muliple NSAIDS

[bolam]

This may seem a silly question to some of you but is it safe to take multiple NSAIDS?
Could I take say naproxen and ibuprofen for period pain? and would this actually have any greater effect?

[johnep]

I have frequently taken aspirin (one tab 300mg) paracetamol (one tab 500mg) and Ibuprofen (one tab 200mg).

For period pain I would suggest adding in an antispasmodic such as Buscopan to Naproxen or Paracetamol.
johnep

[Nik]

Considering that the drugs would work similarly ie through inflammatory markers such as prostaglandins and by inhibiting COX, I doubt there would be any additional analgesic effect. I suppose you could go for an NSAID which may be more COX-2 selective, such as diclofenac (slightly more selective for COX 2 than 1).

[lamzee]

This may seem a silly question to some of you but is it safe to take multiple NSAIDS?
Could I take say naproxen and ibuprofen for period pain? and would this actually have any greater effect?

Why not just go on the pill and take it without the week break. No periods at all then :-)

[bobbin]

This may seem a silly question to some of you but is it safe to take multiple NSAIDS?
Could I take say naproxen and ibuprofen for period pain? and would this actually have any greater effect?

If you were on naproxen it would not be sensible to take ibuprofen for period pain. Naproxen (and all NSAIDs) can treat period pain. If the relief wasn't adequate from naproxen you could take paracetamol or co-codamol.

Combining two NSAIDs is very toxic to the stomach and there is no reason to do so.

[bolam]

thank you, it was only a hypothetical example though. If you dont mind me asking, why do you take both aspirin and ibuprofen Johnep?

[johnep]

I don't any longer.
1) Aspirin upsets my stomach.
2) Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS supposed to have harmful effects on the heart.
3) Paracetamol is a liver poison.
So one of each should give the benefits without too much aggro. This was when I was awaiting my hip operation.
Haven't taken any analgesics for two years now.
I know not rational, but seemed to work for me.
johnep