Q. I am a healthy 65-year-old woman who's acquired little aches and pains over the years. Recently I had painful bursitis, for which the doctor prescribed 800 mg of ibuprofen three times daily.
The ibuprofen helped with the bursitis over a three-week period and my aches and pains also improved. I hate to quit taking this wonderful stuff. If the ibuprofen makes me feel so great, can I continue with it forever, in smaller doses?
A. Ibuprofen, like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can help relieve a variety of painful conditions. The downside of prolonged use (even in lower doses) is stomach upset, ulcers and even kidney problems. Blood pressure control may also become more difficult.
The FDA recently approved a topical product containing a powerful NSAID called diclofenac. It is prescribed as Voltaren Gel. This medication is applied to the skin around the painful joint (knees, wrists, fingers, etc). It is effective and less likely than oral NSAIDs to cause digestive upset (Current Medical Research and Opinion, April, 2008).
