Meds & Stomach Upset

[Guest guest]

Good Morning! Hope this winter weather is being kind to you!

I'm wondering if anyone else has had (or is having) stomach troubles

with their meds?

I've been on Plaquenil and Bextra for abour four months now and I'm

finding I'm having really bad heartburn/acid reflux lately.

I went through this previously (about 7 years ago now) when I was on

Plaquenil and Arthrotec - eventually it got to the point where the

stomach pain was worse than the joint pain and I stopped both. :-P

I'd hate to go off either med right now as they're really helping a

lot, but I can't keep gobbling down antacids every day either. I'm

very careful to always take my meds with food - in fact I take them

smack in the middle of a meal - so I'm not sure if there's anything

else I can do.

Thankfully I got squeaked into a last minute cancellation today with

the rheumatologist so I'll bring it up with her too, but does anyone

have any suggestions or ideas how to cope with this?

Hope you are all warm and well,

Lynn (the human volcano)

[Guest guest]

I've got acid reflux too, but I thought mine had been triggered by Relafen, which I took for almost a year beforehand. It's so bad now that I'm on Protonix and otc meds for it. It doesn't "cure" it, but it helps. Do you know for sure that the placquenil is affecting your? I'm taking that too -- I've been on it for about 11 years.

----- Original Message ----- From: Lynn

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 9:05 AM

Subject: Meds & Stomach Upset

Good Morning! Hope this winter weather is being kind to you!I'm wondering if anyone else has had (or is having) stomach troubles with their meds?I've been on Plaquenil and Bextra for abour four months now and I'm finding I'm having really bad heartburn/acid reflux lately. I went through this previously (about 7 years ago now) when I was on Plaquenil and Arthrotec - eventually it got to the point where the stomach pain was worse than the joint pain and I stopped both. :-P I'd hate to go off either med right now as they're really helping a lot, but I can't keep gobbling down antacids every day either. I'm very careful to always take my meds with food - in fact I take them smack in the middle of a meal - so I'm not sure if there's anything else I can do.Thankfully I got squeaked into a last minute cancellation today with the rheumatologist so I'll bring it up with her too, but does anyone have any suggestions or ideas how to cope with this?Hope you are all warm and well,Lynn (the human volcano)

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

I got off most meds and very careful what I eat. I found diet to be VERY important. No sugar, milk, wheat, or fried food. It did not happen overnight but I do much better when I am careful about diet. Our bodies end up too acidic and the meds add to that problem. I know the meds may be necessary for you but you might work on your diet...Just a thought.

Kay

----- Original Message -----

From: Lynn

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 8:05 AM

Subject: Meds & Stomach Upset

Good Morning! Hope this winter weather is being kind to you!I'm wondering if anyone else has had (or is having) stomach troubles with their meds?I've been on Plaquenil and Bextra for abour four months now and I'm finding I'm having really bad heartburn/acid reflux lately. I went through this previously (about 7 years ago now) when I was on Plaquenil and Arthrotec - eventually it got to the point where the stomach pain was worse than the joint pain and I stopped both. :-P I'd hate to go off either med right now as they're really helping a lot, but I can't keep gobbling down antacids every day either. I'm very careful to always take my meds with food - in fact I take them smack in the middle of a meal - so I'm not sure if there's anything else I can do.Thankfully I got squeaked into a last minute cancellation today with the rheumatologist so I'll bring it up with her too, but does anyone have any suggestions or ideas how to cope with this?Hope you are all warm and well,Lynn (the human volcano)