[net.consumers] Ibupropen

kurt@fluke.UUCP (Kurt Guntheroth) (03/08/85)

If you are interested in the most important side effect of ibupropen, it is
that it can irritate your stomach.  If you cannot take aspirin because it
irritates your stomach, you cannot take ibupropen for the same reason.  
Ibupropen may be even more irritating than aspirin, so watch out.

Add to that the fact that ibupropen is not notably more potent than aspirin,
and aspirin has proven itself free of serious side effects over a period of
about 100 years, while ibupropen is a relatively recent drug.

There is no benefit to you to take ibupropen over aspirin.  The only one who
benefits is the manufacturer, who can charge more for (new) ibupropen than
they can for (old, non-proprietary) aspirin.
------------
The preceding are opinions only, and do not constitute medical advice.
-- 
Kurt Guntheroth
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
{uw-beaver,decvax!microsof,ucbvax!lbl-csam,allegra,ssc-vax}!fluke!kurt

eagan@druxp.UUCP (EaganMS) (03/08/85)

What about the side effect of bleeding,
and the effect of ringing in the ear from taking aspirin?

Is it expected that Ibupropen also cause these?

sdyer@bbnccv.UUCP (Steve Dyer) (03/09/85)

> Add to that the fact that ibupropen is not notably more potent than aspirin,
> and aspirin has proven itself free of serious side effects over a period of
> about 100 years, while ibupropen is a relatively recent drug.
> 
> There is no benefit to you to take ibupropen over aspirin.  The only one who
> benefits is the manufacturer, who can charge more for (new) ibupropen than
> they can for (old, non-proprietary) aspirin.

I think Kurt is correct for most run-of-the-mill needs for pain relief:
that is, one ibuprofen tablet is going to help a headache as well as two
aspirin, probably no better.  On the other hand, ibuprofen has a much
stronger anti-inflammatory effect at lower doses than aspirin, and 
works much better than aspirin in treating menstrual cramps, so there
can be advantages in certain situations.  Overall, I was glad to see
the FDA approve an OTC version of the drug.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
{decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA

jayt@ssc-vax.UUCP (Jay T McCanta) (03/12/85)

According to the  medical boys at consumer reports, Ibupropen is in the 
same family as aspirin.  People who are sensitive to aspirin should talk
to their doctor before taking Ibupropen.  

Ibupropen has been found to be superior to aspirin for injuries to muscles,
joints, etc.  Because Ibupropen and aspirin are analgesics (sp?), they
reduce the inflamation associated with muscle pulls and the likes.  Tylenol
is great for reducing pain, but does not help the injury to heal. The other
two do.  Most people who are sensative, but not allergic, to aspirin find
that they can tollerate aspirin if taken with a quantity of food.

Also, my parents doctors (different one for each) has them taking two aspirin
a day (with a meal) to help minimize the chance for stroke.  There is *proof*
that this does help reduce the instance of stroke amoung *MEN*.  There is no
proof that it helps women, but it doesn't hurt either. 

For my money, aspirin does the trick at a cost so small it's hardly worth
mentioning.

doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) (03/21/85)

> Also, my parents doctors (different one for each) has them taking two aspirin
> a day (with a meal) to help minimize the chance for stroke.  There is *proof*
> that this does help reduce the instance of stroke amoung *MEN*.  There is no
> proof that it helps women, but it doesn't hurt either. 
> 
> For my money, aspirin does the trick at a cost so small it's hardly worth
> mentioning.

AARRGGHHH!!   I hope nobody reading that takes it as a suggestion that
they should begin taking aspirin routinely.  No drug should be taken
routinely except on doctor's orders.  There are no "safe" drugs.  Each
drug has potential dangers that must be weighed against potential
benefits.

Although aspirin is generally safe, it is very bad for people who are
predisposed to ulcers.  Such people must use acetominophen instead
(which is hazardous to the liver instead of to the digestive tract).

If you've had an ulcer, then you're predisposed.  If you haven't had
one yet, you don't know.  In that case, taking aspirin *as needed* is
an acceptable risk.  Taking them on general principles is a poor risk.
-- 
Doug Pardee -- Terak Corp. -- !{hao,ihnp4,decvax}!noao!terak!doug

rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (03/22/85)

[]
Tell us more about acetomenophen (Tylenol) being "hazardous to
the liver."

-- 

"It's the thought, if any, that counts!"  Dick Grantges  hound!rfg

sdyer@bbnccv.UUCP (Steve Dyer) (03/30/85)

Acetaminophen and its metabolites are detoxified by the liver.
There seems to be a hepatotoxic metabolite produced which is
very short-lived in healthy adults, but which accumulates when
the liver is overwhelmed by an overdose.  In the clinical syndrome,
the patient appears to make a rapid recovery, but in the space of
24-72 hours the liver begins to fail, leading quickly to coma and
death.

I believe that there has been some success in finding drugs which
can prevent acetaminophen-induced liver damage in an overdose if
given early in the treatment.

This behavior doesn't scale down to the ordinary everyday tablet or
two for headache.  There, for most people, acetaminophen has very
few side-effects.  I don't know about people with preexisting
liver damage; certainly they should consult their physician about
taking ANY drug at all.

> []
> Tell us more about acetomenophen (Tylenol) being "hazardous to
> the liver."
> 
> -- 
> 
> "It's the thought, if any, that counts!"  Dick Grantges  hound!rfg

-- 
/Steve Dyer
{decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA