hi all,
iv just been prescribed codeine for my period pain/endo but doc also briefly mentioned naproxen which I understand is also anti inflammatory… just wondering if anyone has any experience of the two and did you find one more effective than the other? Or notice any nasty side effects with either?
thanks all!
Xx
I've tried both! I personally didn't notice much difference with the naproxen, not sure why. Codeine I have found helpful but does make me spacey.
Thanks! Would you say it’s probably not safe to drive when taking codeine? Does it make you spacey enough that it might be a bit embarrassing to be around other people? 😂
I don't know about driving as I don't drive. It varies a lot though, sometimes it's worse than others. And personally I don't think it's to the level where I'm embarrassed (at least not normally!). I find it very hard to tell if it's the pain that's impacting me, or the codeine to try and help with the pain if that makes sense?
Hi, I have been prescribed both. In my experience codine works better but does make me drowsy so I cannot drive. The box does state to refrain from working machinery if they make you drowsy! X
Hi emilylb, Codeine is an opiate which goes great hand in hand with paracetamol. Naproxen is an NSAID that will help with inflammation.
I've taken both, not together, equally spaced out worked wonders and I was okay driving. But everyone's tolerance to medication is different. It's using your own judgement as to whether you can safely control a car.
If you do drive, keep a copy of your prescription with you incase you were to be pulled over.
I could go a whole 12 hours without pain with the Naproxen until the next dose. Be sure to take omeprazole to protect your stomach. I decided not to take codeine because there wasn’t much pain relief and the constipation would make the pain worse.
Naproxen allowed me to get back to normality. Try both and see what works for you. I’m now on the progesterone only pill and don’t have much pain with it. The excessive bleeding is annoying but any pain i do have now, paracetamol is enough for relief.
I agree with the above. I’d suggest taking naproxen in the day and codeine at night because it typically helps me sleep as long as you space it out enough as I’m not sure you can take naproxen & codeine at the same time. Naproxen has done wonders for me honestly, but it doesn’t work quickly so as soon as pain starts you need to take it to get the best outcome.
This is great to hear! Happy to hear you’ve had a positive result with the progesterone & Naproxen!
Ah yeh I have to be quite careful about constipation because like you say it makes the pain worse! Is there anything you’d reccomend taking alongside the codeine to prevent the constipation?
I have to say I wasn’t willing to carry on with the codeine so can’t really suggest anything to take with it to prevent constipation. It was painful enough going to the toilet so didn’t want to continue with the codeine. With it being addictive as well I just moved onto the Naproxen and it really worked in helping with the pain. I honestly felt liked I’d been freed when I took it. I’d honestly forgotten what life was like without pain. There was no other painkiller that was allowing me to get through the day or night.
Both have their drawbacks - codeine is addictive and I’ve seen people having to increase their dose over time to get the same effect. Naproxen can damage your stomach.
Personally I prefer Naproxen as codeine is constipating which may not be helpful depending on if your bowel is involved.
I had bad side effects from naproxen. I work in anaesthesia, so I know about how anti-inflammatory drugs work and so thankfully knew to stop taking them. I was getting a slight pain in my stomach and realised it was since moving from diclofenac to naproxen. I now don’t take any NSAIDS. I ended up getting diagnosed with H Pylori, due to symptoms worsening which is a bacteria in the stomach that can then lead to ulcers or worse. Which I think I got from my stomach being affected by the drugs. So all I’d say is be careful when taking them - make sure it’s on a full stomach etc.
Otherwise, taking a general pain medication like codeine with an NSAID is a great combination to reduce pain. Although, you can take supplements that aid inflammation instead alongside the codeine which is what I now do and it works well. x
Hey! I have been prescribed both. I’ve taken more of the naproxen over this last year than the codeine but that is due to the side effects of codeine. The naproxen can sometimes slightly easy the pain but wouldn’t say it works wonders for me but better than ibuprofen for dialling down the pain. The codeine can help at times but I just find taking it quite a task in itself as I have experienced a lot of the side effects and with work and driving, I just find I’m in a lot of discomfort or/and unable to keep on task. I’ve had terrible period pain always, a diagnosis of endo in April and also BOT on one of my ovaries which I’ve had removed recently. I also have some nerve damage which has seemed a lot worse since first lap and nothing seems to touch that pain at all. I think the best course is to try both and see what works for you and just bear in mind that the side effects can happen and think about how to manage them/have plans in place if you are taking them and out and about from home x
Hi! I have taken both, Naproxen works better for me because Codeine makes me very very sleepy (and can be addicting). naproxen is ok as far is taken with food ( it will hurt your stomach otherwise). Everybody is different. I hope you find what works best for you ! Good luck
Hi Emily,
I have used both, they are very different types of painkillers and it might be worth trialling both to see how they feel for you.
A lot of good info has been shared already so I'll try not to repeat...
Naproxen I find best when inflammation seems to be the cause of pain, but I use it sparingly because of risk to stomach...always take after food 👍 and Omeprazole is essential if you're using Naproxen (or similar) on a regular basis.
Codeine is a lot stronger, it is very effective, but almost "too good"...that is to say it's very easy to get addicted and you do build up tolerance so have to increase doses, and once you get used to having access to it it's very hard to not use it for people like us with chronic pain (especially when accessing healthcare for endo is so difficult and slow). It acts quite fast but comes with a lot of side effects. If you're considering it, be sure to learn about the signs of dependency, the line between 'healthy' use and dependency is very hard to distinguish. I would now only use it as a last resort.
Hope this helps 💗
Hi. Both work for different types of pain. I find naproxen very good for when inflammation is high when I’m incredibly swollen with heavy pressure which the codeine doesn’t touch. I’ve only just been made aware that I should never take Naproxen or any anti inflammatory more than 2-3 times a week, this prevents harm to kidneys, intestines and heart. Also ask for Omeprazole to protect lining of stomach or always take with food.
Codeine often is good for other more acute types of pain but it does cause constipation. So I’d recommend having some sort of laxative on standby. Endometriosis pain is so excruciating that even if you took both these painkillers at the same time you’d still feel some pain. Although it’d be more bearable.
Best wishes to you ❤️
I forgot to mention I’ve had to really battle to get something stronger than codeine for the worst level flare ups, otherwise I’d end up in hospital every time I flared. I’ve been diagnosed with significant stage 4 for 10 years (took 15 years to get diagnosis) and only 1 year ago they issued something stronger (Oxynorm) which I hate taking me but even that doesn’t completely get rid of the pain.
It’s so misunderstood and it’s an insult how little recognition this disease gets, especially from medical professionals.
Thanks lily! Are there any types of laxatives you have tried and would reccomend? Xx
I have not tried either codeine or naproxen. However, there are some things you should know about them.
Codeine:
-It is an opiate.
-It is NOT anti-inflammatory. But, you can get prescribed pills that are a combination of codeine and an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen if you want an anti-inflammatory with it.
-It will make you constipated.
-It can be addictive.
-It can make you itchy and/or nauseous.
-It can get you high and make it unsafe for you to do things like drive.
Naproxen:
-It is an NSAID or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
-It is anti-inflammatory.
-It is VERY harsh on the stomach and can cause inflammation in the digestive tract if taken too much, especially without any protective drugs (see below for more info).
-It is NOT addictive.
-It will not get you high.
-It can make you nauseous, give you indigestion, and/or heartburn.
-If you take it every day, you should also take lansoprazole to protect your stomach. And, if you take lansoprazole every day, you should probably also take vitamin B12 supplements as lansoprazole reduces your body's ability to absorb B12.
-Never take naproxen on an empty stomach.
hi
I’m 54 have had both over the years now can no longer take any NSAIDs as it really damaged my stomach. But I still have the Diclofenac suppositories that really help and Still take the odd 30mg codine. Was prescribed 240mg and I also have amitriptyline for the night. But as I have bowel endometriosis I have to be careful as the codine makes you constipated 😞
Thanks for your reply! I know this is probably different for everyone, but how mush do you find you have to take before it makes you constipated? Like will just one tablet do it? I find if I get constipated the pain in soooo much worse so a bit worried about this! X
You’re exactly right. For me also the pain is worse if I am constipated. I’m actually under a gastroenterologist because I either have extreme diarrhoea or extreme constipation. My drawer is full of medication to either make me go or bung me up! Sorry for TMI 😵💫 I’m a shift worker so lasting the whole day can make things worse. If I was you I would start off on a smaller amount of 15mg and see how you go. We are all different and to navigate this awful disease is the hardest part.
Good luck xx
Naproxen 
Naproxen before Laparoscopy
Naproxen & COVID-19 advice 
Endometriosis and codeine?
Post lap and high on codeine ☁️
