Take NSAIDs at the end of a full meal or with an antacid Drugs that reduce stomach irritation include misoprostol (Cytotec), or a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), lansoprazole (Prevacid), or rabeprazole (Aciphex).
Your doctor will prescribe you a medicine to protect your stomach if you're taking ibuprofen for a long-term condition. To make sure ibuprofen applied to the skin is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have: kidney problems. asthma, hay fever or allergies.
Ibuprofen may be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. If you are taking ibuprofen on a regular basis, you should take it at the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on the package or prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Studies have found that ibuprofen and meloxicam may be less likely to bother your stomach, while ketorolac, aspirin, and indomethacin are associated with a higher risk of GI problems. Read more about how to pick the right NSAID for your needs here.
Naproxen. Another anti-inflammatory drug, which works much like ibuprofen. Some studies show this may be a better choice than ibuprofen for people at risk for heart disease.
Eat neutral foods
Crackers, rice, bread, peanut butter, and other neutral foods do a good job coating your stomach and prompting digestion, which helps your body to metabolize your medication efficiently.
It usually takes a few weeks for ulcers to form after starting an NSAID, but they may occur as early as 7 days. The dose of the NSAID is also important. Usually, the higher the dose of the NSAID, the higher the risk of causing an ulcer.
For example, ibuprofen and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are best taken with food. This is because NSAIDs inhibit the body's production of prostaglandins - compounds that promote inflammation - but unfortunately, prostaglandins in the gut also protect the stomach lining from your own stomach acid.
STOMACH PROTECTION YOU MAY NEED
DUEXIS offers the convenience of prescription-strength ibuprofen with a stomach-protecting medicine in 1 tablet—so you get the relief you want from the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with less risk of getting stomach ulcers vs ibuprofen alone.
Don't take more than 1,200 mg of ibuprofen in one day. For OTC ibuprofen, this equates to a maximum of 6 pills per day. Additionally, avoid taking ibuprofen for longer than 10 days, unless directed to do so by your doctor.
Although NSAIDs are generally well tolerated, adverse gastrointestinal events occur in a small but important percentage of patients. NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others are known to have serious adverse effects, including severe gastrointestinal damage, that can be life threatening.
Serious GI problems, with or without symptoms, can happen at any time when taking NSAIDs, including ibuprofen. Thankfully, they're pretty uncommon. Stomach ulcers, bleeding, and tears happen to around 1% of people regularly taking NSAIDs for 3 to 6 months, and 2% to 4% of those using them for 1 year.
If you take Nurofen as directed on the pack, it's gentle on the stomach. Do not take Nurofen if you have ever had stomach ulcer or a stomach problem. See your doctor if you need long-term pain relief. Long-term use of NSAIDs can cause stomach problems in some people.
Acid blockers — also called histamine (H-2) blockers — reduce the amount of acid released into your digestive tract, which relieves gastritis pain and encourages healing. Available by prescription or over the counter, acid blockers include famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet HB) and nizatidine (Axid AR).
adults – can usually take 1 or 2 tablets (200mg) every 4 to 6 hours, but shouldn't take more than 1,200mg (6 x 200mg) tablets in the space of 24 hours. children under 16 – may need to take a lower dose, depending on their age; check the packet or leaflet, or ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice.
Take ibuprofen tablets, capsules, granules or liquid with a meal or snack, or with a drink of milk. It will be less likely to upset your stomach. If you take it just after food, ibuprofen may take longer to start working.
by Drugs.com
You can take ibuprofen on an empty stomach and this will give you faster pain relief than taking it with food. Food increases the time it takes for ibuprofen to be absorbed, although it won't affect how much is absorbed.
Also, people who put off taking ibuprofen until they eat will suffer pain for longer than necessary. Overall, changing from taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen with food to just water - unless there is stomach upset - may improve pain relief and is very unlikely to harm people who take the drug occasionally and as directed.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Reduce Ulcer Risk
There are also combination products, such as Prevacid NapraPAC that combines naproxen and Prevacid, Duexis (ibuprofen/famotidine), and Vimovo (naproxen/esomeprazole). Cytotec (misoprostol), a prostaglandin, works differently than PPIs and may decrease the risk of ulcers.
When ibuprofen is taken in large doses or for a long time, less prostaglandin is produced. This can increase stomach acid and irritate the stomach lining, causing problems.
Taking medication after eating or with food usually means taking medication 30 minutes to one hour after a meal. For medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (ibuprofen, aspirin), metformin for diabetes and steroid medication, these need to be taken after eating.
Drink one glass of water 30 minutes before a meal to help digestion. Remember not to drink too soon before or after a meal as the water will dilute the digestive juices. Drink water an hour after the meal to allow the body to absorb the nutrients.