Medications

This is FANTASTIC information for us!! I knew of some of these, but not all and did not know ALL of the reasons why!! DRUGS THAT CAN DAMAGE THE POUCH: Advil Celebrex Motrin Aleve Clinorial Nalfon Amigesic Darvon compounds Naprosyn Anacin Disalcid Nayer Anaprox Dolobid Orudis Ansald Erythromycin Oruval Anthra-G Equagesic Pamprin-IB Arthropan Feldene Perdocan Ascriptin Fiorinal Ponstel Aspirin Ibuprofen Rexolate Asproject Indocin Tandearil Azolid Ketoprofen Tetracycline Bextra Lodine Tolecin Bufferin Meclomen Uracel Butazolidin Midol Vioxx Voltaren ALL NSAIDS are also included in the above list. (See below.) DRUGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFE: Benadryl Glycerin Suppositories Safetussin Colace Imodium AD Sudafed Dimetapp Milk of Magnesia Triaminics (all) Dulcolax Suppositories Peri-Colace Tylenol Fleet Enema Phazyme Tylenol Cold Products Gas-X Robitussin Tylenol Extra Strength I want to help everyone understand the reason NSAIDS are dangerous for us. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just that they are "pouch burners" as the industry wants us to believe. It goes much deeper than that. According to an article published in the June 1999 New England Journal of Medicine, NSAIDS, once absorbed into the blood stream cause a chain of chemical reactions that affect the prostaglandins and this in turn reduces the production of mucus in the GI system. The mucus is what lines our GI system and protects our pouch and intestines from damage. If the mucus production is reduced, this would allow ANYTHING, including eating something with too sharp of an edge or food that are too spicy, to inadvertently begin a marginal ulcer. The best answer is to avoid NSAIDS at all cost. Taking an H2 receptor drug, such as Prilosec, Prevacid or Nexium is only a bandaid and no guarantee it will protect you. If you are desperate to try an NSAID, I would recommend Arthrotec since it has a prostaglandin compound in it that tries to prevent the chemical reaction mentioned above, but you are still at risk for marginal ulcers anytime you take an anti-inflammatory. *By Michele Van Hook-Troesch, RN

Thanks Michelle for the info and explanation why. I took some Advil gelcaps 2 wks before my wls. The joints were screaming and the fibro and asked the pharmacist if it would be safer being a gelcap and exiting the stomach faster. He said it made sense and suggested I try. Well the joints felt so much better after I took 2 that am, that I took 2 more later that day. The next day my stomach was doing the screaming. I went to see the gastro dr and he said " Mary even if they gave you this drug thru an IV it would still adversely affect your stomach". I couldn't really understand that until you explained it. Mary

Hi 'Chelle! Thanks for the good info. I am going to print that out. Anyway, you look amazing! Hugs, Tracy

Thanks for sharing the list with the group! Kathy

Michelle, I really struggle with knee joint pain at times. I went to an arthritis specialist and explained that I could not take any NSAIDS. He had a pharmacy mix up a compound of Diclofenac that could be rubbed on the joint and absorbed. Do you think that would hurt me? It has sure helped. I don't use it very often. Lori

I would think that topicals would be okay, but then again when I worked in medicine, we used to tell patients NOT to take Benadryl if they were using the topical stuff, too because it would compound in their system. So, I'm not sure. Maybe print this out and take it to your artrhitis doc and see what he says. This wasn't written by me, I got it from another message board. Michelle