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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

max daily ibuprofen longterm

Theflemm

Greenlighter
Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
35
I was thinking of posting this in the other drugs forum but wasn't sure if it belonged there since there is really no recreational value attached to ibuprofen. I have bulging disks in my neck which push on nerves which were caused by years of wrestling. They cause me rather extreme, constant pain. Enough to wake me up every single night. I have been to physical therapy, chiropractors, and I have had steroid injections. None of which have given me relief. My question is, I take 800mg ibuprofen and that kills the pain enough to go throughout my day. The only problem is I have to take them 4 times a day, and I even wait until the pain is unbearable to take more. This brings my total ibuprofen total to 3.2g+ per 24 hour period. I have a pain management doctor, who gave me the steroid injections, but since I'm only 19 we've decided opiates are not the way to go at this point in time. How badly am i damaging my liver with this usage? It's really the only way I can get a decent night's sleep or even get through my day. thanks.
 
Don't take more than the doctor suggests. If the drug doesn't work, you need stronger meds. You don't trust your doctor? He wouldn't give you something that would hurt you, unless the benefits outweighed the risks. That's malpractice.
 
Its terrible to be in that much pain and so young..I feel for you. It is actually acceptable to take up to 3200mg a day so you are in that range. And as far as liver damage goes you actually have to be more concerned about kidney issues. (Just remember..APAP or tylenol is harmful to the liver, ibuprofen is bad for kidneys). The thing I would be most concerned about is that long term use of ibuprofen, especially higher dosages such as yours can cause a lot of other problems such as serious stomach issues, bleeding, hi blood pressure, the kidney damage I was talking about, ulcers, digestive tract preforations, heart attacks, stroke.

I wonder how "long term" he plans for you to take it. Sometimes narcotic medications are a must because NSAIDs can end up doing a lot of damage. I mean to say is sometimes NSAIDs can sometimes be dangerous too when taken long tgerm in hi dosages and it is reasonable to switch to or alternate with narcotics. Maybe talk to him about having a small script for something a little stronger to use occasionally. I wouldn't suggest switching to narcotics around the clock if you can avoid it at this point. Maybe he could try some tramadol (some docs are a little more comfortable with that than other narcotics).

Also just FYI, though you seem to be taking it at the recommended intervals so I would stick with that and not dose sooner unless he said it was ok but when treating pain it is always better if possible to treat it before the pain gets horrible. It is much easier to keep under control if it is treated before it gets really bad.

Good luck.
 
For me 1200 mg of Ibuprofen is the max I take, coupled with OxyContin and Naproxen. But all NSAIDs are hard on your liver in the long term IMHO.

--» Peace o/
 
Well...most are very hard on your stomach and GI tract...APAP is notorious for being terrible for your liver. Ibuprofen is bad for your kidneys not liver. And most all of the complications I listed in above post are common in most all NSAIDs.
 
I really appreciate the input guys, I wasn't aware it was GI damage and not liver damage. I have to admit I'm a little worried about using opiate pain killers, addiction runs pretty deep in my family and I can honestly say I'd wind up using them for fun on occasion, and I don't want to sound like a shit head by saying that I'm just being honest. But the pain has gotten bad enough where I think steps need to be taken very soon.
 
Be careful I got stomach damage from the 800mg ibuprofen and even after my stomach healed taking a lower amount damaged it again.
 
Wow that's a high dose of ibuprofen to be taking daily. If your pain is that consistent, i think your doctor should give you a LOW dose of opiates like (in my opinion) the weak 5/500 hydrocodones, or better yet the norcos that have even less tylenol 5/325 30x a month. So with your ibuprofen 800 you could take one of the norco's a day and see if that can get you by.

That would be quiet a bit less damaging than the amount of ibuprofen your taking daily, yeah it makes sense your so young and he doesn't wanna start you on opiates but at the same time ibuprofen 800 4x a day is by no means safe either. Discuss with him about how your concerned about your dosage with the ibuprofen and that it's dangerous, and maybe a low dose of opiates might help.

Even as a non tolerant very sparingly opiate user i find that 5/500 hydrocodones 30x a month (that are the most common prescribed) to be garbage even when recreationally using them because it would take me 4-5 of them plus all that shitty tylenol to get a good buzz, but if you use them legitimately for pain i think just one of those a day can help you more than all that ibuprofen a day.
 
As a nurse I have commonly seen ibuprofen 800mg 4 times a day prescribed. As I said that is the max (check drugs.com or the patient insert that comes with prescription meds). The problem comes in when it is long term therapy..in that case yes eventually you can bet it will cause some problems. As snake eyes said stomach and other GI issues are the most common and can be very very serious...and this most definitely happen even short term. Like I said I'm just curious how long he plans to continue the ibuprofen therapy. I would for sure bring it up at next appointment and express your concerns.

Good luck to you dear.
 
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