I've read on the internet, in multiple, reputable places, that if you have colitis or Crohn's disease you should not take NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) because they can cause or exacerbate a flare. No reasons are given because they don't know why. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is okay.
It doesn't make sense, because NSAIDs are anti-inflammatory. They work by REDUCING INFLAMMATION. Colitis and Crohn's ARE inflammation of the digestive tract, with colitis being the very definition of "inflammation of the colon." Yet we're told not to take this common, over-the-counter, very effective anti-inflammation medicine?
Acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory, it is a pain blocker. It works by blocking pain signals from the inflamed or injured area to the brain, but the area still remains in a state of pain.
This has caused problems because, for me, Acetaminophen only works to reduce fevers, but nothing else. The average recommended dose barely moves the pain needle with headaches or sore muscles. And while I didn't have a lot of headaches before my colitis symptoms appeared, I've had some doozies since (usually medication related). I've also had problems waking up with a stiff neck more often than I did before.
I Can Take It!
I wanted to get this figured out once and for all so at my last follow-up gastroenterologist visit, I asked my doctor about taking ibuprofen. He said that he'd never had a patient who had reported a problem with it, and as long as it wasn't taken everyday, I would probably be fine.
Hallelujah!
Is it weird that I'm now kind of looking forward to my next headache? Just so I can have an ibuprofen?
After my initial research, I found a recent WebMD article, "NSAIDs and Crohn's Disease," written in June, 2022, that addresses this issue and admits that, "The common wisdom is that these painkillers can make your condition
worse. But the link between Crohn’s and NSAIDs isn’t clear-cut." While the article does not mention colitis, much of what it says applies.
Like so many other IBDs issues, this is yet another gray area that may work one way for some, but another for others. So, AS ALWAYS, consult with your own gastroenterologist on any questions you may have, especially about medications.
As for me, I'm going to keep that bottle of ibuprofen handy. For occasional use, of course.
© Colitis Senioritis 2022
Posts
