Anti-inflammatories, often used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Mostly delivered without a prescription, they are no less dangerous if misused. Indeed, their excessive or inappropriate consumption can cause side effects. Additionally, they are not all the same: there are many classes, each with their own characteristics and risks.
1. Anti-inflammatories are all equal
FAKE. There are steroidal anti-inflammatories (or “corticosteroids”) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Everyone fights inflammation, but they do not have the same secondary actions: NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) are also antipyretic (they fight fever) and antiaggregants (they thin the blood). Corticosteroids (like cortisone) are immunosuppressive (they reduce immunity).
2. The treatment lasts 5 days maximum
TRUE but… For self-medication, NSAIDs should not be taken for more than 3 days in a row for fever, and not more than 5 days for their pain-relieving properties. Warning: self-medication is contraindicated if you take daily medications (antidepressants, antihypertensives, etc.), because there are a risk of interaction. As to corticosteroids, there is no question of using them without medical advice.
3. They take away pain
FAKE. The standard medications for pain are analgesics, and especially paracetamol. “Anti-inflammatories also reduce pain but this is not their primary function“, underlines Dr. Dereix. Moreover, not all pain is affected by them. In 2017, an Australian study showed their ineffectiveness in cases of low back pain. And American work published in 2022 even indicated that they could promote the onset of chronic pain, since they do not treat the cause of the problem.
4. They can cause stomach aches
TRUE. Gastralgia, dyspepsia… Corticosteroids and NSAIDs”irritate the stomach lining, sometimes causing ulcersexplains Dr. Dereix. Take the tablet with a meal.“An antacid medication (IPP) may be prescribed at the same time.
5. They are essential in case of infection
FAKE. As their name suggests, anti-inflammatories fight inflammation, that is to say the body’s natural defense reaction to an attack – a bacterial or viral infection, for example. “This inflammation is useful: if we prevent it from manifesting, we risk seeing the disease worsen“, emphasizes Dr. Dereix.
*and medical director of the Paris-République Medical Center (ELSAN group).
Can you take ibuprofen while wearing an IUD?
The (tenacious) prejudice according to which NSAIDs reduce the effectiveness of intrauterine devices (IUD) is based on an old study from 1989. Since then, other studies have been clear: the risk of pregnancy with an IUD is not greater. when taking ibuprofen, even daily.