h]

What you suggest, Scouse, is tripling the dose - VERY BAD!!

 

If you want, you can take one aspirin with one paracetamol instead of two of the same thing.

This IS more effective as the two drugs are co-somethingers. BUT do not increase the over all intake.