FYI about stopping NSAIDs

[luvwinnie]

It's from local hospital's email newsletter:

Quitting painkillers spikes heart risk
If you take painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin on a regular basis—and stop suddenly—you could up your risk for a heart attack. According to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers compared data from more than 42,000 participants and found that people who stopped taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) and aspirin had a nearly 50 percent higher risk of having a heart attack within the first month. Those who took NSAIDs for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus faced a three times higher risk after stopping. However, there was no increased risk in those who stopped the painkillers for at least 60 days, or for current NSAID users. If your doctor advises you to stop your NSAID use, ask if you should taper off, before quitting altogether.

 

[luvwinnie]

Just bumping for others

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I haven't stopped taking my prescription Naprosyn yet. I keep saying that I am going to call my doctor, but I have this huge bottle, of horse-sized pills. They really work too, better than anything for the arthritis that has settled into my shoulder. I have low blood pressure and low cholesteral so hopefully I'm not a high risk person. They really should have figured out this stuff before some of us got addicted to it! LOL!

 

[cl1067]

Thanks for the info! My DD (age 4) is on Naproxen for her rheumatoid arthritis and although the drs say that we don't have to worry too much about the warnings that have come out about strokes, etc. because she is not high risk and so young, I do worry about what the effects of the long term usage and what happens when/if she needs to or gets to stop taking it.

 

[luvwinnie]

oh, cl1067...she is so young! I have psoriatic arthritis and I'm on ENbrel. Do they give that to children at all? How is she doing?

 

[cl1067]

They can give it to children but so far the Naproxen has been doing its job so her rheumatologist sees no reason to change. Thankfully, so far it has only affected on knee joint and is very much under control right now. We just saw the rheumatologist yesterday and she is doing so well we don't need to bring her back to see him for another three months. Which is really nice since we drive 3 hours round trip to see him.

Honestly, I have had a harder time adjusting to the disease than her...she is young so she just adjusts...her latest thing is to use it to get out of things she doesn't want to do. You tell her to clean her room and she says "I can't. My knee hurts!", even though she was just running around all over a few minutes before.

How is your arhtritis? Is it under control? I have read that the Enbrel can do wonders for it.

 

[luvwinnie]

Smart kid! lol I have to try that next time I have housework to do!

The ENbrel has been a miracle for me so far. I also take methotrexate. I hope they keep working!

Best of luck to you and your DD.

 

[eeyore0062]

Good to know! I have been on 2 Aleve twice a day since mid October for my herniated disc and subsequent surgery. I am still pretty sore, so I have no intention of stopping right now, but I will definitely know to taper off. Thanks!