1. < Digestive Health
Profile picture for nancyjt

Dx with gastritis--can I still take NSAIDs occasionally?

Posted by nancyjt @nancyjt, Sep 29, 2025

A year ago, after an abnormal FIT test, an EGD showed gastritis with erosions, but not too bad, and no H. pylori; colon was clean.

I HAD been taking a lot of Aleve--800 mg/day--for arthritis and general achiness (fibro) for 10 years, and before that took daily doses of Advil for another 10 or 15 years. So a lot of NSAIDs over a long time!

After the diagnosis, I laid off the Aleve (a year ago) except now taking smaller doses very occasionally--sometimes once a week, sometimes once every few weeks--when I have too much pain (maxed out on Tylenol already).

I have ALWAYS been careful to take the NSAIDs with food and/or a lot of liquid.

I need a knee replacement but want to postpone it. I'm wondering whether taking smaller amounts of Aleve--say, 400 mg/day, maybe once or twice a week, would re-damage my stomach lining--which I HOPE has healed by now. I can't tell, because I didn't have stomach pain or other gastritis symptoms to begin with--it was only found because of the abnormal poop test.

Any advice?? Thank you!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for nancyjt
nancyjt | @nancyjt | Oct 5, 2025
In reply to @jlharsh "Balancing the pros and cons of knee replacement sounds tricky. I just listened to a podcast..." + (show)
Profile picture for Janell, Volunteer Mentor @jlharsh

Balancing the pros and cons of knee replacement sounds tricky. I just listened to a podcast about maintaining healthy joints that you may find helpful. A transcript version is also available to either listen to or read online.
- Aging Forward podcast episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayo-clinic-aging-forward/id1742273984
- Episode transcript online: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/healthy-aging/maintaining-healthy-joints-and-feet-from-the-ground-up/

I hope you find this information helpful, @nancyjt. I am interested to know what you think after listening.

Bone-on-bone knees sounds difficult. I understand why you want to be intentional to gain as much strength as you can and get your pain under control before considering replacing. Would you have both knees done at the same time?

Jump to this post

@jlharsh Thanks so much for the links, Janell. I'll check them out.

No, I don't think I would have both knees done at the same time unless a surgeon really recommended it. The pain from one sounds AWFUL, so I don't know how I'd stand the pain from two knees at once!

REPLY
Profile picture for Lynn Brooks
Lynn Brooks | @lbroomayo1 | Oct 8, 2025

I started having joint pain and my doctor prescribed Ibuprofen. It's extremely effective, but it did upset my stomach as I was warned. Google says that I can take the drug intermittently with Tylenlol at least 3 to four hours apart. I found that Prilosec can also help neutralize the acid. Also, I take Ibuprofen with fiber which minimizes the acidity of the drug.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for nancyjt
nancyjt | @nancyjt | Oct 8, 2025
In reply to @lbroomayo1 "I started having joint pain and my doctor prescribed Ibuprofen. It's extremely effective, but it did..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lynn Brooks @lbroomayo1

I started having joint pain and my doctor prescribed Ibuprofen. It's extremely effective, but it did upset my stomach as I was warned. Google says that I can take the drug intermittently with Tylenlol at least 3 to four hours apart. I found that Prilosec can also help neutralize the acid. Also, I take Ibuprofen with fiber which minimizes the acidity of the drug.

Jump to this post

@lbroomayo1 Hi Lynn, thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, you can take ibuprofen together with Tylenol, I always did (not spaced out, but usually together). I did this for 20 years with no problem until last year, when I had the abnormal FIT test--otherwise I wouldn't have known I had a little stomach bleeding. My FIT tests had always been normal up til then.

I ALWAYS took ibuprofen with a meal and plenty of liquid. I think that's why I didn't have any problem for two decades.

Good luck!

REPLY
Profile picture for lioness2001
lioness2001 | @lioness2001 | 22 hours ago

I hear what you’re saying! For years, I would take a combination pill of Advil and Tylenol. I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s a combo. And I’d be fine… For about a week. And then, I would have severe gastritis. And getting through that was no fun. I had to give up coffee, alcohol, anything is acidic even orange juice. Now that I’m older, it seems to take longer to heal. I had decided eight weeks ago that I would never take it again. However, I pulled a muscle in my back and I’d really like to take it. I’ve been taking Tylenol arthritis and getting through this with heat and ice. I guess in my particular instance, I think even one would set me back. Good luck to all of you!

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for nancyjt
nancyjt | @nancyjt | 19 hours ago
In reply to @lioness2001 "I hear what you’re saying! For years, I would take a combination pill of Advil and..." + (show)
Profile picture for lioness2001 @lioness2001

I hear what you’re saying! For years, I would take a combination pill of Advil and Tylenol. I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s a combo. And I’d be fine… For about a week. And then, I would have severe gastritis. And getting through that was no fun. I had to give up coffee, alcohol, anything is acidic even orange juice. Now that I’m older, it seems to take longer to heal. I had decided eight weeks ago that I would never take it again. However, I pulled a muscle in my back and I’d really like to take it. I’ve been taking Tylenol arthritis and getting through this with heat and ice. I guess in my particular instance, I think even one would set me back. Good luck to all of you!

Jump to this post

@lioness2001 Oh dear...I'm sorry you cannot take Advil at all without getting severe gastritis. Tylenol just does not take care of pain very well, sometimes only taking the edge off for me, but still unable to sleep when pain is worse. I know that feeling of "would really like to take it"--you know it will help so much... I hope your back heals quickly!

REPLY
Profile picture for lylii
lylii | @lylii | 7 hours ago

My experience tells me that is not a good idea. I had severe esophagitis and gastritis, and later developed an autoimmune disease that causes severe pain in my legs and hands. I would occasionally take nsaids even though I knew it was a bad idea. Ended up with severe gastritis again, so I have stopped them completely. My GI doc told me it isn't just the local effect of the medication being in your stomach. It is a systemic effect - if you rub the nsaid cream on your skin, it will still cause the stomach issues. It is so frustrating, because tylenol does nothing, and sometimes I know that a couple of nsaids would really make a difference, but I know I don't want to take any chances with the gastritis.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.