Ibuprofen side effects stop some gout patients using this very popular anti-inflammatory drug. Because stomach problems are common. Now, gel or cream formulations overcome some of these ibuprofen side effects. Ibuprofen for gout is in the NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) category. So NSAIDs act upon the hormones that cause gout swelling and pain.
You take ibuprofen tablets or liquid orally. Or rub gel or cream into the skin. I first took ibuprofen for gout before I knew I had it. Because I had tablets prescribed in a hospital when I was waiting to be tested and diagnosed. Then, nurses warned me that it might upset my stomach, but I was fine.
However, you might need to take tablets or liquid with milk or food to reduce the chance of stomach upset. Now that gel is available, you can reduce the risk of stomach related ibuprofen side effects. You apply the gel around the area of swelling and gently massage it into the skin. Note that you absorb ibuprofen into the bloodstream, so skin application does not reduce the risk of other ibuprofen side effects (allergy or kidney problems). The good news is you can usually gain relief with a smaller dosage when it is applied to the affected area.
In tablet form, you normally take 200 to 400 mg up to 4 times a day. You leave a minimum 4 hours between doses and a maximum daily dose of 1200 mg. You can take a higher dosage under medical supervision.
The dosage of gel and cream depends on strength. Normal strength is 5%. Some extra-strength gels are 10%. Therefore, to apply a 200mg dose you need 4 grams of normal strength gel or cream. It’s quite difficult to judge that amount. It means that a 50g tube supplies about 12 doses. I prefer the tablets due to cost.
I’ve heard that making your own cream is quite easy. Crush a 200 mg tablet and dissolve it in lemon or grapefruit juice. Then mix the dissolved ibuprofen with an ordinary cream (or even one containing a mild anesthetic such as lidocaine). Gently massage this into the affected area. Apparently, it works better than a 200 mg tablet. I haven’t tried this because I don’t suffer any ibuprofen side-effects.
Also, commercially produced ibuprofen creams are available. If you try them, please share your experience in the gout pain relief forum.
Over-the-counter medicines can contain similar anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. ketoprofen, aspirin.
Do not take any other medication alongside ibuprofen without consulting your doctor.
Not everybody suffers ibuprofen side effects. The most common problem is stomach upset, but more serious stomach problems can occur. As with all treatments, you must decide what is best for you in your particular circumstances. You must discuss side-effects fully with your doctor before you start to take any drug and whenever you experience any adverse effects.
Ibuprofen works by controlling our reaction to uric acid deposits in the joints. However, though it reduces pain, it does nothing to help reduce those deposits. See the Reaction part of U-D-R-P for more information.
I use ibuprofen when I get a gout attack. It does nothing to help manage uric acid, but it does help me stay mobile. Whenever gout flares, it is important to manage the immediate pain without making long-term uric acid management more difficult. I take it so I can get mobile as soon as possible. Because the pain seems to last longer if I stay still. I’ve found that a combination of light exercise and periods of rest with the affected joint elevated works for me. I.e. take ibuprofen, rest for 20 to 30 minutes to let it take effect. Then keep moving.
Under medical supervision, I have alternated ibuprofen with acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol – brand names include Tylenol and Panadol). Panadol has a relatively little anti-inflammatory effect. It is one of the few medical pain relief treatments used with anti-inflammatories. Never mix medications unless you have the express agreement of a qualified medical practitioner.
Like many medicines, ibuprofen is often misspelled. Though spelling is often overrated, it pays to take extra care with medicines, as a misunderstanding might cause treatment problems in the unlikely event of a similar sounding drug being taken mistakenly.
I’ve listed common misspellings, and also included brand names. It is usually best to ask for generic medicines rather than branded ones as these are often cheaper. Everything I’ve written about ibuprofen applies equally to all the alternatives listed below.
p replaced with a second b.
This is the correct spelling of anti-inflammatory pain relief often used as a gout cure. Full details can be found in the Ibuprofen pages in the Anti-Inflammatory Gout Cure part of the Gout Treatments Section.
Common ibuprofen brand names include: Advil, Genpril, Ibu, Midol, Motrin, Nuprin, and Nurofen.
f replaced by ph. Ibuprophen is a very common alternative spelling, and sounds identical to ibuprofen when spoken.
If you are aware of other alternative spellings, please share them in the gout forum.
Leave Ibuprofen for Gout to browse other Anti-Inflammatory Gout Cures.
Alternatively, read about all Gout Treatment options and how to manage them.