Taking Ibuprofen 400mg

I and 73 years old and have had osteoarthritis in my hip for the last 20 years although my orthopaedic consultant tells me that I do not need hip replacement surgery yet. For the last couple of years I have been getting treasonable relief by taking 1 x 400mg Ibuprofen tablet every day along with 1 x Lanzoprasole 30mg to protect my stomach.

My simple question is whether it is safe to keep taking this dosage of Ibuprofen every day , year by year. I tried asking my GP and he was suitably vague about it and just told me not to exceed the recommended daily dose (which I do not) but would not commit himself to answering my specific question about taking it more or less for the rest of my life.

Any answers or even opinions would be welcome.

I am new to this forum and I am sure that many of you have discussed this question dozens of times so apologies if it made you sigh 😊

Comments

  • MoWW
    MoWW Member Posts: 75

    Hi Geoff,

    welcome to Versus Arthritis online forum, I am sure you will find the forum members a great source of help and support.

    Information on ibuprofen on our website, you can also ask your local pharmacist for advice.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/ibuprofen/

    Our Helpline team are available to speak with you, https://www.versusarthritis.org/get-help/

    It sounds as if you have been managing your pain well, information on our website might be of interest https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/managing-symptoms/managing-your-pain/

    While Co-vid 19 lockdown has changed the way we deliver our local services, I have added the link for you to find out what is happening locally https://www.versusarthritis.org/in-your-area/

    I hope you find our forum of help,

    Mo

  • Crookesey
    Crookesey Bots Posts: 119

    Well I’m taking 800mg a day on top of a 15mg weekly injection of Methotrexate and one 5mg Folic Acid tablet weekly, I can’t imagine that anyone in pain isn’t taking something on top of their prescribed medication.

  • rgaf1234
    rgaf1234 Member Posts: 3

    Thanks for your information.

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 23. Jun 2020, 07:50

    Hello, I too have OA but should not take ibuprophen due to a possible exacerbation of my asthma. That is controlled by inhalers which I have been using since their first inception, more than forty years ago. I take ibuprophen when in dire straits and it doesnt exacerbate the breathing or relieve much from the uncontrollable OA. If you are safely within the guidelines then why not? They help, thus enabling you to get on, do more. You even have room to maneouvre when needed, so many people run out of wiggle room by getting on the hard stuff virtually from the off then wonder, after a few years, why nothing works (they're the ones wh make me sigh).

    Every physiology is unique, every one's needs and fears and worries likewise. My life since the age of twelve has been enabled and dominated by meds which are thankfulky there to make the present bearable. If I make old bones (I am 61) I will still be injecting the junk for my psoriatic arthritis, swallowng the pain dullers for the OA, inhaling steroids for my breathing, wearing stronger and stronger glasses to see less increasingly vaguely, possibly piping the Admiral aboard as I fiddle with my NHS hearing aids and shouting at squirrels and the weatherman. Wot larks, Pip! Do what you need to do to get the best from what you have whilst you have it. GPs don't have answers, just temporary solutions: I have yet to see one consult a crystal ball about the future and I've gone through a few in my time. I wish you well. DD

    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben