I have arthritis and treat my joints with diclofenac compresses. Can the medicine in this form affect the stomach lining?
Tinka Mihailova, city of Vratsa
When topically using a drug that belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a smaller amount of it enters the body, it practically does not irritate the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, although the therapeutic effect is weaker.
If you feel discomfort in your stomach, you can drink a decoction of flaxseed. To prepare it, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder or grind them in a mortar. The resulting flour is steamed with boiling water. The decoction, in the form of a jelly, should be taken 150 ml (about three quarters of a glass), three times a day, half an hour before meals.
It envelops and protects the mucous membrane from irritation. The decoction must be used if diclofenac and other similar preparations are prescribed for oral administration in the form of tablets, suppositories or injections. If you need to use anti-inflammatory drugs for a long time, the doctor will recommend that you take drugs that block gastric secretion.
Older people most often complain of stomach discomfort after taking anti-inflammatory and pain relievers (diclofenac, analgin, citramon, etc.) as a rule, they have: problems with the spine, joints, they often suffer from headaches. With long-term use, there is a risk of stomach and duodenal ulcer formation and possibly ulcer complications - perforation or bleeding.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken only according to the instructions of a doctor, who, if necessary, will tell you how they can be replaced and how to prevent side effects. In addition, it often happens that a person takes pills without knowing the cause of the disease. Meanwhile, the headache may be caused by hypertension, vascular changes, osteochondrosis, stress, and perhaps other drugs that do not irritate the stomach will help.
