Naproxen advice

[Mia10791]

Hi, today my GP prescribed naproxen for lower back pain. When I picked it up, the pharmacist told me that the GP should also have prescribed a medication to line my stomach because naproxen is very strong and can damage stomach lining. I’ve read a few stories online about long term complications being caused by taking uncoated naproxen and I’m considering waiting before I start it.

Should I phone the GP tomorrow and ask him to prescribe what the pharmacist advised? Any advice would be appreciated.

My GP prescribes either Omeprazole or Lansoprazole with Naproxen to protect the stomach lining. Might be worth having a chat with your GP.

Yes, it's good advice from the pharmacist- you should add a PPI. Sometimes if the GP thinks you'll only take 1 or 2 naproxen for a day or two they don't bother with PPI, but personally I wouldn't go near naproxen with a barge pole without stomach protection.
You can buy esomeprazole OTC or yes ask your GP to prescribe.

I have naproxen for kidney pain and I take it as a last resort as it makes me feel quite poorly, even with the other medication prescribed! I tend to get very bad acid reflux with it. I find it hard to lie down because of the reflux.
I have something called omeprazole prescribed to take once a day when taking it.
I would take if you're in a lot of pain but definitely get in touch with gp to prescribe omeprazole too

I have lansoprazole to take with Naproxen. Take it on an empty stomach 30 min before food, once a day. That’s it.

Oh this thread has worried me. I'm on naproxen and have just been told to take it after food.

I was given it for back pain but was also given Omeprazole as I was on it for a while so definitely good advice from your pharmacist and I would ring your GP tomorrow. However if you need the pain killer now then I would use them anyway but take after food.

Hope your back pain improves quickly.

proton pump inhibotors (omeprazole etc) come with their own issues.
some drs are reluctant to prescribe it for that reason.
you need to take it as short time as possible and always take it after a meal containing carbs.

I hope your back gets better soon!

I just take it with food. However I don't need to take it daily, just as and when I need it which is hardly ever at the money.

Moment

I've been on Naproxen once for lower back pain and wasn't prescribed anything with it. I was called in for a blood test after a few months of being on it though to check kidney function etc.

please don't take this without a ppi. theee days of it have given me a stomach ulcer that's leaves me debilitated once every couple of months for a least two weeks unable to keep food down and then water ending up in having a dehydration drip.

I was given it a few years ago and advised to take it straight after a meal - nothing prescribed alongside. That was only as a short-term measure.

Thanks everyone. From reading the replies, I think I definitely need to speak to my GP again as the last thing I want is a stomach issue. I will take ibuprofen tonight and call them tomorrow.

Naproxen is evil stuff, I am prescribed it but pretty much never take it as the side effects are awful, but yes you should definitely be prescribed omeprazole or something similar alongside unless it's for very short term usage.

I have naproxen for an ongoing lower back issue but also have omeprazole prescribed to take alongside it.

Similar to ibuprofen, you should not take on an empty stomach.

I’ve taken it for years - just make sure it’s on a full stomach. I’ve never had any problems. It used to be sold OTC on its own, like paracetamol.

I have to take omprozol with mine, and I have to get B12 injections due to the omeprozol and Folic acid tablets due to the B12 🤣

I was given a long term course of it by my GP, along with Omeprazole but stopped taking it after 3 weeks. Made me feel absolutely horrendous and wasn't helping either, so I went to an Osteopath instead.

I found Naproxen very good for pain relief and used to take it after food.
It is similar to Ibuprofen. A GP once gave me a prescription for high doses of Ibuprofen which gave me stomach pain and a pharmacist was horrified that I hadn't been given PPIs.
I take a shed load of drugs each day but I am very wary of taking PPIs long term.

I take Naproxen on and off and take it with Omperozle. I was on it for about 5 yrs before GP added a note to my repeat prescription to say that as I was over 45 I needed to take it with a stomach liner.....I wasn't best pleased as I was 50 when I got this note....yes, the maths says it all.... I'd been on it 5 yrs so was 45 when prescribed it so should have had Omperazle from the very first prescription . It hasn't done me any harm though thankfully!

Im also on naproxen for lower back pain and was prescribed omazeprol (sp? my brain is shot today after a PIP assessment earlier) at the same time. Yes naproxen can damage your stomach lining and yes you need to get your GP to prescribe it.