Advice on taking naproxen and lansiprazole with UAT meds (levo & lio)

[Slowrunner1208]

Hi, I’ve just been prescribed Naproxen (500mg) to help with shoulder pain whilst I wait for a referral to musculoskeletal dept. Alongside this the GP has given me Lansiprazole (15 mg) to counteract the gastro effects of the Naproxen.

The shoulder pain is stopping me sleeping and impacting on day to day activities (eg I can’t fasten my bra). So I’m happy to have the Naproxen. I feel nervous though about messing with my stomach acid as I don’t want to get or worsen any absorption issues for thyroid meds and vitamin supplements.

Has anyone got any experience of these new meds? Also any advice on how to take them alongside levo (I take through the night) and lio (I take in the morning). Trying to time meds / supplements is getting harder!

Thanks for any comments/ wisdom.

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi Slowrunner

First off, thank you so much for doing your bio and having updated it. You have no idea how brilliant it is and helpful when asking for advice.

I have to ask you a couple of things first.

Is the shoulder thing an injury or non- specific and agonising? Many of us end up with unexplained problems e.g My main ones were no grip in hands, painful elbows, plantar fasciitis (daggers in me heels as I used to call it), back pain. Resolved on therapeutic dose and getting vitamin and mineral levels up as advised by members of the forum.

Also, have you picked up on here how TSH is not a reliable measure. It was originally intended as a diagnostic (fine for some diagnoses) but as a way of managing it falls flat for many - me included 😬.

When getting to a therapeutic dose I had a choice between letting doctors treat the lab work or making them treat me. I ended up having to read up - gained a great deal of guidance and support from this amazing forum. My story is in my bio and I have made some self advocacy posts 😉👍

[Slowrunner1208 in reply to Charlie-Farley]

thanks so much Charlie-Farley

My shoulder is related to a fall I had 3 years ago when treatment was delayed with Covid. I’ve been left with an ongoing problem and have seen a physio many times and now waiting for the referral.

I don’t think the thyroid problem has helped as I do now tend to be more achy and have other intermittent joint pain (hips mainly).

I’ve just started on liothyrine (privately) as my TSH has been ‘in range’ therefore fine for ages but I’ve still felt rubbish. Without the advice and wisdom on here I wouldn’t have known to keep persisting and work on my vitamin / mineral levels too. It’s such an amazing resource 😊 I don’t want to undo any good work by taking something to reduce stomach acid and impact on those levels I’m trying hard to get right.

I’m off to read your bio, thanks so much again!

[Charlie-Farley in reply to Slowrunner1208]

Taking anti inflammatory drugs and the lansiprazole to counter the side effects of the naproxen isn’t an ideal situation for anyone but living with pain is exhausting. 😱

People with hypothyroidism often have digestive problems as a result of low stomach acid- though it presents in the same way as high stomach acid. Taking PPIs means stomach acid is reduced so this can impact absorption of pretty much everything. To what extent who knows.

You are aware though. First sign of any problem you can stop them. Have you tried something like comfrey oil to massage in? I used it when I had De Quervain tenosynovitis extremely painful (seized thumb joint) - if I caught my thumb on anything it would send me jumping about and squealing out loud. I had a cortisone injection amazing- the physio said I might need a second but GP refused to refer me for a second and insisted I have anti inflammatorys and PPIs. I chucked the prescription and bogged off to the health food shop. I got comfrey oil and celadrin gel capsules. I haven’t been able to find the solgar gel caps since and the powder pills form doesn’t work for me but the comfrey oil is still a go-to when I need a massage. I think most, if not all of the tendon problems came about with hypothyroidism- all my aches and pains have pretty much dissipated. Any thing I have left now is age related.

[PixieElv]

Hello

Do you know you need the Lansiprazol?

I have taken Naproxen (and know other people who have) and had no problems with my stomach. Taking them after food (not on an empty stomach) helps.

[Hectorsmum2]

I also take naproxin on an evening after my meal to help with arthritic pain in the night. The doctor offered me lansoprazole but I refused it. It has not given me any stomach issues so far. I try to only take if I am experiencing a flare and always with food. I have also been helped by an electric blanket and more comfortable mattress.

[Miffie]

Sorry to hear you are having shoulder problems. I know only too well how debilitating it can be. I had a bad fall over te n years ago and despite physio treatment the pain remained and got steadily worse. An MRI showed severe damage to rotator cuff. Eventually had to have a total reverse shoulder replacement. As to the medication dilemma I have be en prescribed naproxen several times and been on omeprazole ( another PPI like lansiprazole) for years years due to hiatus hernia and Barrett’s oesophagus. By taking all things thyroid in the early hours when I wake to use the loo I can take omeprazole twice daily before meals as prescribed and taken naproxen as prescribed. It can be frustrating working out timings for many prescription items and supplements but for me (14 prescribed items plus supplements) keeping levo and Lio to early hours helps. I hope you can work out a schedule to suit until you get a more permanent so,ution for the shoulder injury. Good luck

[Spangle15]

I’ve been taking a different PPI for two weeks which I’m now weaning off. My endo said that most people don’t have an issue with it effecting absorption of thyroid meds. But I have been spacing mine out to be cautious. I take thyroxine and ERFA when I wake at 6.20. The PPI at 10.00 and then my second dose of ERFA at 2.00. I also have to take calcium which is tricky so that’s 4 hours after the ERFA.

[Batty1]

I woke up a year ago with horrible shoulder pain I can’t lift my arm, pull up pants, pull blankets over me, open doors or containers …. Currently having random numb finger tips, lost hand strength and I have horrible pain on top of bicep/shoulder …. I had Xray diagnosed with (Arthritis) and physical therapy which was useless. I just made another doctor appointment because this issue I’m having is 100% not just arthritis…. My joint doesn’t hurt to move its the darn tendon…. Too many pain killers is not good on your intestinal tract I have stopped taking them every night and only take when I can’t bear the pain my insides feel much better…. You should be ok if its short term use but if weeks become months before you see specialist might need to think about reducing the amount of times you take…. I don’t see issues with taking it at bed time as long as your taking levo in AM as a general rule I take everything 3 hours from my thyroid meds.

[Slowrunner1208 in reply to Batty1]

Thank you Batty1 I’m going to try and only use the naproxen when I absolutely need to. I hope you get an answer and some treatment and relief from your pain! It is debilitating.

[Slowrunner1208]

thank you both Spangle15 and Miffie really appreciate your answers! 😊

[Popscicle]

Naproxen is a nsaid (the class includes neurofen) and is known to damage the lining of the stomach which causes bleeding and even ulcers. So gps prescribe a stomach protector as well. However this lowers your stomach acid and reduces your absorption of vitamins and minerals as well as some food stuff. The normal dose of lansoprazol is 30mg once a day so she has given you a low dose. However an alternative that you might prefer is to leave the lansoprazol and use rennies or gaviscon as needed if you get pain. These work by lining the stomach with a barrier but they don’t affect absorption as long as you don’t take pills or supplements 1hr before or 1hr after using them.