Naproxen Withdrawal (Aleve)

[Bestwifeever]

We "pre-Aleve" in our house when we play golf (six times a year)--take one Aleve before playing. I'm hoping there's no permanent damage from that....

 

[Amethyst]

The amazing thing about Meloxicam is that even though I have GERD, it did not trigger my symptoms (as peppermint, tomatoes and citrus inevitably do, and ibuprofen tends to do). From the doctor's warning, it appears that kidney damage, unlike stomach damage, can happen quite silently; one won't know anything's wrong until it's too late.

I was prescribed Meloxicam for my knee by another (now retired) orthopedic surgeon, before I found my present surgeon and had my knee replaced.

Meloxicam did work quite well! But despite the claims that it will not bother the stomach like other NSAIDs, I felt like it was bothering my stomach enough that I didn't want to risk trying to take it for the rest of my life. So, after 2-3 months I stopped taking it and just endured the pain.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) never worked for me in the past but it has been helpful for occasional very minor pain after my knee surgery.

Normally I don't take OTC meds at all, but the knee changed my attitude temporarily.

 

[6miths]

An estimated up to 6 million adults have AFIB... not all diagnosed, and the chances for those over 65 having it, is fairly high. The first thing the doctor insists on, is withdrawal from NSAIDs is because this type of blood thinner can be very dangerous.

NSAIDs are generally quite safe but they do inhibit platelets which play a role in clot formation (hence the use of low dose ASA to prevent platelet based clots that cause heart attacks). Many people who have atrial fibrillation are going to be put on anticoagulants (traditionally warfarin but often newer agents now) which inhibit the coagulation system which is also important in clot formation. Combining two agents that have a similar side-effect (bleeding in this case) is often not a good idea.

 

[6miths]

Voltaren gel is available OTC in Canada and it works well for back and joints for me. Acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory so ok for fever and pain but not as good for wear and tear aches and pains as NSAIDs. Always a bit leery of acetaminophen because of liver issues and less so of NSAIDs for kidney but they do have effects - especially for people taking ACE/ARBs for BP or diabetes. I would never take NSAIDs for pain for more than a couple days.

 

[tmm99]

I agree about Aleve being every effective. I hurt my shoulder once about 15 years ago, and I couldn't even sleep as the pain was so bad. Advil and tylenol was useless for this pain, but Aleve made it go away, but it was kind of scary, as I felt no pain at all after taking Aleve. I only took it for a few weeks, but I read a lot of side effects about Aleve after that and I never went back to it.

 

[Rianne]

Since I cannot take NSAIDS and Tylenol works, but not always, I resort to heat/cold packs or heating pad. I wonder if the medical community understands pain entirely. For instance, it can be better to tough through pain...the saying "use it or lose it" has some truth to it. If I hurt my back, the more I move the better. Same with knee. Same with neck. The thought of making it worse only applies (to me anyway) if the pain increases dramatically with movement.

When I broke my wrist I didn't know I broke it. I moved it as much as possible, tried to lift something. It started to swell and the pain got dramatically worse. I finally went in and got an ex-ray. Broken.
I learned some of this when I had a mastectomy for BC. My surgeon had me exercising the day after surgery, several times a day. Move the muscles and nerves, that increases blood flow which is naturally healing. Freezing muscles is really bad.

These are IMHO suggestions, I"m obviously not a Dr. Just saying, meds are not always the answer.

 

[Amethyst]

Same here. I was in shock and thought I had a bad sprain (I was right, I had that too). Being in shock kind of puts pain at a distance. Although in a lot of pain, I was able to drive myself home from the gym where I'd fallen. But was your fracture displaced or in place? The orthopedist told me a displaced fracture is far more painful. I hope to the Lord I never find out how much.

As soon as the cast went on, the fracture stopped hurting and I only had pain if I joggled the sprain inside the cast. I didn't take any pain medication at all after the cast was on. Dr. said NSAIDs would inhibit bone healing, and I sure didn't want that.

When I broke my wrist I didn't know I broke it. I moved it as much as possible, tried to lift something. .

 

[Chuckanut]

FWIW, if I recall correctly, topical Voltaren remains pretty much in the area of the body where it is applied. Only 4% works its way into the blood stream to affect the rest of the body. Oral meds obviously hit the bloodstream and digestive track near 100%.

Gosh, this thread, while useful, really sounds like a bunch of older folks talking about their aches and pains.

 

[Amethyst]

It does. But unlike some "organ recitals," it contains some useful info and is not just moaning for its own sake.

Gosh, this thread, while useful, really sounds like a bunch of older folks talking about their aches and pains.

 

[JoeWras]

FWIW, if I recall correctly, topical Voltaren remains pretty much in the area of the body where it is applied. Only 4% works its way into the blood stream to affect the rest of the body. Oral meds obviously hit the bloodstream and digestive track near 100%.

Yes, this is why I wanted to try it. I'll give it another chance should the knees flair up.

 

[Tekward]

A minor update as the OP: I went to the doctor today and she was surprised by the dizziness also. An EKG was consistent with my past, but my blood pressure is down >10% from history (now 122/64). She said that makes sense since NSAIDs increase BP. She is scheduling a non-urgent visit to CV specialist. I'm all for playing it safe.