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