What does abdominal pain that does not relieve with medications indicate?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have had gallstones for the past three years. I have had severe gallbladder pain in abdomen and back for the last four hours. So, I took tablet Meftal spas but still there is no relief. Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It is important to mention the site of the abdominal pain. You said gall bladder pain; I assume this will be right upper abdominal pain. When did you take Meftal spas tablet (Mefenamic acid and Dicyclomine)? Oral medicine takes one to two hours for pain relief. You can take antispasmodics like tablet No-spa (Drotaverine hydrochloride) or tablet Spasfon (Phloroglucinol hydrated 80 mg and Trimethylphloroglucinol 80 mg) as well, along with antacids syrup like Gaviscon (Sodium alginate, Sodium bicarbonate, and Calcium carbonate) 10 ml and acid suppression medicine like tablet Esomeprazole or Pantoprazole 40 mg (proton pump inhibitor) once. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them and take medications with their consent. In case of no relief, that means your gall bladder is either inflamed, or there is a stone obstruction in biliary ducts; for this, you may need a hospital visit and an ultrasound along with some blood investigations. I hope this will help you.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You can have antacid syrup and acid suppression medicine, as I mentioned. It has been only one hour and 20 minutes since you took a tablet of Meftal spas. Pain should improve within the next sixty minutes. Take the medicine I mentioned in the previous reply if you have them at home. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them and take medications with their consent. In case of no improvement, it will be good for you to get intravenous painkillers at the hospital under a doctor's supervision. Meanwhile, get an ultrasound and blood workup done. I hope this helps you.

Thank you.