nsaids/side effects/kidneys

thesinger

Hello All, I have been on nsaids almost 19 years now for my ankylosing spondylitis. Over the last 3 years i have had kidney problems related to use of nsaids. Now i am only allowed to take 1 or 2 Arthrotec a week and i have been told my kidneys have improved . When i take an Arthrotec i feel much better for a day or so but then the effect wears off and i have been in agony at times. My AS affects me from my eyes to my feet. The worst area lately has been my ribs/clavicle causing sleepless nights. Painkillers have not helped much. I have been using Butrans patches nearly 3 weeks now on 10 mg. Still too early to say if they are going to be effective. Has anyone else had to stop using Nsaids or any meds because of side affects?. Has your Arthritis got worse and how are you managing your pain. Brian.

oneday

Hi Brian
Ihope someone can help you with some info.
Whilst i was reading up on gallstones,which i may have,i discoverd nsaids can cause them, great, although i only take them when in absolute agony.
Good luck.

angel1

Brian hello,

I have had OA for ten years or so. It first started in my right ankle, quickly followed by right knee. I was given Diclofenac, together with Co-codamol, and this combination seemed to do the trick for quite a while. Eventually, as the knee worsened, a TKR was recommended. During the Pre Med, it was discovered that my BP was very high. My GP immediately took me off Diclofenac, as this apparently can be the cause of increased blood pressure. She sent me for a blood test, which revealed "a slighly poor kidney function" - her words. Again, she attributed this to having taken Nsaids for too long.

I have to say that both are now normal again, although this could be due, in part, to the fact that I am now on medication for the BP. For pain relief, I now have Tramadol, and Paracetamol, and I find they control the pain, most of the time.

Hope some of this is helpful..........Ange.

englishrose

I am sorry to hear of your problems. I had a problem after taking meloxicam (anti-inflam) for about 7 years. These drugs caused a stomach ulcer. I am now not allowed any anti-inflams. This has been going on for a year - this last years has been worst ever. Used only to suffer with hands but now it is hands, wrists, ankles and feet. Presently I take mtx, hydroxy. leflunomide plus codeine, tramadol and paracetamol. None of this seems to be improving anything. Have appointment with Rheumy Consultant on Tuesday and will pleed for something else.
I do hope they can sort you out and you can find releif.
Jane

dorcas

Hi Brian,

I have had to come off various anti inflams in the past due either to them not working or to side effects........

They were also blamed for causing my kidney problems, but the renal folks have now decided the kidney probs are 'probably' caused by the autoimmune disease and not the drugs, as it's not gotten any better since I came off the NSAIDs.

I have PA and some OA and am on Humira and Mtx plus Amitriptylline, Tramadol & co dydramol for pain.

hope you get some help to control your arther while they look at what other meds to give you. ':roll:')':)') Iris x

dorcas

englishrose wrote:

I am sorry to hear of your problems. I had a problem after taking meloxicam (anti-inflam) for about 7 years. These drugs caused a stomach ulcer. I am now not allowed any anti-inflams. This has been going on for a year - this last years has been worst ever. Used only to suffer with hands but now it is hands, wrists, ankles and feet. Presently I take mtx, hydroxy. leflunomide plus codeine, tramadol and paracetamol. None of this seems to be improving anything. Have appointment with Rheumy Consultant on Tuesday and will pleed for something else.
I do hope they can sort you out and you can find releif.
Jane

Jane, I hope you get a change of meds to help with your pain when you see your rheummy on Tuesday. Will be thinking about you. let us know how you get on. Iris x

debatat

Hi Brian, I cannot take any NSAIDs due to kidney disease. I really miss them when having a flare as I found them to be very effective. Recently my gp gave me a weeks course of naproxen as I was having a bad flare. I am not allowed anymore!!

There are other alternatives, to pain relief. You need to have a good chat with your gp.

Deb x

oneday

englishrose wrote:

I am sorry to hear of your problems. I had a problem after taking meloxicam (anti-inflam) for about 7 years. These drugs caused a stomach ulcer. I am now not allowed any anti-inflams. This has been going on for a year - this last years has been worst ever. Used only to suffer with hands but now it is hands, wrists, ankles and feet. Presently I take mtx, hydroxy. leflunomide plus codeine, tramadol and paracetamol. None of this seems to be improving anything. Have appointment with Rheumy Consultant on Tuesday and will pleed for something else.
I do hope they can sort you out and you can find releif.
Jane

Hi Jane
sorry to sort of interupt this thread but how do they diagnose a stomach ulcer? wondering wheter i have that! thanks.

woodbon

Hi, It is done by endoscopy, a tube put down into the tummy, the tube has a camra attached. Some places can do it with a simple breath test or blood test. SUe

thesinger

Thanks everyone for your kind replys. The main problem i have had using stronger painkillers in place of nsaids is being tired all the time. Hopefully using pain patches will help me cut down on my painkillers and i can get back into some regular exercise. I know how good i felt when i was exercising. Take Care All and i wish you a Great Xmas and a better New Year. Brian.

sharmaine

Hi Brian
Sorry to hear about your problems and it must dreadful to still be in pain. Have you been back to your GP? I'm on co-dydramol x 8 a day; 3 diclofenacs and 3 amytriptlines at night. These all help, however, lately I find that I have pain because my bones seem to 'lock' difficult to explain ...but it hurts! I have OA in both legs and both legs are badly affected.

Go back and discuss it with your GP.

Sharmaine

thesinger wrote:

Hello All, I have been on nsaids almost 19 years now for my ankylosing spondylitis. Over the last 3 years i have had kidney problems related to use of nsaids. Now i am only allowed to take 1 or 2 Arthrotec a week and i have been told my kidneys have improved . When i take an Arthrotec i feel much better for a day or so but then the effect wears off and i have been in agony at times. My AS affects me from my eyes to my feet. The worst area lately has been my ribs/clavicle causing sleepless nights. Painkillers have not helped much. I have been using Butrans patches nearly 3 weeks now on 10 mg. Still too early to say if they are going to be effective. Has anyone else had to stop using Nsaids or any meds because of side affects?. Has your Arthritis got worse and how are you managing your pain. Brian.

englishrose

oneday wrote:

englishrose wrote:

I am sorry to hear of your problems. I had a problem after taking meloxicam (anti-inflam) for about 7 years. These drugs caused a stomach ulcer. I am now not allowed any anti-inflams. This has been going on for a year - this last years has been worst ever. Used only to suffer with hands but now it is hands, wrists, ankles and feet. Presently I take mtx, hydroxy. leflunomide plus codeine, tramadol and paracetamol. None of this seems to be improving anything. Have appointment with Rheumy Consultant on Tuesday and will pleed for something else.
I do hope they can sort you out and you can find releif.
Jane

Jane
sorry to sort of interupt this thread but how do they diagnose a stomach ulcer? wondering wheter i have that! thanks.

They did`nt diagnose mine. I was very unwell with bad pains in my back just above the waist - had never felt so ill. Had various tests and while they were thinking what was wrong I had a big bleed. They call it a coffee granule vomit. Awful and very frightening. They then went down into my tummy and injected adrealin (?) into the sighjt of the ulcer. I was then discharged but later collapsed and had to go back into hospital for blood tranfusions because I was very anemic. I now have clean bill of health re ulcer.
Hoe you do not have one!!!
Jane