tummy pain with diclofenac

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Any one else get this? Took it in the spring with no problems at all. Took it a few weeks ago and within a couple of days was getting bad tummy cramps. Wasnt sure if it was the antibiotics I was on but stopped taking the diclofenac just in case. Was also taking omperazole but that didnt help.

So started back on the diclofenac 3 days ago and I feel a bit rubbish - lower abdo pains and slightly nauseous again. Not sure whether to keep going with it and hopefully my body will get used to it or whether to give it up as a bad lot.

Have a rheumatologist appt next month so I'm not sure whether its worth seeing my gp to try something else. (have had to give up another nsaid due to same reason and celebrex is unhelpful)

thoughts or comments please - feeling a bit sorry for myself.

decided that any advice I got would prob to see my gp. So am stopping them - will just have to hurt instead (can you tell I'm in a woe is me mood?) and have made an appt for next wednesday. That way can tell rheumy am really trying my best.

If I need NSAIDs I need to use omeprazole with them. The tummy problems are common and well known. Speak to your GP about alternative painkillers or ask for omeprazole.

I had to stop because of the cramps and pain, my gynae Dr said it's a very common side effect.

Yes - I take omeprazole alongside if I take the oral ones. However I use suppositories as they are the bees knees for pain relief - not everyone's cup of tea but needs must!

and you don't get tummy probs with the suppositories - also rheumy probs

dont know if its connected, but i took diclofenac, and had an episode of bowel cramping and rectal bleeding

thanks for the replies, much appreciated

I do take omeprazole - well I havent this time round cos I got it into my head that perhaps that was causing the problems when I took it a couple of weeks ago - but symptoms same with or without.

I didnt realise that diclofenac came as a suppository - I'll ask my gp about that cos they def do help when flare is not too bad.

Not heard of arcoxia before - gp took me off celebrex very readily when it was apparent it wasnt really helping.

It is a bit fed up making - I just want to be comfortable and I hate being an awkward patient!

If there are two nsaids that both give me tummy cramps despite omeprazole do you think there will be one out there that does suit me? pie in the sky question I know. Really want to find one so rheumy doesnt put me on to disease-modifying drugs.

(clearly am struggling a little with anxiety/over thinking atm!)

My mum had really bad tummy pain last year while taking diclofenac and it turned out to be gall stones. Deffo go see your GP.

Hope you feel better soon.

thanks Dusty

herbietea - am going to talk over my options with my gp. Am glad I asked here!

I reckon it's worth giving a suppository form a go... I don't know what dosage you take but I often take full whack with the suppository - it comes in 100mg and you can have 150g in 24 hours so I tend to do 2 one day, 1 the next etc, as recommended by my consultant. I wasn't having particularly great results with oral diclofenac, plus the tummy probs, it's so much better on the suppository. Also, occasionally the GP's have given it to me by injection if I haven't been able to use the suppositories for whatever reason (a few D&V bugs along the way). The thing with NSAID's is they really do vary with effectiveness from person to person so it is a case of trying several. It will depend which PCT you are in but ours makes you try 3 different NSAIDs before putting you on DMARDS.

Thankse weegle - am on 150mg too. That is really helpful.

My tummy still feels rotten even though last dose was 24 hours ago. I'm going into to town in a bit so I might pop into the pharmacy (depending on their lunch opening hours) and ask if theres anything else I can take on top of the omeprazole to soothe it.

Went to one pharmacy - pharmacist utterly couldnt be bothered - I was a bit at him. He didnt ask any questions, told me my tummy shouldnt still be hurting if my last dose was yesterday and there was nothing I could do about it.

So I went into Boots, where after listening to me, he told me that I could try Gaviscon Extra and that I should double my omeprazole (take twice a day) until I see my gp.
Have just taken a dose of Gaviscon and ahhhh, the hot awful sensation is cooling down from the top downwards.

gaviscon - not helping with tummy cramps. oh well.