Question 1

what are the risks of taking advil or ibuprofen for pain after surgery? what are the benefits?

Accepted Answer

Need more info: To answer your question adequately, I need to know why you had surgery, what operation you had, what medications you are already taking, and what, if any, medical problems you have. Generally speaking, the most common side effects of ibuprofen are gastrointestinal in nature. The benefits, I guess, are limited to relief of postoperative discomfort. Ask your surgeon for more details, please.

Question 2

i was prescribed hydrcodone-acetaminophen after surgery (last dose taken 36 hrs ago). i have a headache now, is it safe to take advil (ibuprofen)?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Safe to take Advil (ibuprofen) for headache

Question 3

some surgeons are prescribing celebrex the night before and after surgery. isn't it "more or less" the same as advil? why is celebrex an alternative?

Accepted Answer

Not the same: Although both Celebrex and Advil are both antiinflammatories, Celebrex works on a slightly different pathway in the body.  You have less of a chance of stomach ulcers with celebrex because it does not inhibit protoglandins in the same way.  You also have less of a chance of bleeding which is likely why it has become popular for peri-operative use.

Question 4

i had r. lateral epicondylar release with tendon repair 7.5 weeks ago. can i take ibuprofen now? after surgery doc said tylenol (acetaminophen) but that's not helping

Accepted Answer

Yes: U may want call your surgeon's office and speak w/ his / her nurse but i see no reason @ this point postoperatively why u cannot take Ibuprofen . Remember "tennis elbow" surgery can take some time to completely recover from(3 -4 months).Success rate after tennis elbow release is~ 70-80%.

Question 5

i'm having surgery in two days and i was told to stop taking ibuprofen two weeks prior to the surgery. this weekend i've had a terrible toothache and the only way it finally subsided some was with ibuprofen. will this mess up my surgery?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: You need to let your surgeon know at once. In addition, they may want you to resolve your toothache issues before your surgery, especially if you have an infection.

Question 6

does taking ibuprofen interfere with surgery? i took ibuprofen though it was recommended to cease all medications prior to surgery. should the surgery be canceled?

Accepted Answer

Not : Not necessarily. There are two main reasons doctors ask that you limit your medications prior to surgery. First, if you are undergoing general anesthesia it is preferred that you have an empty stomach. Most of the time taking medications with a sip of water is allowed and you are still considered to have an empty stomach. There are in fact several chronic medications that should be continued even on the morning of a surgery. Second, some medications can interfere with an operation by increasing your risk of bleeding or altering your body's ability to heal properly. This is the case with medications such as aspirin, plavix, coumadin, (warfarin) and nsaids among others. Ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory). Surgery can be done while patients are on these medications but it can alter risks and should be discussed with your surgeon and anesthesiologist. In this case let your physicians know that you took Ibuprofen and how much you took. They will let you know whether they feel safe proceeding and how it might alter your surgery and healing time.

Question 7

i have a herniated disc that needs surgery. i am taking 6 advil (ibuprofen) a day to help with the pain. how long can i do that before i do damage to my body?

Accepted Answer

Need monitoring: Generally, only 6 a day is not usually a problem, but potential complications include stomach ulcers that may bleed or perforate, kidney problems and hearing problems if you take more than your body can handle.  You need to coordinate with your doctor regarding blood tests to monitor your kidney function and meds to help avoid stomach ulcers.

Question 8

can i take ibuprofen for headaches before surgery ?

Accepted Answer

More info needed: Ibuprofen can affect bleeding times so it would be prudent to talk to your surgeon first. Depending on the type of surgery you are having it may be wise to not take this medicine. Please call your surgeon for more answers.

Question 9

i took ibuprofen and it is 10 days before my facial surgery. they said they will cancel the surgery if i take it less than 2 wks before. is this ok?

Accepted Answer

Call them: NSAID affect the ability of the blood to clot due the effect on platelets. I would call the clinic and update them. Surgery in head and neck region is complex and better to be safe. Take care and best of luck.

Question 10

why shouldn't i have advil (ibuprofen) before surgery?

Accepted Answer

Risks: Advil (ibuprofen) is an nsaid, and this class of medicine can increase your risk of bleeding, which could increase the risk of the surgery.  Advil (ibuprofen) (and other nsaids) can adversely affect kidney function, which could complicate recovery from surgery. Finally recent studies appear to show increased risk of heart attack after some surgeries/procedures with nsaids.

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Doctor answers about:

Taking ibuprofen after surgery

A member asked:

What are the risks of taking advil or ibuprofen for pain after surgery? what are the benefits?

A member asked:

I was prescribed hydrcodone-acetaminophen after surgery (last dose taken 36 hrs ago). i have a headache now, is it safe to take advil (ibuprofen)?

A member asked:

Some surgeons are prescribing celebrex the night before and after surgery. isn't it "more or less" the same as advil? why is celebrex an alternative?

A member asked:

I had r. lateral epicondylar release with tendon repair 7.5 weeks ago. can i take ibuprofen now? after surgery doc said tylenol (acetaminophen) but that's not helping

A member asked:

I'm having surgery in two days and i was told to stop taking ibuprofen two weeks prior to the surgery. this weekend i've had a terrible toothache and the only way it finally subsided some was with ibuprofen. will this mess up my surgery?

A member asked:

Does taking ibuprofen interfere with surgery? i took ibuprofen though it was recommended to cease all medications prior to surgery. should the surgery be canceled?

A member asked:

I have a herniated disc that needs surgery. i am taking 6 advil (ibuprofen) a day to help with the pain. how long can i do that before i do damage to my body?

A member asked:

Can i take ibuprofen for headaches before surgery ?

A member asked:

I took ibuprofen and it is 10 days before my facial surgery. they said they will cancel the surgery if i take it less than 2 wks before. is this ok?

A member asked:

Why shouldn't i have advil (ibuprofen) before surgery?

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