Q. I began taking meloxicam in April for inflammation. By June my stomach was so messed up I couldn’t stand it. My pain doctor switched me to diclofenac, but I had the same stomach issues.
My stomach is still torn up after weeks of not taking any NSAIDs. I started taking Prilosec but it hasn’t helped much. The NSAIDs also raised my blood pressure and now I have to take blood pressure pills. Can you recommend anything I can do for my pain that won’t cause these problems?
A. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are widely prescribed by physicians and are also available over the counter as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen (Aleve).
Serious digestive tract damage and even bleeding ulcers are not uncommon complications of NSAIDs. The latter is a life-threatening side effect.
Increases in blood pressure are also a common problem with NSAIDs. Other adverse reactions include irregular heart rhythms (atrial fibrillation), fluid retention, hearing problems, skin rash, liver or kidney damage or heart attacks.
People often rely on NSAIDs because they don’t know about other options. Non-drug approaches may include spices like turmeric, ginger or boswellia and juices from grapes, pomegranates or cherries.
We are sending you our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis with some of our favorite anti-inflammatory remedies.
