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Naproxen is giving me severe stomach pain

Posted , 22 users are following.

mandyjane1973
mandyjane1973

it feels like a cross between trapped wind and menstrual cramps and starts thirty or so minutes after I take the tablet. I've been persevering for three days and I feel like giving up as I can't sleep though the pain, it's worse than the pain I'm taking the naproxen to combat! ( inflamed shoulder tendons) I took omeprazole this morning to try to avoid the pains but they came anyway. Any advice? Shall I persevere or give up and go back to ibuprofen? I feel like a sausage about to burst!

0 likes, 39 replies

39 Replies

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  • peter.hill
    peter.hill mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I suffer from severe gout. My new doctor prescribed Naproxen. I usually use Arcoxia. The Naproxen made me really unwell. Could only take six before stopping. Stomach pains and headaches.

    So, I still had gout + Naproxen side effects.

    Threw out the Naproxen and got Arcoxia (Etoricoxib). So, much better. No side effects.

    • DeeTeeCat
      DeeTeeCat peter.hill

      Posted

      I have a Spondylolisthesis and I've been on Naproxen for years, although I was only taking one tablet 1-2 times a week. (I have a morphine patch too)

      About 2 years ago, I was put onto Ferrous Sulphate for anaemia and, following the suggestion on the information leaflet, took it 1hr before food.

      Within a couple of weeks, I had incredible ulcers and gastritis and started to take take Ferrous Sulphate with food.

      Unfortunately, the damage had been done. I eventually just stopped taking it.

      When I went to the doctor and gastro-enterologist, they both blamed the Naproxen. Even when I told them I only take 1-2 a week.

      When my Naproxen supplies were running low and I begged my doctor to give me more as it was the only thing that worked.

      He mumbled something about the Naproxen staying in your tummy for a long time. (... and the other meds dont?)

      He then said we could try this new medication called Arcoxia.

      I took one just before a "Charity Christmas Dinner" but my tummy was burning before I even started eating.

      I was in bed for a week after that. This was by far the worst bout of gastritis since the Ferrous Sulphate. So I didn't take any more.

      Doctor has now put me on Methocarbomol which look like paracetamol caplets and are about as effective as paracetamol. There is just no noticeable pain relief.

      Docto has substituted my Lansoprazole for Omesoprazole, I'm happy this wil protect my tummy better and I may try the Arcoxia again.

      Thanks for your comment, it has made me decide to try the Arcoxia again.

  • harpoon
    harpoon mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I have sciatica with stenosis. Low back, buttocks pain, thigh and calf pain. Going on 2 months. Can't get an MRI til I have 8 weeks of conservative treatment, (chiro, physcical therapy, orthopedic doctor, MD, etc.)  I was perscribed naproxen 500mg tablets  2x a day, to reduce inflamation. After just 2 tablets my stomach feels like I'm about to have a hernia/rupture. Burning and gassy too. Prednisone was perscribe when I first got sciatica but that did nothing to reduce inflamation (thus reducinging pain). because the pain has been going on so long, body fatigue, hard breathing and chest pain are a daily thing now.

    • m76600
      m76600 harpoon

      Posted

      Hi Harpoon,

      This sounds familiar.  I found after trying a lot of physiotherapy to very limited benefit, that chiropractic really helped.  What we discovered was that the area was inflammed.  This was exacerbated by the gluteal muscles tensing up and aggravating the whole area including the nerves.  Ultimately by stretching out the glutes, I was able to relieve the nerve compression.  You need to be proactive in stretching those muscles, and its very obvious when you are not, because the pain and numbness gets worse.  Perhaps you could try this, or try find gluteal muscle stretching exercises on Youtube etc.

      Regarding the Naproxen, GPs normally prescribe Omeprazole with it to stop excess acid formation, since Naproxen can irritate the stomach.  If your GP hasn't, perhaps you could ask for it.

    • harpoon
      harpoon m76600

      Posted

      PT prohibitied stretching the hamstring, but yes, it's when that glut tenses up (and I can feel it spasm) after 20 steps, that the pain is most severe and the limping starts up again.

      TY for the suggestion.

  • carole57474
    carole57474 mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I get the same pains but not within such a short time - more like three hours later.  the sausage about to burst is a really good analogy. It's awful.  Any ideas anyone?

    Ibuprofen does not have the same effect but the doctor prefers Naproxen.

  • jan1961
    jan1961 mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I'll join the club too smile Im like Carole ,after a few hours i start feelng sick,bloated stomache crammpy. i dont get it with ibrufen ..so may just stop naproxen ..shame because on a regular basis it does help with pain 

  • laura48798
    laura48798 mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I have been taking naproxen since Monday (5 days) I take 2 a day, I'm taking them for chronic neck pain. The last few days I've been getting heartburn and feeling of needing to burp.

    Has anyone else been suffering the same???

  • laura48798
    laura48798 mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I have been taking naproxen on and off for a while fir for a neck pain now I've been left with heartburn, what can I take to get rid of the pain???

  • shannon33391
    shannon33391 mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I think Naproxen is giving me diabetes. Some nausea too. Been on it for about 2 weeks. Anybody having the diahrrea?
    • shannon33391
      shannon33391

      Posted

      Not diabetes, diahrrea. Spell check. Lol
  • greyf0x
    greyf0x mandyjane1973

    Posted

    Hi all, I took Naproxen and Codeine on Friday night for my hip pain and I am still having the exact same symptoms as you have described.

    Should I be worried that the pain has lasted for four days now? It's keeping me up through the night and nothing seems to dull the pain!

    I did take Lansoprazole with it but it doesn't seem to have made the slightest difference.

  • jen26157
    jen26157 mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I've just started 500 naproxen with in HR or so I'm.in horrendous stomach pain ,symptoms as you've all described.

    Any ideas to ease this.

  • viv15674
    viv15674 mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I've taken naproxen for awhile for severe neck and back pain, and several weeks ago went to my GP for bad stomach pain and heartburn with gassiness.  I started also taking omeprazole as prescribed by my ENT doctor because she said my throat showed irritation consistent with acid reflux.  I've subsequently been to both my OBGYN and a GI doctor about the stomach pain.  The GI doctor said omeprazole is a common cause of stomach pain and abdominal tenderness as well as joint and bone problems, and I had heard that naproxen can cause irritation of the stomach lining.  I'm just stopping both and going to attempt to manage the pain with physical therapy (which I do 2-3 days per week), exercise, heat and ice, and acetaminophen (I'm allergic to aspirin and ibuprofen, so my options are very limited).     

  • ridley
    ridley mandyjane1973

    Posted

    I have just been prescribed Naproxen about a week ago and have been prescribed Omeprazole to go along with it.

    Last night I started a bout of diarrhoea which has continued throughout today, together with stomach pains/cramps. I have just had to go again but now I have past bright red blood. Anyone else had this? 

    • pauline06122
      pauline06122 ridley

      Posted

      I have been taking naproxen 500 twice a day for 1 week now

      My Dr gave me a stomach tablet as well.

      I have spent this week in constant discomfort from cramps and diarrhoea. 

      I feel miserable, but agreed with the Dr to try it for 1 week, my inflammation hasn't disminished I'm miserable! It has been difficult tolerating it.

      I am keeping my end of the bargain, but I am going to have to go back and speak again to my Dr.

    • Guest
      Guest ridley

      Posted

      I took omeprazole and naproxen 3 times (one Sunday evening and again Monday morning and Monday night), these were not prescribed for me, I’d had a bad shoulder and was trying to avoid a doctors appointment! Anyway, on the Tuesday morning I had horrendous stomach pains/cramps along with diarrhoea which eventually turned into just bright red blood on its own (no diarrhoea). This happened all Tuesday morning but since then there has been no more blood (this happened 5th sept). I went to the doctors and have an appointment to see a specialist in October. My bloods came back normal but my stool sample came back significantly raised for inflammation of the bowel. Is there any updates with you? Did you go to the doctors? 
    • Guest
      Guest

      Posted

      I forgot to add, the diarrhoea lasted all Tuesday morning but the blood only happened once on its own and possible some more with the diarrhoea. The pain was awful, I’d never felt pain like it
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