IBS? IBUPROFEN?

[Cinnamongingerbread]

Is it possible ibuprofen could be causing diarrhoea which is misdiagnosed as IBS?

I’ve been struggling with IBS-D for some time now. I also go through periods of occasionally taking ibuprofen for an old foot injury that causes pain sometimes. I ALWAYS follow the dosage instructions and I never even need to take the maximum daily dose. I just take it as and when my injury hurts again.

I’ve noticed this seems to be when my IBS-D symptoms are happening too. I don’t know if I’m looking for links that are not there, but it would make so much sense as I haven’t been able to link it to a food or cause. E.g. maybe it’s a coincidence, but one of the worst phases of IBS-D was when I was preparing for a sports contest, where I was also taking ibuprofen as my injured foot was hurting.

I heard Ibuprofen and diarrhoea mentioned in a TV programme and it suddenly occurred to me this could be it. I’m not taking it that often- my foot usually hurts for a couple of weeks at a time in phases like this and I never even go close to taking the maximum dosage of Ibuprofen. Does it only cause stomach problems in people taking too much of it? Or can a ‘normal’ amount of Ibuprofen cause it? How long realistically would someone need to be taking it for for it to cause diarrhoea and the other side effects?

Maybe I’m looking for a link that isn’t there, but I haven’t had a sore foot in a few weeks and coincidentally my IBS has been absolutely fine, despite eating various food groups over Christmas.

All advice and expertise would be greatly appreciated.

I have ibs and the only thing that works for me is codeine. I take one dose every day and my ibs is gone. If I forget for a couple of days then boy do I know about it, I can’t really leave the house.

I know I shouldn’t take codeine every day but it allows me to live a normal life.

When I was first prescribed Naproxan, a more powerful type of anti-inflammatory, the doctor also gave me a prescription for a tablet to be taken if I experienced stomach problems with the Naproxan, luckily I never needed them but maybe they could be taken alongside the Ibuprofen if needed.

Ibuprofen is really hard on the stomach. When I was taking NSAIDs longer term then doctors also gave me tablets to reduce the impact on my stomach.

If you’re taking it every day for a few weeks at a time then it very possibly is that, it certainly wouldn’t be helping. Definitely worth speaking to a pharmacist for better painkillers that don’t crucify the stomach.