Comments on: What's a good alternative to Tylenol, aspirin, Aleve, etc., that won't tear up my stomach?

Question: What's a good alternative to Tylenol, aspirin, Aleve, etc., that won't tear up my stomach?

kittens for breakfast — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:45:44 -0800

What's a good alternative to Tylenol, aspirin, Aleve, etc., that won't tear up my stomach?

I'm sure this question's been asked before, but I'm not finding anything very specific -- if I'm wrong, please direct me there, and I'll happily go. Anyway, all of the above mentioned drugs tend to upset my stomach a lot, which is problematic on account of how I get brutal headaches now and then. The choice between a headache and a stomachache is one I'd as soon not to have to make on a regular basis -- I'd prefer to just, you know, not feel sick. Any advice?

By: lalochezia

lalochezia — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:48:56 -0800

It's odd that tyenaol/acetomiaphen/paracetmol (all the same stuff) tears your stomach up: it's much less stressful on the gut than asprin/ibuprofen/naproxen sodium.

Do you take them on a somewhat full stomach?You should take them with a light meal: see how that goes. Also, see a doctor!

By: kittens for breakfast

kittens for breakfast — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:51:52 -0800

Yeah, I don't take aspirin-aspirin at all. Tylenol and the like doesn't have me doubling over in agony or anything, it's just not that pleasant. My stomach's kind of sensitive in general.

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:53:56 -0800

Aspirin, Aleve (naproxen), ibuprofen, and all other drugs in their class (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) are hard on the stomach because they inhibit the secretion of the protective gel that usually lines the stomach.

Tylenol isn't an NSAID and it's not supposed to do this. Are you sure it upsets your stomach?

By: Liosliath

Liosliath — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:06:00 -0800

I get almost the same thing, so I'll be watching the answers here. I can take aspirin, though, unlike you - but the others give me terrible heartburn.

By: jacobbarssbailey

jacobbarssbailey — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:19:16 -0800

Are you taking Tylenol on an empty stomach? The NSAIDs that you are listing are likely going to upset your stomach a little regardless, but Tylenol only bothers me when I'm on an empty stomach.

I get frequent headaches, and I think I've probably tried every OTC painkiller available in the US. Tylenol and aspirin seem to work the best for me. Excedrin is aspirin, Tylenol, and caffeine, and you may want to try varying proportions of those three drugs up to the limit of your stomach or the maximum dosage, whichever comes first.

By: Kevin S

Kevin S — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:07:27 -0800

If the problem is headaches, then there are claims that cayenne pepper spray can help.
Somehow I'm skeptical, but would like to try it myself instead of ibup for my frequent headaches.

Here is NY Times article.

By: anadem

anadem — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:21:21 -0800

I find enteric-coated aspirin the best for non-tummy-bothering pain reliever for my arthritis. The enteric coating stops the pill dissolving until it has passed through the stomach into the intestine, where the environment is less acid.

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:35:24 -0800

Enteric-coated aspirin is exactly what you don't want for a headache; study after study has shown that pain relief is correlated with how soon in the course of the headache the analgesic is delivered, and EC aspirin takes 4-6 hours to start getting into the bloodstream.

There's also no convincing evidence that EC aspirin protects the stomach, either. EC aspirin still has its usual effect of inhibiting gastric gel secretion, it just gets there via the bloodstream instead of sloshing around in the chyme.

By: 517

517 — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:08:57 -0800

Have you tried acetaminophen with food?

It sounds like an irrelevant change but it can make a big difference. If that doesn't work you can always get acetaminophen as a suppository... well now you know.

By: roofus

roofus — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:59:09 -0800

Have you been to a specialist headache clinic? Longterm use of analgesics can lead to chronic headache in some people.

By: damn dirty ape

damn dirty ape — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:29:31 -0800

I have the same issue. what I do now is eat a small sandwich or some bread and take 2 aleve. this minimizes the stomach upset I used to get.

you might also want to address stomach issues in general. maybe a few weeks on prilosec or zantac will help.

By: unrepentanthippie

unrepentanthippie — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:41:32 -0800

Trick Stomach, and a nurse taught me to take the pill (whatever it is) at the beginning of a meal, when you can see the food on the table. Do that and start eating now. Her claim was that it fell to the bottom of your stomach because it was empty and then the food pushed it into your gut right away, so it moved south as soon as possible. (Vastly over simplified, and yes, there is no bottom, technically, but you grok the concept.)
If heartburn occurs, drink a lot of warm water, as hot as you can stand it, over a short time frame. I can't find anyone who knows why this helps, but it does. (I have a theory about rebooting the vagus nerve, and if anyone knows please share with the class.) It won't hurt you if you're reasonable about it. It will, however, make you pee if you'd like to plan ahead.

By: selfmedicating

selfmedicating — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:06:26 -0800

If tylenol taken with food still upsets your stomach, you could also try children's tylenol syrup. There's usually adult dosing on the label.

By: kittens for breakfast

kittens for breakfast — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:31:32 -0800

Thanks, all. It's obviously hard for me to click a best answer without, I dunno, hitting myself in the head until I have a concussion and then seeing which method works best to relieve the blinding agony or something, but I am taking all suggestions under advisement for when the inevitable strikes -- I mean, something here's gotta work, right?