As things ramp up with pain and symptoms ifind myself reaching for naproxen more and more. they make my stomach burn right through to my back. While i'm waiting to get the go ahead from my GP to start sulfasalzine (she has said for me to call back no earlier than Monday next week) she gave me a prescription for more naproxen and something called lansoprazole. I have searched the literature and have no idea how to take them: before taking naproxen, if so how long before? I did that last night but still woke up feeling as if I had been stabbed in the middle of my chest. I don't take naproxen every day so I don't to take these lansoprazole every day either - what does everyone else do?
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Brychni
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Yes I do but I’ve been told prevention is better than cure and ideally should take every day. Our med play havoc with our digestive system. I have been laxidaisy in the past and then it takes days or weeks to get under control again. Still a bit laxidaisy now and then but slowly learning 😁
As I understand it Ranitidine has been withdrawn and is unavailable. I just have a small amount left. I've been prescribed sodium alginate (gaviscon) instead to be taken four times a day and it's vile.
Hi Brychni
We are not medical so it's best to ring your chemist and ask to speak to the pharmacist.
The box should come with instructions inside. It might be sensible to take them first thing in the morning at least half an hour before breakfast in the morning on a regular basis for a while to get your acid levels down. Then you won't have to worry about whether to take the naproxen, just take it when you need it after having something to eat.
I take it in the morning,as soon as I.come down stairs.by-the time ive fed the cat ,sorted out meds,nebuliser etc.the recommended 30 minutes has passed. It has helped,I don’t have to get up in the night with acid reflux any more.
HI Brychni. Lansoprazole are meant to be taken first thing in the morning I believe. I usually take Omeprazole if any PPIs are prescribed and I take them first thing in the morning before food or medications, wait between 30 mins and an hour (I wait about an hour) and then breakfast, that's it. You can take one at night also, if your problem is very bad but check with your GP first before you do that. It should all be in the leaftlet that comes in the box with the medication.
My GP prescribed them just for naproxen which I don't even take every day, although it's getting that way.
Before I had my diagnosis I was prescribed the other one beginning with O and it made me really ill with more migraines and so I am nervous of taking yet more medication. the RD pains are getting constant and are horrible but they are nothing compared to cluster headaches which make me want to kill myself. 🤕
Omeprazole - I took that for seven months from last August to mid April this year and I couldn't wait to come off of them. The problem is the Naproxen as they are an anti-inflammatory and can damage your stomach and have other side effects. If your pains are getting worse, ring your rheumy department and have a word with them as they might adjust your meds. Good luck. x
Waiting for the cal as I type. I have sulfasalzine unopened in the kitchen because the GP was not happy with 3.9 white blood cell so I had another blood test on Tuesday and I called for the result a couple of hours ago and it's now 3.8 and no one seems to speak to anyone so I am now waiting to here what on earth I'm supposed to do - take the sulfasalazine or not? And my hitherto sporadic pain is rapidly becoming what I understand to be typical RD symptoms; swollen fingers, painful feet, difficulty walking, pain at night etc. I keep saying it but I'm really surprised by how quickly it's developing. seems like only yesterday I left the consultant thinking "yeah, I might take the hydroxychloroquine, I might not..." !
You can't second guess this condition can you - I bet you wish you'd taken it now. I hope you get some decent response from your call. Good luck - let us know how you get on. xx
What were your original drugs called? I have a lot of throat clearing too but on saying that, I always have had even when I was a little girl and I suffered terrible with acid when I was quite young too. I think I have a silent reflux problem but I take Vit D to help with that.
Hi there Brychni, naproxen are similar to diclofenac and should be taken with food, the other i believe is similar to immeprazol (excuse the spelling if not correct) which lines your stomach And should stop the burning, take them together, anyone taking large amounts of tablets should take the tablets that give your stomach a lining. Your GP or pharmacist will no doubt advise this. I would take them together or the lansoprazol a short time before your naproxen.
I take omeprazole and naproxen together just before I have my breakfast. Then naproxen in the evening with my dinner. I was told to avoid taking naproxen after 7pm to avoid stomach problems at night.
I take Omeprazole which is similar. They’re both PPI’s (proton pump inhibitors) and work to prevent stomach ulcers and reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. For people with a chronic problem (normally a side effect of certain drugs) they are the preferred solution to neutralisers like peppermint. If you read the leaflet that comes with the tablets, it’s quite helpful in giving advice on when to take it and whether with food or not etc. I take a 20mg tablet first thing, then a Naproxen tablet at night.
Admittedly reading the patient information leaflet can frighten you off taking anything, but I haven’t personally had any side effects. You could also ask your GP for enteric coated anti inflammatory drugs ie the Naproxen, although they are more expensive to prescribe.
I find it slightly shocking that your GP didn’t tell you how to take the lansaprazole, or the pharmacist who dispensed the script - although it’s the prescriber’s responsibility. But you could go back to the pharmacy and ask their advice, taking along the leaflet with anything you don’t understand.
Hi Embriony3, there is generally a lack of info, advice or even knowledge from GPs. I appear to know more than they do. I've got to remember to book my fortnightly blood tests as well now. remembering all this, tablets is sending me over the edge...
Hopefully they’ll begin to do some good. I had a wonderful 2-3 years on them when my arthritis seemed to disappear and I was back to my competitive swimming, hill walking events and playing golf.
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