[Chemar]

My husband suffers sever pain from a spinal/hip injury and has had really bad reactions to most painkillers

The new doc has him on Lidoderm patches (much relief from them!) and rx strength (500mg) Naprosan 2x daily

however...I have just read some stuff on naprosan that has alarmed me, especially as my husband has very erratic hypertension (now--finally!!-- on Lisinopril(?sp) for that)

sooooooo, if mrsD or anyone else with experience of Naprosan could give me some info I would be most appreciative

Last thing I want is yet another painkiller causing even more problems than my DH already has!!

thanks
Cheri

[mrsD]

Is good for pain. It also has the lowest potential for cardiac issues caused
by NSAIDs. (a comparison was done, and Naprosyn was the lowest in risk--but there is still some risk) 500mg twice a day is the max RX dose.
It is also the same as Aleve OTC which is is sodium salt and faster acting.
I've found that Aleve liquigels are just as good as the RX, at least for me. The liquigel form seems to
be absorbed faster and it matches the higher RX dose for me. I think it is because of the liquigel technology.

What NSAIDs do is suppress Cox-2 enzymes. Some Cox-2 are inflammatory and others are part of the healing process. So with long term use, NSAIDs don't really lead to healing. Also one important Cox-2 is prostacyclin made in the kidney which is a vasodilator-- suppressing THIS is what causes the heart attacks, and increased blood pressure.
And Vioxx was the most potent Cox-2 NSAID and that is why so many heart attacks resulted. Prostacyclin dilates blood vessels and prevents hypertension also.

So the trick is using as little of NSAIDs as possible, and for as short a time as possible.

I am glad he got the lisinopril finally.

I find for severe pain, I have I use one Aleve liquigel now, which is less than 1/2 of a 500mg Naprosyn. Over the years I have relied mostly on SAMe for
my arthritis pain. So I don't use NSAIDs much anymore. I will also sometimes take Tylenol, but not that everyday either.

You might try the Salonpas on his back too. You can stack them. I've used as many as 3 for acute strains back there.

[Chemar]

thanks so much mrsD

that's a relief as I was finding discussions on Naprosan that made it seem a real danger for cardiovascular issues

he has been using the salonpas patches with some relief, but these lidoderm's are sure working wonders for him
He has herniated/bulging discs, spondylothesis(?sp) and stenosis, plus rotated hips and so needing much care

and yep...how long have we been trying to get the lisinopril and at last he got the rx
hopeful it will bring this very alarming jumping around of his Blood pressure to stabilized levels

[mrsD]

severe pain raises blood pressure...That may be a factor too.

Naprosyn is still a risk type drug. It can cause bleeding. That happened to my neighbor, who almost died, and had to have her gallbladder artery tied off.

Naprosyn still has "some" cardiovascular risk, only not as high as other drugs
in the class.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content....13.jed60058v1

I would consider other methods of pain relief for months/years control.
I personally think the bleeding risk is worse than the cardiovascular one.
Events more common in that way.

Use it as little as possible.

[srose]

I am currently on Thyroxine 125m per day and 10mm per day of Cortate, i am currently experiencing some severe sholder, nect and upper back pain that can't be diffused using Pannadine or nuerofin plus. My husband has suggested I use Naprosan, do you think that might be ok???
Kind regards

suzanne (srose)