NSAIDS and hypertension drugs

Any others here taking this combination of drugs?

I have had knee problems off and on for about seven years. Yesterday my doctor decided that my cartilage has finally 'Gone', probably finished by getting off our local trains where not only do you have to Mind the Gap but have a good two foot step down. He is arranging for another X-Ray prior to discussing my surgical options. Meantime he reluctantly prescribed an NSAID ( Naproxen) after considering my BP and past stomach ulcer and other problems.

Reading the packet insert it tells me that Losartan and most hypertensive drugs may be affected by how NSAIDS  work.

Googling Naproxen + Losartan I read,  "Significant interaction possible (monitoring by your doctor required).

losartan oral , naproxen oral . Either increases toxicity of the other by Other mechanism. Combination may reduce kidney function, particularly in elderly or volume depleted individuals.

naproxen oral decreases effects of losartan oral by opposing drug effects. Combination may reduce blood pressure reducing effect"

Hello derek. I take Naproxen and Losartan and on Friday I had a blood and urine test for the reasons you mentioned. Today I found out that my Potassium levels are high, probably because of the combination of the two drugs. I have to have a repeat blood test in 2 weeks.

I have rheumatoid arthritis so need the anti inflammatory drug as well as Codeine but it could be depending on the next blood test that I will have to change one of the drugs because of the risk of kidney damage.

I take ibuprofen 4 per day and a herbal pain supplement in between...naproxen does elevate bp more...I don't take the BP med you mention, but stick with Atenolol , hydrochlorizide and 2.5mg amlopidine.    Take a stomach lining protector which is also a supplement, and if are interested in it's name, let me know...I understand we cannot list supplements by name.....I don't know why not, drugs are listed by names....doesn't make sense.  

It affects atenolol and amlodipine as well and the effect is listed as significant.

naproxen oral decreases effects of atenolol oral by opposing drug effects. Associated with long term NSAID use (longer than 1 week). Blood pressure reducing effects may be reduced.

amlodipine-valsartan oral , naproxen oral . Either increases toxicity of the other by Other mechanism. Combination may reduce kidney function, particularly in elderly or volume depleted individuals.

Sorry to hear that. How long have you been taking them in combination? 

Hi

I'm taking Naproxen but also have to take a stomach protector.....lansoprozol

I'm also taking BP meds once a day lercandipine {spelling??}

Love

Eileen UK

Derek

Although I haven't taken the Losartan/Naproxen combination, I did have to take Ibuprofen alongside Atenolol for several months some 8 years ago just to enable me to get off the bed and sometimes into a wheelchair and ambulance for hospital appointments when suffering from an, at-the-time, undiagnosed, inflammatory illness affecting all my muscles.  I only took half the daily allowance of Ibuprofen gradually tapering down over about 7 months but at the end of that year, I had a call from the surgery following routine blood tests informing me that I had now got Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3.  This was an incredible shock to me owing to the fact that I have only had one kidney since the age of 12, and that kidney had not caused any trouble previously.  I suspect that Ibuprofen was to blame, although there is a slight possibility that the undiagnosed and therefore untreated, inflammation in my body at the time could have contributed to the damage.

I think it is very worrying that combinations of drugs can be prescribed which can put us at risk - a good pharmacist is the best person to consult where drugs are concerned. 

The extra worry for you with NSAIDs is obviously your history of stomach ulcer.  Have you every tried eating a 'live' (probiotic) yoghurt as extra stomach protection? 

I take a PPI as well.

As they never found the reason for the inflamation did they did not put the blame on ibuprofen?

The doctors use BNF to check on drugs but it does not go into enough detail unless they check for more information on Stockley's Interactions Checker. One of the pharmcists in the pharmacy I go to is very good at looking to see what other drugs I am taking  and issue any warning. The others there don't.

When I used to use Boots I twice went back and questioned drug combinations that they had not warned me about. The Boots system evidently has records of all prescriptions ever issued to you at any branch.  Once a pharmacist handed me my prescription and said 'You used to live in Edinburgh' I assumed that he had worked in a branch there but he said it came up on your records. I said that it could have been another person with the same name but he said it was the same date of birth. We have no privacy now!

I do take a live yoghurt.  

Look out for the sugars in MOST yogurts....sugar only keeps the inflammation alive and thriving....chronic inflammation is in every area of our bodies, some more than others....

Keeping the body more alkaline vs too acidic is important....carbs also keep inflammation thriving....too much meats....I am a meat eater but watch my portions.....fish and fish oils are good for inflammation and the heart.    The beat goes on and there is much we need to do to help reduce inflammation....it takes work....

I'm just starting on a new systemic enzyme...I already take digestive enzymes, there is so much to learn on this subject...inflammation = pain.  

Derek, the reason for the inflammation eventually turned out to be an auto-immune illness attacking the large muscles, arteries and blood vessels, now in remission after some years on steroids.  You probably don't take the Daily Mail, but they're publishing an article on it next Tuesday.

No definitely no privacy these days - Big Brother is watching!

I have been lucky to have two wonderful pharmacists in the area - unfortunately one has retired and the other was so good he was promoted to a bigger branch!

Joy, the yoghurts to avoid are mainly those with added fruit.  The sugar in the one I eat is only naturally occuring sugar in the lactose.  No additives whatever and fat-free. 

I've been reading the Daily Mail all my life! What other paper agrees with my views?? My father bought it and the Daily Worker.

I qouted this on the statin conversation this morning.

Quote from an article in today's Daily Mail

"I think its a crusade, and if you are a believer you want everything to prove it right and you throw out anyone who disagrees with you"

He was actually referring to too little salt in peoples diet but it applies to most other research.

 

I found a yogurt in Holland and Barretts with virtually no sugar. They never got much in and were often sold out. I tried to go on a Tuesday and buy three. Then the company stopped making it. The story of my life, if it's good they stop making it.

derek, did  you have a statin conversation here?  I didn't see it...but I received an email on statins and your heart....I didn't read it as I wouldn't touch a statin, but statins are real troublemaker drugs....

And there is a whole school of research out there that cholesterol is our friend and we need it and the drug industry makes all these drugs and then puts fear into everyone about the cholesterol issue....I do have a cholesterol post on the Alternative Board...it's all about money for the drug makers....sad but this is true...

My doc tests my homocysteine levels as I've gotten older as there is more research that higher homo levels are the heart's culprit.   J

Thank you for your post on this subject Derek.  I'm very interested to read your comments about adverse interactions between these drugs.  I was told to take NSAIDs for osteo arthritis pain but had a very nasty allergic reaction, particularly to ibuprofen but also to naproxen, so stopped taking them and am trying to reduce the inflammation and pain by other means.  My partner is taking blood pressure medication and is prescribed naproxen for degenerative disc problems and also for knee and foot tendon/cartilage inflammation (he's 6'5" tall and a lot of his issues are as a result of his skeletal size apparently).  I shall check with him what type of blood pressure meds he is on and get him to research the issues of interactions.  He's had a lot of episodes of inflammation lately, far more than usual, which the doctors are the group surgery we use tend to put down to 'age', however he's 58 which in anyone's mind is definitely NOT old.

Joy, Derek and I and several others have indeed posted quite comprehensively on the subject of statins and cholesterol.  Derek's info has been invaluable.  It's a very emotive subject and there are two distinct 'camps' now - the doctors on one side, who are either bullied by NICE or grant funded to give out statins like sweets, and us the unsuspecting average patient.  Luckily more people like Derek who take time to investigate and inform the rest have come forward and made everyone aware just how poisonous and toxic these drugs are and the hidden story behind why they are prescribed in such a profligate manner.

Whilst the warnings are there we do not know the extent to which Naproxen alters the effects of the BP drugs. It s strange that it reduces the potency of some but increases the potency of others. 

Often you can minimise interactions by taking the drugs at different times of day but NSAIDs are usually taken twice a day.

I just hope our warnings are not responsible for someones future heart attack.

I'm glad you posted that Derek.

I have felt quite concerned reading the scary posts about statins by Joy and Loxie.  There could be vulnerable people reading these comments for whom statins are essential and it is quite possible that it could worry them so much that they might stop taking them.

I'm thinking of those people who have had heart attacks and strokes where statin treatment is protecting them from repeat events.  Our son is one.  

These forums are designed for people to help others from their experiences, not simply to scare others. 

So we should all bear in mind that everyone is different