18 Dec 2021
Drinking Alcohol with Naproxen is undoubtedly not recommended. Mixing Naproxen with alcohol may cause severe side effects and damage a person's health. To understand the severity of the two, together, we should understand Naproxen as a medicine.
Naproxen As A drug
Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is taken to treat pain and tenderness associated with
- Muscle aches
- Joint aches
- Menstrual pains
- Various forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout.
Naproxen is most commonly sold under the brand name Aleve but can also be manufactured and sold as Anaprox, Flanax, and Naprosyn. Naproxen is available over the counter in tablet and liquid form. It could also be prescribed to children. You can also buy Naproxen online from certified pharmacy.
Study
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to increase the risk of gastrointestinal complications. Excessive alcohol consumption may further increase this risk.
The study's objective was to evaluate the risk of NSAID-related gastrointestinal events for persons with a history of alcohol abuse. This case-control study used data from Saskatchewan Health.
Thus with both risk factors present, the resulting risk ratio is greater than the additive risk of the separate risk factors. The present study presents the effect of long-term alcohol abuse.
Further research is needed to separate these two issues to allow physicians to provide the best advice to their patients.
Drinking Alcohol While On Naproxen
It is not recommended to drink alcohol while on Naproxen. Prostaglandin thickens and protects the stomach lining. Naproxen reduces prostaglandin in the body, which is responsible for inflammatory reactions.
Alcohol also suppresses the body's ability to make blood cells, especially platelets. When a person gets a cut, platelets are activated, which helps to stop bleeding.
However, when the person has been drinking alcohol for a long time, the body has trouble making new platelets. If a person is injured and the body can't stop the bleeding, they may continue to bleed.
This situation can be dangerous, especially if the bleeding is on the inside of the body. So taking Naproxen and alcohol can increase the risk of bleeding even more when used together than when used separately.
It is suspected that alcohol and Naproxen have an additive risk. When a person has taken Naproxen and drinks alcohol, they are likely to bleed for longer than if they had not consumed alcohol (Neutel, C.I. and Appel, W.C., 2000).
Other Side Effects of Naproxen And Alcohol Taken Together
Both alcohol and Naproxen have side effects that increase people's risk of bleeding. So, not only do they both make it more likely for a person to bleed when they're injured, but they also put the body at risk of damage in the first place.
This damage is often not on the outside of the body; instead happens inside the body. One of the most common side effects is gastritis. Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining.
It can be caused both by alcohol and Naproxen. Therefore, if someone uses alcohol and Naproxen together, they are at a higher risk of getting gastritis(Subuddhi, U., 2013).
Other Serious Problems That Can Arise From A Mixture Of Naproxen And Alcohol:
- Ulcers in the stomach and intestines
- Permanent damage to the stomach lining
- Low blood iron, which means blood cells are not able to carry
- oxygen to the rest of the body
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to permanent nerve
- damage and mental changes
- Growths in the stomach which may be cancerous in some cases
- Potential chance of becoming addicted to alcohol
- Increased risk of overdose
Conclusion
For most people, Naproxen is an effective medication for mild pain and fever for short-term use. If you have a history of stomach ulcer, kidney, heart, or liver disease, talk to your doctor before use. The best way to avoid gastritis and bleeding from alcohol and Naproxen is not to use them together (ogel, U., Christensen, J., Dybdahl, M., Friis, S., Hansen, R.D., Wallin, H., Nexø, B.A., Raaschou-Nielsen, O., Andersen, P.S., Overvad, K. and Tjønneland, A., 2007).
