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Questions and Answers
- Q
- I have been taking voltaren (anti-inflammatory) and cytotek for 4 years for
arthritis in my hips. Stomach aches occurred and I stopped the drugs but am
eager to take them again because of pain and stiffness. Over 2 months time
the pain gradually stopped but I still have gas. My doctor recommends a
gastroscopy. If whatever caused the pain is healed, and the gastroscopy is
negative, how will that tell me if it's ok to go back on anti-inflammatories?
- A
- Hi ... I'm surprised to hear that Cytotek (misoprostal) has failed
to prevent your reaction to Voltaren (diclofenac), if that is in fact the
case ... you should think back on how completely you complied with your
physician's instructions - much apparent ineffectiveness of drugs is due to
patients not doing what they were told ... incidentally, a common
side-effect of Cytotek itself is diarrhea and abdominal pain ... if your
arthritis is osteoarthritis, and only if, you may get pain relief with the
maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) ... it is a good
analgesic with no effect on the gastrointestinal tract like the NSAIDs ...
another possibility woud be enteric coated ASA which passes through the
stomach and is absorbed in the small intestine
... it has the advantage of good anti-inflammatory effect, something
acetaminophen doesn't have. There is no way to be sure that you could
safely go back on anti-inflammatories ... the only test is, cautiously under
your physician's guidance, to go back on at the smallest effective dosage
and see what happens.
Best wishes.
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