I am not supposed to take NSAIDS because I take Plavix daily as a heart attack and heart surgery survivor. What drug can I take to get relief from the pain and the inflammation? The pain is mostly located in my fingers and hands.
I take Plavix. What non-NSAID medication can I safely take for arthritis pain and inflammation?
Question posted by michaeljinks on 11 Dec 2011
Last updated on 24 August 2017 by Chyk41
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5 Answers
Chyk41
24 Aug 2017
Tylenol is the only over the counter medication you can take all other most be prescribed by your doctor.
Jmdarby
24 Aug 2017
I'm on plavix from having a stroke and my Dr told me I can only take Tylenol. Not to exceed 4 grams a day. Obviously it doesn't work like the ibuprofen I was on before but it's the safer of the two. Good luck...
irene amaro
5 Nov 2016
I'm new&trying to ask question What non-NSAID drug can take for pain&inflammation for rheumatoid arthritis
Dgjhuguvyxrz
22 July 2012
Either a pure steroid such as Prednisone, or plain Tylenol (No inflammation is helped.) might do some help, or you could go extreme and take a narcotic like OxyContin.
Inactive
11 Dec 2011
Michael,
Since NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, the only meds I can think of are real steroids (you don't want those for a number of reasons) or tylenol. Everything else from aspirin to celebrex is a NSAID. That's for the inflammation. For pain, might want to ask your doc for tylenol with codeine, if you aren't allergic. I'm afraid that's the best suggestion I have. Good Luck sir, I wish you well.
Peace,
Inactive
11 Dec 2011
Michael welcome to the site & I have to agree with my friend Laura, tylenol is probably the only thing that you will be able to take. I know my hubby has heart problems, & also takes plavix. He has tremendous pain issues, but takes methadone for his pain. If it is only in your hands I feel the tylenol would be your best course of action. Please do not exceed the daily dose of 4000mg tho, as it can cause liver damage. If the tylenol does not provide you with relief, I suggest you see a rheumatologist for your RA as there is many new medications for this horrible disease. Now my husband does take enbrel shots for his psoratic arthritis which is an RA med,& has not had a problem with it at all. Maybe this would be an alternative. It is quite expensive, & is a weekly injection you give yourself. Please talk to your rheumatologist about this, as I am sure there are lots of alternative there for you...
michaeljinks
11 Dec 2011
Laura,
Thank you so much for jogging my temporarily-frozen brain. I had either forgotten or didn't know that acetaminophen was not an NSAID! And I have not been aware that the acetaminophen (Tylenol) was only to treat the inflammation. So I need a separate medication for the pain? That may be problematic with me, as I have had bad reactions to pain medications that my doctor has prescribed in the past when I have had pain associated with recovering from surgery (a parathyroidectomy) or from having teeth pulled. I know I can't take anything in the "oxy" family because they make me very sick (nausea, a general feeling of being "spaced out" etc.) Is codeine in the same drug "family" as oxy drugs? Do you know? Of course I guess I should ask my doctor to be sure.
And I will do as your friend suggests and check out seeing a rheumatologist (apparently I have misspelled that, but I don't want to go look it up as I don't know if I will lose all this I have typed if I do!) :-)
So thank you again so much for caring about a stranger enough to help me out. You're a good person!
Peace,
Michael (aka "Mitch")
michaeljinks
11 Dec 2011
Mary,
I also want to thank you very much for your comments and for your concern for me. All so very relevant because your husband also takes Plavix!
You are very kind to take the time to write your comments and help me out!
Sincerely,
Michael (aka "Mitch")
Inactive
11 Dec 2011
I just thought of another med is called methotrexate(sp), but check with your doctor about this as it is a prescription. I know of several people with RA that it helps with the pain in the joints, & I don't think it will inter fere with Plavix. Just a thought...
michaeljinks
11 Dec 2011
Mary,
Thanks again so much for your advice. I will definitely check out the Methotrexate with my doc. Relief from the pain, which I have constantly, would be like a miracle!
Sincerely,
Mitch
Inactive
11 Dec 2011
You are very welcome, & if I think of anything else will be glad to pass it on to you... Mary
Inactive
11 Dec 2011
Oops Michael,
Forgot to welcome you, how gauche! Please excuse my faux pas, por favor. I tend to get romance languages mixed up. You should have heard me in Italy ... sorry you have trouble with narcotics. Do you tolerate Vicodin or Norco very well... they contain hydrocodone, not as rough on you as oxy's or codeine. Each has a different amount of tylenol in them.
Write me back with any questions as I will certainly try to answer your questions.
Peace and genteel regards,
Inactive
11 Dec 2011
Mitch,
Mary is a big part of our DC
(Drugs.com) family and much loved. Thanks Mary. Mitch, there are people here just like u, Mary and me. We depend on each other. And we share our deepest secrets. Jez letting u know.
Peace out freaky hippies,
Inactive
11 Dec 2011
Laura, that was very sweet of you to say, but you are just as important a part of this site & group. Where would we be without your kind, considerate, and thoughtful help? Your friend, Mary
lglavish
15 Dec 2011
There are many types of dmards (disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs) that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The gold standard is methotrexate and there is also sulfasalazine and plaquenil. There are also biologics that are used for people with moderate to severe RA, the first group is the tnf blockers, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Cimzia, & Simponi. There are also biologics with a different mechanism of action- Orencia, Actemra, & Rituxan.
These drugs can slow the disease process where as nsaids do not and only treat the pain. Often they are used in combination, I currently take sulfasalazine and Enbrel. I used to take methotrexate as well but am on a drug 'holiday' from this because of chronic nausea, I've been off it for 5 weeks and my disease activity remains very low so I'm hoping not to have to restart it.
Your rheumatologist should be able to discuss your options. I hope you find some relief soon!
coahoma
22 May 2014
I'm in a similar situation. NSAIDs cause me kidney problems. Two docs told me to leave them alone. I have chronic knee pain from a couple of injuries. My only solution was Hydrocodone. I work very hard to not go over the dose I'm on (7.5/325 4 times a day). I've been on it for close to 3 years and it helps most of the time. If I build up a resistance to it, I drop my dose (and endure the pain) for a couple of days and it works again. The only side affect I have is occasional itching. I also take Attarax for anxiety and that helps for the itching. Although my wife, a nurse, tells me it shouldn't work because the itching is a side affect, not an allergic reaction, but it works.
Related topics
plavix, heart attack, rheumatoid arthritis, pain, surgery, medication, heart
Further information
- Plavix uses and safety info
- Plavix prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Plavix (detailed)
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