NSAID misuse is prevalent with at least 19% of users abusing the drug than its recommended usage. This problem worsens as combinations such as Naproxen and alcohol pose as a huge risk, especially for American adults.
Transcend Recovery Community is here to share information about this substance pairing and how it may affect a person together with treatment plans that you may consider if you suffer from this form of substance abuse. Continue reading to find out more.
Is It Safe to Take Naproxen with Alcohol?
The answer is a hard no. Taking Naproxen and alcohol together is not generally safe for everyone. Not everyone is equipped physically to process drinking alcohol and taking Naproxen.
One of the largest factors of concern is stomach lining damage leading to stomach bleeding as this risky medication is potent enough to affect your gastrointestinal health as a whole.
Another reason not to mix Naproxen with alcohol is that since alcohol is a known depressant, it may interfere with people's motor skills. This could be a huge risk, especially working with heavy machinery/driving long hours for work. People shouldn't drink alcohol and take medication especially if its symptoms cause drowsiness to avoid accidents and injuries.
It's always better to finish your course of prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before you drink alcohol. Ensure that your body can rid itself of alcohol half-life so that these two substances will not counteract.
You may also opt to drink first and let the side effects or symptoms of alcohol use subside, before ever considering taking treatment medication. That way, it reduces the risk of your intestines' permanent damage.
What is Naproxen?
Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID used for the treatment of joint aches, pain related to menstrual periods, and rheumatoid arthritis. It helps reduce pain and is one of the common treatment options given to people with OTC brands like Aleve, Flanax, and Naprosyn.
What Are the Risks of Drinking while on Naproxen?
If you've combined substances like muscle relaxers & alcohol, you would understand that there are various risks involved in mixing alcohol with a drug. The same goes when mixing Naproxen with alcohol heavily.
If you're not aware, here are some of the many risks you can encounter when taking Naproxen when drinking alcohol:
- Worsening pre-existing health conditions - If you have a medical history of asthma, blood disorders, heart disease, hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, and hypertension, chances are you may encounter inflammatory reactions or adverse effects as a result of your Naproxen and alcohol use. It's always important to inform your healthcare provider regarding these details to avoid any mishaps in the future.
- Renal issues - long-term exposure to substances, such as in the case of mixing Naproxen with alcohol may lead to kidney problems. NSAID drugs put you at a higher risk of kidney disease generally, with dehydration being one of the problems. You must always drink plenty of fluids, such as water to avoid this from ever happening to you.
- Stomach bleeding - probably one of the most concerning risk issues is the development of bleeding. This may occur if a person is a frequent user of alcohol and tobacco. It's best to stop mixing Naproxen and alcohol to avoid stomach ulcers which may ruin your stomach lining and to avoid further permanent damage.
- Liver damage - As with other NSAIDs, alcohol, and Naproxen can bring serious side effects to your hepatic health. Your liver is hard at work processing the toxins in your body. It will eventually deteriorate which may take flushing your body's toxins longer to do. It may also potentially lead to liver failure, in worst cases.
Side Effects of Alcohol and Naproxen?
Some of the known side effects attributed to alcohol and Naproxen use include the following:
- Upset stomach
- high blood pressure
- muscle aches
- drowsiness
- black stool
- belching
- tinnitus or ringing in the ears
- skin irritation
- heartburn
- headache
- vomit that looks like coffee grounds (blood).
For people who experience Naproxen-related drug abuse, addiction treatment should always be considered. And part of therapy involves staying in women's or men's sober living to help people recover better while working on drug & alcohol withdrawal and withdrawal symptoms.
Increased Risk of Bleeding
Bleeding happens with people who suffer from chronic alcohol abuse. Compared to all the medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs while drinking alcohol reduces your body's ability to create more blood cells and platelets needed for clotting. It results in a longer healing time and bleeding problems.
Is There Naproxen Abuse?
Naproxen abuse occurs in various scenarios. We may think that drug abuse only occurs to people who have intentionally taken the drug due to comfort alone. However, the truth is that misuse may also be a form of abuse. Here are some of the instances that may count as Naproxen abuse.
- Accidental - There are times when people take a stronger dosage because either they are careless to read their prescription or they were given the wrong dosage by the pharmacist. Without careful examination, this may ultimately lead to drug misuse and eventual addiction.
- Recreational - These "thrillseekers' usually take certain drugs on top of taking NSAIDs. The combination of many medications helps them achieve that natural high which can also be amplified by taking another pain reliever with alcohol abuse adding to the equation.
- Intentional - Intentional abuse happens when an individual deliberately increases their dosage of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug without permission from their physician because they want to get better or has developed drug intolerance and drug dependence from chronic use.
As with any substance abuse problem, whether it's a drug or alcohol use disorder, or co-occurring disorders, it's best to have a person receive treatment right away from treatment facilities to help them with their medication management.
Both inpatient and outpatient treatment options are useful for long-term sobriety. It may also be paired with cognitive behavioral health therapy to help an individual process their addiction problem. These forms of addiction treatment not only help them get better but zero in the root cause of the problem in the hopes of permanently reversing the damage this has caused their mental health.
Can Transcend Recovery Help with Naproxen and Alcohol Abuse?
Although Transcend Recovery doesn't provide addiction treatment, it compensates with supplemental behavioral health support through its many programs such as sober living and luxury sober living residences, so that clients can focus better on their rehabilitation. They may also work with support groups as part of their treatment journey.
Get to know more about how Transcend can help you. Contact us today.
