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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take ibuprofen on an empty stomach?

23 replies

StarShank · 15/08/2014 17:59

Just once?
I've got a banging headache but it's a bit to early for dinner. DH disagrees. Que the awesomeness that is Mumsnet opinions.

OP posts:

ColdCottage · 15/08/2014 18:01

I drink a pint of squash if I have to do this and seems to avoid feeling sick. If not much drink to hand I try and eat a jaffacake or cookie. Never have any problems.

steff13 · 15/08/2014 18:02

Are you not supposed to take it on an empty stomach? I take it on an empty stomach all the time. I have a bottle sitting right next to me, and it says nothing about not taking it on an empty stomach.

If you're worried certainly you could eat a piece of toast with it.

NynaevesSister · 15/08/2014 18:02

No you can't. Make yourself some toast or a sandwich.

OddBoots · 15/08/2014 18:03

Unreasonable? No, it's you're own body.

Putting yourself at risk, yes, you could cause damage to your stomach for the sake of eating a yoghurt or a bit of fruit or something .

RandomDiva · 15/08/2014 18:04

No. When I did that I ended up with serious internal bleeding and needed many transfusions and surgery. Total freak incident which ran out of control. Your stomach should always have food in it prior to taking nsaids.

NynaevesSister · 15/08/2014 18:04

Stuff I am shocked! Is it the type of bottle with a peel able label that has more instructions. You should never ever take an NSAID on an empty stomach. You run a small, but still!, risk of intestinal bleeding. It should say to take the tablets with food. If it does not I would worry about where the shop got those drugs from.

NynaevesSister · 15/08/2014 18:05

Sorry that should have said Steff not Stuff!

CabbagePatchCheryl · 15/08/2014 18:05

I generally try not to, but I've done it many times when I've really needed to and no ill effects. I think if you did it regularly it could cause damage but once isn't going to hurt. (Well, it might give you a tummy ache)

Not a HCP btw so just my opinion!

ADHDNoodles · 15/08/2014 18:05

You need to eat food with those?

That's news to me. They work faster on an empty stomach.

BertieBotts · 15/08/2014 18:07

I didn't know this either. I've often taken them on an empty stomach.

Is it really that dangerous?

steff13 · 15/08/2014 18:14

Those are the peeled directions.

It says it can cause bleeding, and chances are higher if you are over age 60, have had stomach ulcers, take blood thinners or steroids, take other drugs containing NSAIDS, drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks while using it, or take more than is directed.

The only thing it says about food is to take with food or milk if upset stomach occurs.

steff13 · 15/08/2014 18:18

Is it really that dangerous?

I can't find anything that says it's THAT dangerous. I did find that people who take high doses on a regular basis are 3x more likely to have GI bleeding.

Sallystyle · 15/08/2014 18:23

I do it all the time.

Didn't know I wasn't meant to.

Original poster

StarShank · 15/08/2014 18:26

Damn no consensus. I've taken one and drank a pint of squash, reckon I'll live.

OP posts:

weaselwords · 15/08/2014 18:28

I've knackered my stomach lining doing it. I wish I hadn't.

CabbagePatchCheryl · 15/08/2014 18:29

AFAIK all NSAIDs can cause damage to the stomach lining which therefore increases the risk of bleeding. That's why they say not on an empty stomach as (presumably) the effect is worse if there's nothing else in there. Aspirin and ibuprofen are not the worst culprits - my DH had something on prescription where he had to ring the pharmacist every 48 hours so they could check he wasn't going to die of a perforation or something . If you have to take NSAIDs regularly over a prolonged period they tend to also give you another drug to control stomach acid and therefore reduce damage to the lining.

I think doing it occasionally probably isn't the end of the world (I do) but not regularly and not if you can help it.

Gruntfuttock · 15/08/2014 18:31

I found out when I was in A & E and the painkillers I'd been given weren't working after hours, that they don't work if you've got low blood sugar. As soon as they realised I hadn't eaten for a long time, they gave me something sweet to eat and then, like a miracle, the painkillers worked. I always bear this in mind when any of my family need to take them.

DeadSirius · 15/08/2014 18:39

It's not that big a deal. If you don't have preexisting conditions like stomach ulcers a normal dose of ibuprofen isn't going to harm you, it might upset your stomach a little.

RandomDiva · 15/08/2014 18:47

I had no stomach issues when it happened to me. None.

HawthornLantern · 15/08/2014 18:47

I throw up if I take nurofen or asprin on an empty stomach. I learned this the hard way. There is about a 30 minute delay and then it hits. Yoghurt or toast work for me, but squash wouldn't - drinks on their own never have.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 15/08/2014 18:52

Don't take it on an empty stomach, in hospital they give you toast to eat beforehand as it can damage your stomach lining.

RandomDiva · 15/08/2014 19:19

Anyway, paracetamol with water is more effective for a headache. I take 1g every 8 hours or 500mg every 4 hours. As long as you don't go over 3-4g in a 24 hours period you will be fine with that. Paracetamol is very effective as long as dose kept on top of.

Nurofen is not meant for headache pain. Aspirin would be more effective but again needs to be taken on a full stomach.

LaBelleDameSansPatience · 15/08/2014 19:45

I have done it (once) and had a horrible stomach ache for hours. Really unpleasant. Am careful now to drink a glass of milk/eat some toast with ibuprofen.

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