• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Ibuprofen - Cautionary Tale

LesBrass

Likes Walking
Time of past OR future Camino
yes...
The analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world; the most common being its first registered trademark name of Brufen, along with Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. I was once told that this drug was called the pilgrims friend and it was fine to take one every morning.

About a week ago I fell and hurt my coccyx when visiting Samos... with still a week to go on my camino I took an ibuprofen each morning... sometimes before bed too if it was painful. I got home on Tuesday and after a long train journey took another.

Yesterday I was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis... inflammation and erosion of the duodenum and stomach lining. I have had this before, following my cancer treatment but that was a few years ago... the hospital concludes that it was probably due to the ibuprofen.

I never realised the dangers of taking these over the counter drugs... you can buy them in large doses in Spain which I think compounds the problem. I've got a month of medication to help heal my stomach and then follow-up tests and another stomach biopsy.

So... the moral of this story is... proceed with caution!
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Oh my. Get well soon, and may everything be okay!

Thanks for the warning, too!
 
Just curious, did you take the doses with food? From what i understand that helps a lot to avoid some side effects.

I'm now on camino taking the spanish high dose ibuprofen twice a day for knee issues, so hopefully all will be ok!!

Get well soon!
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
The analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world; the most common being its first registered trademark name of Brufen, along with Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. I was once told that this drug was called the pilgrims friend and it was fine to take one every morning.

About a week ago I fell and hurt my coccyx when visiting Samos... with still a week to go on my camino I took an ibuprofen each morning... sometimes before bed too if it was painful. I got home on Tuesday and after a long train journey took another.

Yesterday I was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis... inflammation and erosion of the duodenum and stomach lining. I have had this before, following my cancer treatment but that was a few years ago... the hospital concludes that it was probably due to the ibuprofen.

I never realised the dangers of taking these over the counter drugs... you can buy them in large doses in Spain which I think compounds the problem. I've got a month of medication to help heal my stomach and then follow-up tests and another stomach biopsy.

So... the moral of this story is... proceed with caution!


I have wondered over and over again where these warnings about Ibuprofen come from. There are various threads on this forum. EVERY condition mentioned in those threads is also mentioned on the leaflet that comes with the medication and also on websites with info about Ibuprofen. If you cannot read the local language, look it up, for instance here https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-5166-9368/ibuprofen-oral/ibuprofen-oral/details

Yet every problem is reported here as a shocking discovery, combined with a warning .... is this a cultural thing? The fact that medication is sold over the counter does not mean you can take it freely. You still have to read the leaflet and decide if this medication is safe for you. When in doubt, ask a medical professional, do not rely on an urban myth like Ibuprofen is the pilgrims friend and it is fine to take one every morning.

Because it isn't.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
The analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world; the most common being its first registered trademark name of Brufen, along with Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen.

About a week ago I fell and hurt my coccyx when visiting Samos... with still a week to go on my camino I took an ibuprofen each morning... sometimes before bed too if it was painful. I got home on Tuesday and after a long train journey took another.

Yesterday I was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis... inflammation and erosion of the duodenum and stomach lining. I have had this before, following my cancer treatment but that was a few years ago... the hospital concludes that it was probably due to the ibuprofen.

I never realised the dangers of taking these over the counter drugs... you can buy them in large doses in Spain which I think compounds the problem. I've got a month of medication to help heal my stomach and then follow-up tests and another stomach biopsy.

So... the moral of this story is... proceed with caution!
I was amazed that Spain has a 600mg tablet and l have asked before if people knew how dangerous it is and that caution must be taken.
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
It is helpful to remember that inflammation is the body's healing response to injury - inflammation is not the injury itself. So, if you suppress inflammation with an anti-inflammatory drug, you will tend to slow down the healing process.

The NHS, the UK's health service, advice is to wait 48 hours after a sprain, strain, etc... before taking ibuprofen. As you rightly say, this is to allow the body to start the healing process naturally.
 
The analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world; the most common being its first registered trademark name of Brufen, along with Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. I was once told that this drug was called the pilgrims friend and it was fine to take one every morning.

About a week ago I fell and hurt my coccyx when visiting Samos... with still a week to go on my camino I took an ibuprofen each morning... sometimes before bed too if it was painful. I got home on Tuesday and after a long train journey took another.

Yesterday I was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis... inflammation and erosion of the duodenum and stomach lining. I have had this before, following my cancer treatment but that was a few years ago... the hospital concludes that it was probably due to the ibuprofen.

I never realised the dangers of taking these over the counter drugs... you can buy them in large doses in Spain which I think compounds the problem. I've got a month of medication to help heal my stomach and then follow-up tests and another stomach biopsy.

So... the moral of this story is... proceed with caution!
Lesbrass, sorry to read of your health issue. When you have had time to deal with that, what about your shoes? Were they ok? I am dying to know!
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
@LesBrass - so sorry to hear about another camino related injury! Thank you for the warning, I think it is a timely reminder before the pilgrim high season. A lot of people think it is perfectly safe and don't read the leaflet, I have even known pilgrims who take ibuprofen every day as a precaution, before there is any pain to kill! Calling NSAIDs 'camino candy', 'vitamin P' etc doesn't help either. When there is pain, maybe a cream straight on the skin would be better than taking tablets? I will be trying out my Paingone pen on my five week walk this summer, it is instant and has no side effects that I have come across. Get well soon, peregrina!
 
As I've mentioned elsewhere, they NSAIDs like ibuprofen can also lead to chronic idiopathic urticaria (persistent and extensive hives, sometimes accompanied by swellings, that don't go away for months or years without very expensive treatment). Which isn't to say that no one should ever take these medications. Just that it is good to be aware of the potential side effects so that if they start to appear you can put two and two together.
 
Just curious, did you take the doses with food? From what i understand that helps a lot to avoid some side effects.

I'm now on camino taking the spanish high dose ibuprofen twice a day for knee issues, so hopefully all will be ok!!
Get well soon!


Hi amandam

Ibuprofen does not act from the stomach side but is adsorbed and inhibits the COX enzymes (cyclooxynenase) of which there are two variants. One of the COX is involved in inflammation and ibuprofen hence dampens inflammation. But COX is also involved in platelet activation and ibuprofen is therefore affects blood clotting. And COX is involved in mucus production in the stomach, which is why ibuprofen can result in bleeding and ulcers. However, as with everything else the risk is individual as many other factors are involved. So as mentioned by others, use ibuprofen is you think it helps you but be aware of possible side effects like stomach ache. And food along with intake has no effect.

A side note, aspirin (salicylic acid) also inhibits the COXs but is worse for the stomach as it inhibits the “stomach COX” more than ibuprofen. So avoid aspirin when possible if ibuprofen is available.

Buen Camino. Best, Chris
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
In case you have to take Ibuprofen or aspirin you can protect your stomach by taking Pantoprazol or Omeprazol, both sold in Portugal and in Spain.

I am sorry, but Omeprazol does not protect your stomach. It lowers the level of acid in it. But if the natural level of a person is naturally low, it will hurt like hell (learned it the bad way myself).
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, they NSAIDs like ibuprofen can also lead to chronic idiopathic urticaria (persistent and extensive hives, sometimes accompanied by swellings, that don't go away for months or years without very expensive treatment). Which isn't to say that no one should ever take these medications. Just that it is good to be aware of the potential side effects so that if they start to appear you can put two and two together.
I

I am one who has had the swellings ( with increasing frequency, above my eyes, my jaws) and finally after years and years they were diagnosed as, essentially, an allergy to NSAIDs. I used to take Ibuprofen on all my Caminos (and other hikes) every three hours. After the diagnosis I completely stopped taking NSAIDs and I haven't had swellings for two years now. For some reason, Celebrex (celecoxib) does not cause the swellings and I can take that to deal with arthritic pain.
 
LesBrass, Sorry to hear about your fall and injury and subsequent bad experience (vomiting/abdominal pain...) attributed to ibuprofen.
I am not a doctor but I do have a lot of experience with ibuprofen. By that, I mean I have taken this drug many many times over many years to treat minor pain and inflammation. Along with acetaminophen (tylenol) and naproxen (aleev). These are all OTC in most countries and are widely used and very rarely produce bad outcomes - unless of course, they are abused (or tainted). They all have side effects which are widely known (ibuprofen/aspirin: hard on stomach and kidneys, tylenol: hard on the liver).
Now you say you took one every morning and sometimes in the evening for a week. This does not indicate abuse at all. Was this the first time you ever took ibuprofen?

You had a previous similar episode following cancer treatment. Could it be that the cancer or treatment has rendered you somehow extremely sensitive to it? I have never heard of anyone having such a strong and negative reaction to ibuprofen following such a short and small administration of it.
I am not saying the ibuprofen did not harm you. What I am saying is that ibuprofen is not harming others to that extent. These drugs are so ubiquitous and used globally. But we must all read and heed the warnings.
I hope the biopsy and tests come back OK. And if ibuprofen turns out to be the culprit then you should give your doctor royal crap for not having warned you to never take any.
 
I've walked three Caminos and after the first several days of walking I develop a stabbing pain in my mid-back area by the afternoon of walking. I have taken two 200 mg ibuprofen tablets each time and found relief. I then keep using it for a few more days to "make sure" it does not return and thankfully it never has each time.

Sooo, what is a person to take for relief if all these well known otc drugs are bad for us? What are our options for alternatives?

Has anyone else experienced the type of back pain I described? It is not lower back pain, but on one side of my mid-back and becomes sort of like a knife stabbing. I never have this pain at home. I have used two different Osprey packs, both with Airspeed trampoline style vented backs. I hope my problem is unrelated to my backpack.
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
I’ve taken the odd NSAID over the years with no ill effects..then out of the blue I took one Iboprofen and had an anaphylactic reaction..Respiratory arrest, the lot..
Fortunately I lived with someone trained in resuscitation..
Soooo, I’ve learned a fair bit about these drugs over the past couple of years.
Many people have bad reactions , particularly if you have any history of asthma .
There is no way of knowing if you are the person who can take these drugs for a month with no side effects, or if just a days worth will put a hole in your digestive tract.
There Is no hard evidence that taking them with food is of any benefit. The drug has to be absorbed to be effective.
Me? Well a couple of Panadol and a glass of red has to do these days..
Buen Camino!
 
LesBrass, Sorry to hear about your fall and injury and subsequent bad experience (vomiting/abdominal pain...) attributed to ibuprofen.
I am not a doctor but I do have a lot of experience with ibuprofen. By that, I mean I have taken this drug many many times over many years to treat minor pain and inflammation. Along with acetaminophen (tylenol) and naproxen (aleev). These are all OTC in most countries and are widely used and very rarely produce bad outcomes - unless of course, they are abused (or tainted). They all have side effects which are widely known (ibuprofen/aspirin: hard on stomach and kidneys, tylenol: hard on the liver).
Now you say you took one every morning and sometimes in the evening for a week. This does not indicate abuse at all. Was this the first time you ever took ibuprofen?

You had a previous similar episode following cancer treatment. Could it be that the cancer or treatment has rendered you somehow extremely sensitive to it? I have never heard of anyone having such a strong and negative reaction to ibuprofen following such a short and small administration of it.
I am not saying the ibuprofen did not harm you. What I am saying is that ibuprofen is not harming others to that extent. These drugs are so ubiquitous and used globally. But we must all read and heed the warnings.
I hope the biopsy and tests come back OK. And if ibuprofen turns out to be the culprit then you should give your doctor royal crap for not having warned you to never take any.

Some people are just much more prone to issues, my father's mother died in 2001 after 2 weeks of prescribed Ibuprofen for sore knees. She basically just bleed to death, was unconscious for the last 2 days. There was nothing they could do, they described her as being like a 'sieve'.
My father (we are slow learners it seems) also was hospitalized after having it prescribed for a shoulder injury. I think he had taken 2-3, by the time he realised something was amiss, severe bleeding and vomiting. They were able to treat him successfully.
In 2006, I landed in hospital myself with severe bleeding, after taking only 1. Clearly I'm still alive, but feeling foolish as I should have known better.
But I now have a medic alert bracelet, as it so commonly used, people dont think twice.
 
Last edited:
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Oh that sounds thoroughly unpleasant. Wishing you a very speedy recovery @LesBrass.
 
I've walked three Caminos and after the first several days of walking I develop a stabbing pain in my mid-back area by the afternoon of walking. I have taken two 200 mg ibuprofen tablets each time and found relief. I then keep using it for a few more days to "make sure" it does not return and thankfully it never has each time.

Sooo, what is a person to take for relief if all these well known otc drugs are bad for us? What are our options for alternatives?

Has anyone else experienced the type of back pain I described? It is not lower back pain, but on one side of my mid-back and becomes sort of like a knife stabbing. I never have this pain at home. I have used two different Osprey packs, both with Airspeed trampoline style vented backs. I hope my problem is unrelated to my backpack.

Hi Chris, sorry to read . The backpain really could be from so many reasons.
I can speak from experience right now ( though not back )..
I can only advise to see your gp/specialist and ask ,if needed, a referral for ultrasound / X ray.
 
The ibuprofen I get there is 800mg
That is actually quite incredible! As an anaesthetic nurse, I always check the dosages. I find it scary that people don’t protect their gut. Perhaps the medication in Spain has a built in mucosal protective agent. As a matter matter of interest, a lower dose combined with paracetamol is very effective. However, all drugs have its side effects and cautions. Please take care.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
When I walked the Camino in Spain in 2015, I had one prescription med-thyroid. Got a refill in Spain without problem. Now I have 4 more rx meds, one of which is a blood thinner. I have a Road ID bracelet that has contact info and the website, phone, and pin to access my medical info. Thinking of how to draw attention to that if I were unable to speak . Tattoo? Sign to hang around my neck? Of course I am hoping/expecting it will never be needed.
 
When I walked the Camino in Spain in 2015, I had one prescription med-thyroid. Got a refill in Spain without problem. Now I have 4 more rx meds, one of which is a blood thinner. I have a Road ID bracelet that has contact info and the website, phone, and pin to access my medical info. Thinking of how to draw attention to that if I were unable to speak . Tattoo? Sign to hang around my neck? Of course I am hoping/expecting it will never be needed.

Wear the bracelet, what else? Add visible info about the blood thinner if you want / can.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
When I walked the Camino in 2016 I thought I had muscle pain. It even kept me from sleeping. I tried taking Ibuprofen but it did very little for me. I tried other things that were suggested. After 38 days I made it to Santiago near the end of Oct. I got home and diagnosed myself via the Internet. Finally in January I went to the doctor for a referral to a physical therapist. They had me have x-rays. I had severe, bone on bone osteoarthritis. I have been asked how I was able to walk 500 miles in that shape. It was not knowing what was really going on and determination. I now have a new hip. The other side has moderate osteoarthritis. I am happy I did the Camino while I could. The cautionary tale is that taking pills and not knowing what the real problem is can be dangerous. My pain was nerve rubbing, not only inflammation. I can see how someone self medicating could overuse something like this.
 
The analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world; the most common being its first registered trademark name of Brufen, along with Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. I was once told that this drug was called the pilgrims friend and it was fine to take one every morning.

About a week ago I fell and hurt my coccyx when visiting Samos... with still a week to go on my camino I took an ibuprofen each morning... sometimes before bed too if it was painful. I got home on Tuesday and after a long train journey took another.

Yesterday I was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis... inflammation and erosion of the duodenum and stomach lining. I have had this before, following my cancer treatment but that was a few years ago... the hospital concludes that it was probably due to the ibuprofen.

I never realised the dangers of taking these over the counter drugs... you can buy them in large doses in Spain which I think compounds the problem. I've got a month of medication to help heal my stomach and then follow-up tests and another stomach biopsy.

So... the moral of this story is... proceed with caution!
I didn't realize how strong they were in Spain. I came home with liver totally messed up and still is 2 years later. Glad you posted the cautionary tale and everyone only take pain meds if absolutely necessary.
 
The analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world; the most common being its first registered trademark name of Brufen, along with Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. I was once told that this drug was called the pilgrims friend and it was fine to take one every morning.

About a week ago I fell and hurt my coccyx when visiting Samos... with still a week to go on my camino I took an ibuprofen each morning... sometimes before bed too if it was painful. I got home on Tuesday and after a long train journey took another.

Yesterday I was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis... inflammation and erosion of the duodenum and stomach lining. I have had this before, following my cancer treatment but that was a few years ago... the hospital concludes that it was probably due to the ibuprofen.

I never realised the dangers of taking these over the counter drugs... you can buy them in large doses in Spain which I think compounds the problem. I've got a month of medication to help heal my stomach and then follow-up tests and another stomach biopsy.

So... the moral of this story is... proceed with caution!
When in pain your body is giving a message: REST. Taking pain killers is ignoring the message which can result in worse issues. Take time out. It’s not a race. Enjoy
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
The analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world; the most common being its first registered trademark name of Brufen, along with Advil, Motrin, and Nurofen. I was once told that this drug was called the pilgrims friend and it was fine to take one every morning.

About a week ago I fell and hurt my coccyx when visiting Samos... with still a week to go on my camino I took an ibuprofen each morning... sometimes before bed too if it was painful. I got home on Tuesday and after a long train journey took another.

Yesterday I was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis... inflammation and erosion of the duodenum and stomach lining. I have had this before, following my cancer treatment but that was a few years ago... the hospital concludes that it was probably due to the ibuprofen.

I never realised the dangers of taking these over the counter drugs... you can buy them in large doses in Spain which I think compounds the problem. I've got a month of medication to help heal my stomach and then follow-up tests and another stomach biopsy.

So... the moral of this story is... proceed with caution!
Large doses, not recommended in the US to treat everyday aches/inflammation AND it's not buffered or coated as in the US. Indeed it would wreck your stomach ! Hope you've recovered !
 
The 600mg ibuprofen in Spain is a real trap. Each tablet is 200mg here in Australia with a recommended maximum dosage of 2. Don’t take a couple of the Spanish ones by mistake - that would certainly stir up your stomach.
 

Most read last week in this forum

I'm about a 6 weeks away from beginning the French Camino. Depending on how I feel when I get to St. Jean, I will either take a train back to Portugal, or continue on to Santiago. In the...
Hola, I was really hoping to walk the Camino again this coming summer but despite all my hopes and planning I am in need of a hip replacement instead, yea! I walked the Frances in 2017 and have...

âť“How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top