Combining Ramipril with Naproxen?

[KAYMACK]

I have been prescribed Ramipril for high blood pressure. But I also take Naproxen for back pain (prescribed by same practice, different doctors). After checking up on the NHS website and also reading the leaflet inside the box, I was advised to tell my doctor about a possible conflict.

The doctor said no problem, they can be taken together. But I have had faulty advice before and I wanted to double-check with anyone here if they have maybe had experience with these two medicines. The things is, I need them both! Besides the Ramipril maybe making the Naproxen less effective, I am also always concerned about kidney damage from certain medicines/combinations.

Thanks if anyone can help/advise on this matter, as I would rather be too cautious.

Double check with your pharmacist to be absolutely certain! I am on umpteen medications and we always check the possible interactions with the pharmacist as well as looking them up online. Pharmacists are well placed to advise you on this and can give you advice more safely than MN.

I also checked with the pharmacist who gave them to me and she said it was OK to take them together (without harmful side-effects). However, I was further concerned about one making the other less effective.

@KAYMACK With the pharmacist having confirmed it, I would trust her advice. In terms of efficacy, that's something you should be able to check out over time - if it helps your symptoms or not.

My doctor told me I couldn't take them both so I had to stop the naproxen.

Thanks. It is incredible how much conflicting advice there is over so much medical advice! What is a poor patient to do?!

Both affect the kidneys. Most people ok with both of them but if your kidney function is a little reduced probably best not to take them.

If you get acute diarrhoeal illness or vomiting you should stop them and check with GP as the dehydration makes the kidney impairment worse or could flip you into acute renal failure. (Which can recover) so it's a judgement call really...I treat patients differently depending on age and medical history you have and the benefits Vs risks of the medication. Neither GP is wrong, just differing opinions...medicine is not an exact science no totally right or wrong answers in many situations. That's what makes it such a hard job.

My husband takes both

My dh has been taking ramipril for many years. He was recently prescribed naproxen for sciatica but the naproxen can interact with ramipril and reduce its efficacy, which is what happened with DH. So certainly you need to keep an eye on your blood pressure. Apparently it doesn’t have this effect for everyone. (DH was swapped to a different blood pressure medicine (amlodipine) which is not affected by naproxen, so if you do suffer from this effect, there are other options)