Has anyone switched from Diclifenic Sodium to Naproxen and is happy with the change?

[DianeL249]

[PB1950]

Hi I am not sure this will help I switched from Naproxen to Diclofenic I take it three times a day and have been relatively pain free

Paul

[DianeL249 in reply to PB1950]

I am happy with the Diclofenic, that's why I'm concerned about changing.

[Hidden]

HI Diane, I was changed last year from diclofenac to naproxen 500mg per day. I don't think the naproxen is quite as good as diclofenac but it is not bad and supposedly safer.

[DianeL249 in reply to Hidden]

Hi thanks for the response, I've only just discovered this web forum, and I'm still finding my way around. The Naproxen is supposed to be better for you, but seems to cause some people more problems.

[Hidden]

I personally didn't get on with Naproxen. It was brilliant for stopping the pain in my joints but after a couple of weeks it caused awful swelling in my hands, legs and feet so I had to stop using it.

[DianeL249 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, do you use Diclofenic now, or have you been put onto something else?

[Hidden]

I used Diclofenac prior to diagnosis and it made my ankles swell up dramatically and my heart race straight away. I was taken off it immediately I reported this and switched to Naproxen and I find this works much better for me. I still get fluid retention after a few days but not to the same extent - but I only use it when I'm flaring anyhow.

[Missbb]

I have used both naproxen and Diclofenac before.started with naproxen then switched to Diclofenac when the naproxen stopped working.i stopped using the Diclofenac due to epigastric reflux and pain.im now on eterocoxib among others.i think Diclofenac is stronger than the naproxen.when I was on them I was also prescribed omeprazole for my stomach.hope this helps x

[DianeL249 in reply to Missbb]

Thank you for your message. It's interesting to hear different experiences.

[earthwitch]

Diclofenac was the best for me, but it does have more risk of serious side effects than some of the other NSAIDs. There are loads of different ones though, so if the naproxen doesn't work well, just ask to try another one. I went through about 6 different ones before I finally had to give up on them (when they were all wrecking my stomach)

[DianeL249 in reply to earthwitch]

Hi, I've been on Diclofenac for about 12 years, and i'm not too troubled with it, as far as I know. This is why i'm not keen to go down the road of trying lots of others. None of which are going to be "good for you". But I can't also ignore the warnings the dr are giving me about possible problems.

[earthwitch in reply to DianeL249]

I think they are most concerned about heart problems, but I figured that I didn't have any kind of family history of that sort of heart problem, so I was probably at less risk. None of the NSAIDs are risk free though. I think the best idea is if you have a good doctor (GP or rheumatologist) that is willing to discuss the risks properly with you and let you have a say in the decision once you have had all the information. I guess the compromise would be to try the other ones, then if they don't work anywhere near as well, ask to go back on diclofenac.

[DianeL249 in reply to earthwitch]

Yes I think so too. Have a good day.

[oldtimer]

After a lot of experiments, I take meloxicam 7.5mg once or twice a day.

I find it upsets my stomach less than diclofenac, but is more effective than several other NSAIs including naproxen.

But if naproxen suits you and is effective, it is one of the least likely to upset the stomach and increase your CVS risk.

Why not try it for two weeks and see how you get on? I have found in the past that two weeks is long enough (sometimes too long!) to establish whether a NSAI suits me and is effective.

[Neonkitty]

I have just switched a month ago to Naproxen 250mgs up to 3 daily and was on Diclofenac 50mgs daily, as I have very recently had a steroid injection in my knee I haven't needed hardly any of the Naproxen for three weeks. I can't say I noticed any bad effect in the week or so I took them. Maybe not long enough to find out. Definitely Diclofenac helped me move but never took the stiffness of my RA away. Ibuprofen were always good for that but upset me. Also, Naproxen are bigger and horrid to swallow. I was told I can break them up but not sure that is good for you to do it. Pharmacist I spoke to said was OK. I will talk to my GP.

[DianeL249 in reply to Neonkitty]

Hello, I still have the stiffness even though I take 75mg of Diclofenic twice a day. I'm told its because of the damage already done. Thanks for taking the time to message me.

[Neonkitty in reply to DianeL249]

Yes, sadly. The only thing that has taken my stiffness away properly has been steroid injections. Hope you don't feel stiffer you switch to Naproxen. x

[mistymeana]

Hi I don't take Naproxen but was changed from Diclofenac to one of the other Cox-2 inhibitors because I was getting terrible side-effects. I'm currently taking Etoricoxib as it's thought to have less risk of heart-related side-effects than the one I was originally started on. I've found it more effective that Diclofenac, but that might be because I can take it more regularly. I think possible the main thing to consider is that if you're going to change you need to minimise the risk to heart health from any other factors - e.g. smoking, excess weight , alcohol etc. For me, the deal I made with my GP was that I'd give up smoking if I could carry on with with the meds.

[DianeL249 in reply to mistymeana]

This is another question I will have to ask the Gp, am I at risk of heart problems even though I have never smoked, my weight is normal, blood pressure always low, and low cholesterol. I'm in better shape than some of my friends. Thanks for your in put.

[knobblyknees]

Yes I was switched last year. I had been on dicolfenac for some years but all of a sudden my body started to feel sick and my stomach felt bad. When I changed I had no problems and the naproxen did the same job as the diclofenac. Good luck x

[sybram]

Is the strength comparable, mg for mg? I have 35 mg diclofenac and 220 mg naproxen.

[Bless77]

I sometimes have inflammation in my back due to work and I find naproxen to be great, Diclofenac has some scary side effects! When I saw that I was like hell to the no! Of course all meds have side effects, but naproxen is less based on my knowledge. Good luck beloveds, hope you all get well and continue in amazing health! Love you all !