Help! Prescribed Naproxen but nothing else. Should I take it?

[inraolyn]

Okay. So, I've been referred a rheumatologist for ongoing back pain which I suspect is Ankylosing Spondylitis due to blood test results and the subsequent revelation from my dad his dad had it.

At first, it was just "wait for the appointment, yaay," but I went back to my GP yesterday evening to ask for some pain relief because mornings are becoming hellish. He prescribed me 500mg Naproxen, apparently to take either twice daily, or just before bed.

I actually managed to get to a pharmacist to pick it up today, and what I was told worried me slightly. She was pretty concerned that I hadn't been prescribed anything to counter its effects on the stomach lining, to take alongside it. I know that anti-inflammatories can have that effect in the long-term, so I asked if it was okay seeing as it's tiding me over for a month or so. She told me that she didn't think it was a good idea to take only the Naproxen, and that I should ask my GP for something else to counteract that, only I had DD with me at the time and I can't remember what that was. A gastric something, but the technical term is gone.

Anyway. Mostly what I want to know is, how long is too long to take this stuff before it's going to start having an effect? I didn't manage to get in touch with my GP today, so I won't be able to ask for anything else until after the weekend. I don't think it would be too harmful for just a couple of days, but equally I don't want to mess about. Does anyone who is on Naproxen have some advice? The intention was for me to take it last thing at night (with food) so I'm not so creaky first thing. Is it worth me taking it this weekend, or should I just hold fire until I can get hold of my GP?

I took it recently and wasn't prescribed anything else to take with it. I made sure I had it at the same time as my meals. I only took 10 days of the 14 day course as by about day 9 I felt like I had a bit of stomache ache.

I was prescribed this with nothing else as well. I was just advised to take it after food and nothing was said about possible effects on the stomach. GP however refused my DH the same drug because he is a smoker.

Dd takes naproxen and lanzaprozole to prevent the stomach ache. She needs to take it in a certain order (food first) otherwise she gets a tummy ache. She takes it for arthritis and is 7yo. Often she forgets to take the lanzaprozole, she generally manages ok. I'm sure it would be ok for the weekend, if you feel unbareably sick, just stop.

Tbh, naproxen has had nil effect on dd. she's taken it for months with little pain relief . However it's full effect doesn't kick in for a few weeks, so perhaps the same would happen its any accompanying tummy ache.

I'm on Naproxen and also take Omeprazole for my stomach, but only because I'm on the Naproxen long term.

If you're just having the Naproxen short term with no previous gastric issues you may not need anything else. It is unlikely to cause problems over the weekend.

Okay, that's good to know. The pharmacist was more concerned about me taking it for a month with nothing else I think. I'll call my GP on Monday and ask about having something like omeprazole, seeing as he wants me to take the Naproxen until the latter part of October at least (obviously it could be longer, if they prescribe the same).

I was just a little taken aback really, as the pharmacist looked genuinely worried that I had a long prescription for just the Naproxen. I have two boxes of the things.

I'm on long term naproxen and take pantoprazole but to start with I was fine with naproxen on its own

I take naproxen for RA pain. I found it to be the only NSAID that helped but it took a while to appreciate it
I don't have anything to take it with but ensure that I take it after some food.
It has been fine

If taken with food it shouldn't be a problem on the short term. If taken for longer ask for Omeprazole or similar to protect from stomach ulcers. I also asked for enteric coated naproxen which also helps.

I got a stomach ulcer that way. You should be taking Omeprazole or similar to protect your stomach.

Dp has just been prescribed naproxen and his gp insisted that he take omeprazole with it, and he's only been prescribed it short term.

There are wide range of doses of naproxen taken and this will alter whether it s taken with an H2 receptor drug like omeprazole.
I take naproxen at a very high dose and don't use any H2 receptor drug as this only prevents one of the side effects and not the one I experience.

My dh had a severe gastric haemorrhage last year which the doc said was entirely because he had been prescribed Naproxen for the pain from a wisdom tooth. The pain went on for 3 weeks post extraction and dh took Naproxen 3 times a day. Fortunately he is fine now but has to take omeprazole daily and can never have any anti-inflammatories again, not even aspirin or ibuprofen.

you need omeprazole, so get your gp to prescribe that ASAP. Unlikely to do immediate harm but get a shift on.

also all ibuprofen types must NEVER be taken on an empty stomach and not before bed either (said my physio).

I was ibuprofen-tolerant but have managed to burn my gullet on even a low and irregular dose, so now on the omeprazole. It's all great stuff but be careful.