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Naproxen.

(40 Posts)
Marelli Tue 31-Mar-15 14:57:10

Have been prescribed Naproxen for joint pain. It's working, and, where beforehand, I was finding walking long distances (DH and I enjoy this) was becoming impossible because of the pain in knees, ankles etc, I can now do this without much of a problem. However, are antiinflammatories not supposed to cause other problems? Does anyone else use these on a regular basis?

Marelli Sat 04-Apr-15 12:39:26

Of course I am, Elizabeth1! We ex-health-workers know the importance of that (don't think it takes gin into account, though sadgrin!!

Elizabeth1 Sat 04-Apr-15 11:56:37

Are you drinking enough Marelli wink glad you're feeling better.

Marelli Fri 03-Apr-15 16:04:32

At the moment, I'm having no pain and no problems, either! I shall go with the flow just now. When the tablets are due to finish, I'll make a GP appointment and see what he thinks about my continuing with them. Last week we took a short break in Northumberland, and I was so disappointed that we weren't able to walk about much because of me and my sore feet/ankles/knees (etc!!)

thatbags Fri 03-Apr-15 08:45:50

Of course, but that only underlines our good fortune even more.

ginny Fri 03-Apr-15 08:31:23

They may be cheap and effective for some but as someone who cannot take naproxen or aspirin I'm very glad that there are alternatives.

thatbags Fri 03-Apr-15 07:48:34

Oh how we love to worry! And how our forebears lacking everything but alcohol and laudanum would have loved to have some of our painkillers available to them.

Naproxen may be cheap. So is aspirin. Both are effective.

Tegan Thu 02-Apr-15 15:47:20

I'd check out the omeprazole before you get any indigestion problems. It may have been an oversight to not give you any [it does happen sad]. nsaids go in and out of fashion all the time; the complete no no when I was working was diclofenac unless people begged for it except in gel form.

Marelli Wed 01-Apr-15 23:44:51

Deeda, I agree. Naproxen seems to be one of the first choices for GP's to prescribe, so many people seem to have been given it. It must be cheap. hmm

Nelliemoser Wed 01-Apr-15 23:18:06

I find paracetamol works for my arthritic back pain. Which is just as well as I cannot take Aspirin or NSAIDs

Deedaa Wed 01-Apr-15 22:52:17

MiL lived on paracetamol for years for her arthritis. I found that it never touched the pain at all!

Our GP prescribed Naproxen for DH a while ago. Fortunately I had a vague memory of reading something about it. We checked with the haemotologist and he said definitely don't take it with Myeloma. Some of the drugs really turn out to be worse than the illnesses!

thatbags Wed 01-Apr-15 22:50:53

I think paracetamol is better than a placebo. Paracetamol syrup works on children with earache and earache is a diabolical pain.

Marelli Wed 01-Apr-15 22:30:03

I heard about that on the radio news as well, Iam64. I'm feeling no aches and pains at all, and I've only been taking the tablets for a few days. I'm using the 500mg so I'll try halving the tablets in a day or so to see what happens. If the pain returns I'll up it to 500mg again. I'll also give it a wee while because I think there may be an issue with indigestion, so will need to see GP re omeprazole.
It goes against the grain for me, (or indeed most of us) to have to take painkillers like this, but the alternative means we stiffen up, get less mobile, get heavier etc....as they say, 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'!

Iam64 Wed 01-Apr-15 19:19:31

I have been taking anti inflammatories for over 20 years now, not all the time of course, but at times for several weeks. I'v been prescribed Naproxen for a couple of years now, I take omezrapole first thing in the morning and the anti inflammatory after a main meal. So far, so good. Paracetamol doesn't touch arthritic pain. I read today that research has found it's no better than a placebo.

ginny Tue 31-Mar-15 23:38:33

It suits some but not me. When it was prescribed for me I suffered dreadfully stomach pains and it became obvious that it was caused by naproxen. Just see how it goes and report any problems
..

Marelli Tue 31-Mar-15 22:48:14

Tegan - you know very well that I'm a 'certain age', as we have met up a good few times now grin!!
Thanks for the advice, everyone.

tanith Tue 31-Mar-15 22:00:44

Marelli as the others have said make sure you take it as prescribed and you may find all is well... its been a lifesaver for me.. good luck with it.

Tegan Tue 31-Mar-15 21:59:19

When you reach 'a certain age' GP's are more careful about what they prescribe; ibuprofen being one example. Not that I'm saying that Marelli is 'a certain age'.

Marelli Tue 31-Mar-15 21:55:22

Paracetamol goes nowhere with me, either, tanith, although I don't have such serious problems as you. The Naproxen has given me so much relief, though, so I'll see what happens.

thatbags Tue 31-Mar-15 21:42:36

My stomach was never affected when I was taking naproxen. It doesn'tcause problems for everyone. If you have any trouble with it, marelli, you could just go back to your GP and say so. Good luck to both you and tanith.

Tegan Tue 31-Mar-15 21:40:15

Maybe your Naproxen is ec coated?

tanith Tue 31-Mar-15 21:24:03

Marelli Paracetamol doesn't touch the sort of pain I have and I've tried most things , the only things thats helped is the Naproxen , I'd rather not take it but needs must...

Marelli Tue 31-Mar-15 20:56:03

You would think that it would go hand in hand with Omeprazole (or similar), though? I remember a physio telling me that she preferred her patients not to be taking NSAIDs and to use paracetamol instead, though she hastened to add that the GP's advice would be based on what he/she thought was appropriate to the patient's needs. hmm

Mishap Tue 31-Mar-15 20:46:26

It is one of those drugs where it is very important to take it precisely as per the instructions in order to avoid problems. This goes for all anti-inflammatories. They can be very effective if used properly.

BiNtHeReDuNiT14 Tue 31-Mar-15 20:39:28

Omeprozole Sorry too much Sherry !

BiNtHeReDuNiT14 Tue 31-Mar-15 20:38:08

DH has been taking Naproxen for a number of years albeit not constantly only when he has an attack of gout ' blamed on too much liking for port and stilton formed in his naval career' It is such a painful thing to have and he finds it works wonders. However not long after taking it he did find he was getting quite a bit of digestive discomfort especially if taking on an empty stomach-some men just wont be told !!! He now takes it along with Omemprozole and all is fine.