Should I take Ibuprofen before or after meals?

Useful information for patients.

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Used to reduce pain, fever and inflammation. Talk to your doctor before taking ibuprofen if you have ever had a bad reaction to any other anti-inflammatory pain reliever.

IN THIS ARTICLE

• Information about the drug
• What you need to know about your health before taking ibuprofen
• How to use
• How to get the most from your treatment
• Can ibuprofen cause side effects?
• How to store the drug

When to call an ambulance

Abdominal pain can be caused by a serious malfunction of the internal organs or their inflammation. For example, if we are talking about sudden intestinal obstruction, the clock can count. Therefore, it is so important to know the “bad” signs of abdominal pain and be able to provide first aid.

1. The abdominal muscles are overly tense, they cannot be pressed or felt, and any touch causes acute pain.
2. Unpleasant sensations are accompanied by urinary retention.
3. The patient is bleeding.
4. The pain was preceded by an injury.
5. The temperature exceeds 38 degrees.
6. There is pallor of the skin, the person is unclearly aware of the surrounding reality or is unconscious.

When not to take painkillers

My stomach hurts and it's not my period.

Painkillers will only mask the real problem. It will be more difficult for the doctor to figure out whether it is simple poisoning or a serious infection.

The medicine contains metamizole.

Metamizole can lower the level of white blood cells in the blood, leading to agranulocytosis, a life-threatening condition.
Therefore, it is banned in the USA, Great Britain, and Japan. In Russia, you don’t even need a prescription to buy it. Examples of drugs with metamizole are Analgin, Baralgin, Tempalgin
.

Traditional methods

What are the main examination methods to determine the cause of abdominal pain?

• Examination by a gastroenterologist, surgeon or gynecologist.
• Anamnesis collection.
• Ultrasound of internal organs.
• CT scan.
• X-ray with contrast.
• Blood and urine tests.
• Biochemical research.
• Histological studies.

Most diseases are detected after examination and blood tests. The most common after laboratory tests are ultrasound examinations. An X-ray with contrast is done if intestinal obstruction is suspected. In some cases, it is necessary to resort to surgical methods of examination.

Not only medicinal painkillers for abdominal pain can help the patient. There are many folk remedies that effectively treat discomfort. What painkillers for abdominal pain can be made from natural ingredients? Rice water with fennel helps to improve peristalsis.

The thick drink coats the intestinal walls and acts no worse than pharmaceutical drugs. Ginger decoction can solve the problem of constipation and impaired peristalsis. The root of the plant increases the production of digestive juices and acts as a mild pain reliever. For gastritis or stomach ulcers, potato juice with honey has a good effect.

To prepare it, you need to grate the potatoes and strain the resulting mixture. For a more pleasant taste, you can add honey. The starch contained in potatoes coats the walls of the stomach and relieves discomfort. A decoction of chamomile leaves with plantain has a healing and anti-inflammatory effect.

Painkillers for pregnant women

Pregnancy is a special condition for a woman, during which you need to pay all your attention to health. Therefore, if you begin to experience abdominal pain, especially in the lower part, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible or even call an ambulance. However, there are a number of unpleasant symptoms that do not pose a serious danger.

For example, pregnant women often suffer from indigestion and heaviness after eating certain foods. With chronic diseases of the internal organs (inflammation of the pancreas, pancreatitis or ulcers), from time to time a woman may also experience painful attacks. There is no need to endure them, since pain negatively affects the body of the mother and child.

The use of most analgesics and antispasmodics during pregnancy is prohibited. After all, the active substances contained in such medications can negatively affect the development of the child and even cause premature birth due to relaxation of smooth muscles. Therefore, doctors recommend using the following drugs:

• “Paracetamol” - compared to its analogues (“Analgin” and “Aspirin”), this medicine has the least side effects. But still, “Paracetamol” has a toxic effect on the body, so only a doctor can prescribe the dosage.
• In the first trimester of pregnancy, it is allowed to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen. In the second and third trimester, their use is limited, as they can cause a number of pathologies in the child.
• Topical anesthetic ointments based on diclofenac and ketorolac are approved for use in the first two trimesters.

How to take ibuprofen

• Before you start taking this medicine, read the package leaflet to get more information about the medicine and a full list of side effects.
• The usual dose for adults and children 12 years of age or older is 200–400 mg of ibuprofen three or four times daily . However, the dose will be different if you have been prescribed a slow-release ibuprofen tablet (modified-release tablet). These tablets are usually taken only once a day, and sometimes twice a day. There are different brands of tablets and capsules, which differ in the amount of active substance. Therefore, always check the package label to ensure you are taking the recommended amount. If you are giving your child liquid ibuprofen, the dose you will need to give depends on your child's age. Check the label on the medicine bottle carefully to make sure you are giving the correct amount for your child's age. Usual dosage for children: 3-5 months: 50 mg (2.5 ml) three times a day.
• 6-11 months: 50 mg (2.5 ml) three or four times daily.
• 1-3 years: 100 mg (5 ml) three times daily.
• 4-6 years: 150 mg (7.5 ml) three times daily.
• 7-9 years: 200 mg (10 ml) three times a day.
• 10-11 years: 300 mg (15 ml) three times a day.

Painkillers

Before taking medications that relieve pain, you need to understand which groups they belong to. At the moment, there are several types of painkillers in the world for abdominal pain.

1. Enterosorbents effectively help relieve pain from food poisoning. They “recycle” toxic substances, bringing immediate relief. But since enterosorbents are not painkillers in the truest sense of the word, they may not be effective for other diseases.
2. Antispasmodics are painkillers for pain in the lower abdomen. During menstruation or diseases of the genitourinary system, they can help relieve unpleasant symptoms. Antispasmodics significantly relieve pain in internal organs by relaxing smooth muscles.
3. Non-narcotic analgesics are the most common for pain relief. They do not eliminate the cause of the pain, they simply mask it and also have a strong effect on the liver. Therefore, their use for more than one to three days is strictly not recommended.
4. Opiates are used primarily in hospital settings to treat moderate to severe pain. Opiates and narcotic painkillers are often used in cancer patients.
5. Non-absorbable antacids help eliminate abdominal pain without affecting other body processes and have an immediate effect. Antacids reduce acidity in the stomach, which has a positive effect on the health of patients suffering from ulcers or gastritis.

Most women have experienced “menstrual syndrome” at least once in their lives. Due to the increased production of estrogen and progesterone, patients often complain of headaches, discomfort in the lower abdomen and general poor health. How to relieve pain in the lower abdomen? If you are experiencing severe pain before or during your period, then only a specialist can help after conducting a series of tests.

• "Ketoprofen".
• “Naproxen.”
• “Ibuprofen.”

It is important to remember that these drugs are not recommended for pain localized above or near the navel, and the course of use should also be limited to three days. If the pain does not go away within this time, you should consult a doctor. But there are patients who do not benefit from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In this case, you can try other painkillers for pain in the lower abdomen - analgesics:

• “Ketonal.”
• “Analgin.”
• “Ketanov.”

In addition to analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, there are antispasmodics, which are also very effective as pain relievers for lower abdominal pain in women. These are such well-known drugs as “Spazmalgon”, “No-shpa”, “Papaverine”. These medications are not recommended for pregnant women, people with low blood pressure or kidney failure.

Description and pharmacological action

"Analgin" is an analgesic with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. "Analgin" is a pyrazolone derivative. Available in several forms: tablets, injection solution and rectal suppositories. The main active ingredient of Analgin is metamizole sodium. One tablet of the drug contains 500 mg. The composition also includes excipients: potato starch, talc, calcium stearate, refined sugar. The tablets are usually white or yellowish in color and taste bitter. Available in cell-free packaging of 10 pieces, in blisters (contour packages) of 10 pieces. The injection solution contains 250 mg (25 percent) or 500 mg (50 percent) metamizole sodium. Rectal suppositories, depending on the dosage, contain 100 mg or 250 mg of the active substance. Analgin powder dissolves quickly in water, which is very convenient if you need to quickly achieve the maximum content of the drug in the body.

The components of analgin are quickly absorbed into the body and exert their effect within 20-40 minutes. Within two hours the effect of the drug reaches its maximum.

Side effects and contraindications

Like all NSAIDs, ibuprofen can lead to ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum, so-called “aspirin-induced” bronchial asthma, polyposis of the nose and paranasal sinuses, as well as blood clotting disorders. For this reason, this drug is contraindicated in the following situations:

• Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
• Bronchial asthma and bronchospasm attacks;
• Coagulopathies, including hemophilia;
• Pathology of the optic nerve;
• Severe dysfunction of the liver and kidneys;

There is children's Nurofen, which can be given to children starting from 3 months. It is available in the form of suppositories and suspensions for oral administration. However, it is not recommended to use Nurofen in a child with abdominal pain, both for the reasons described above and due to the risk of developing acute liver failure with encephalopathy.

Medicines for children

Abdominal pain is one of the most insidious symptoms that can confuse even the most experienced doctor. Therefore, you must adhere to certain rules that will help you timely identify and treat the causes of discomfort.

• Never apply hot heating pads, compresses or other heat devices to the painful area. If there are inflammatory processes in your internal organs (and they are often the causes of pain), then you can only worsen the situation.
• Visit your doctor as soon as possible. Many adults are accustomed to enduring pain and do not attach serious importance to it. But if the pain is very severe and does not go away within a few hours, then you should visit a specialist as soon as possible.
• Painkillers for abdominal pain should not be taken until examined by a doctor. After all, this can seriously complicate the diagnosis of the disease. If you do take a painkiller, be sure to tell your doctor about it.
• Pay attention to accompanying symptoms. If abdominal pain is accompanied by fever, and even more so by vomiting, you should urgently go to the hospital. The cause may be an intestinal obstruction or a ruptured appendix, which requires immediate surgical intervention.

Although there are serious causes of abdominal pain, “mild” illnesses such as bloating, upset stomach or indigestion are more common. In children, it is almost impossible to know the nature of the pain, so you should very carefully monitor the general condition of the baby. If he eats with appetite, is active and mobile, then there is probably no cause for concern.

In this situation, special suppositories with paracetamol or a decoction of dill water, which will improve peristalsis, can help relieve abdominal pain in a child. But if the baby has pale skin, has a fever and is capricious, then it’s worth calling the emergency room. When palpating the abdomen, in this case, worsening symptoms may be observed, and the abdomen itself will be hard and tense.

The most effective painkillers

Every person who has experienced abdominal pain does not want it to happen again. It can be extremely painful and unpleasant, and can also occur in the most inappropriate places. What can cope with these unpleasant sensations? Here is a list of the most common and effective medications:

• “No-shpa” is a pain reliever for abdominal pain during menstruation and other smooth muscle spasms. Sold in any pharmacy without a prescription, the cost is 120 rubles for 24 tablets. However, this medicine has one feature - “No-spa” lowers blood pressure. Therefore, it is not recommended for hypotensive patients and pregnant women.
• “Omez” has proven itself as an effective drug for abdominal pain caused by ulcers, gastritis, reflux or inflammation of the duodenum. The price at the pharmacy is about 270 rubles for 30 capsules. You can take the medicine either in courses or as needed.
• “Spazmalgon” is a strong pain reliever for abdominal pain. It has not only an antispasmodic, but also a mild anti-inflammatory effect on the body. The price for a package of 20 tablets is 151 rubles.
• “Pentalgin” has a powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. The drug contains several active substances: paracetamol, caffeine, drotaverine, naproxen. They have a complex effect and quickly eliminate pain. A package of this medicine will cost you 180 rubles.
• “Cerucal” copes well with one of the most common causes of abdominal pain. It improves intestinal motility and eliminates flatulence. You can buy it for 120 rubles.
• “Creon”, “Pancreatin” and other enzyme medications improve digestion and intestinal motility. They act immediately, but it is advisable to use them during meals. Therefore, if you feel discomfort in the abdomen during a meal, it is better to immediately resort to the help of one of these drugs.
• “Smecta” and “Enterosgel” help the body cleanse itself of toxins and waste, and at the same time eliminate pain caused by poisoning or diarrhea. Relief will not come immediately, but you will not feel any side effects from taking it.

At the moment, pharmacies offer a wide range of different medications that help cope with abdominal pain. Their cost does not exceed 200 rubles, which means that they are accessible to a wide range of the population. When choosing a pain reliever for abdominal pain, you should be guided by the cause of the discomfort. Then the treatment will be quick and the effect will be lasting.

Contraindications

Patients with the following diagnoses should not take Ibuprofen before meals:

• healed peptic ulcer;
• presence of Helicobacter pylori infection;
• chronic dystrophic-inflammatory changes in the stomach;
• chronic inflammatory disease of the small or large intestine.

Absolute contraindications for taking Ibuprofen are:

• allergy to any components of this drug or any other NSAIDs;
• acute peptic ulcer;
• acute inflammatory processes in the intestines;
• pathologies of the hematopoietic system;
• after recent coronary bypass surgery;
• internal bleeding;
• severe liver or kidney failure;
• period of bearing a child;
• in pediatrics up to 6 years.

Tablets can be freely purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription, but one should not forget that it is better to take the drug in the minimum effective doses. The shorter the duration of the therapeutic course, the lower the likelihood of developing any side effects.

Results

Abdominal pain bothers many people. Unpleasant sensations can be caused by various reasons, but most of them can be removed with medications. Painkillers for abdominal pain in adults are not always safe, because they can mask serious illnesses. However, if you understand the location of the pain and can determine its source, pain medications may provide temporary relief. It is important not to forget to visit a doctor and eliminate the original source of discomfort.