Contact A Lawyer
Near You

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with a qualified attorney near you.

Naproxen Alternatives

Ever since the publicity of possible naproxen cardiovascular risks, doctors and patients have been looking to naproxen alternatives as a potentially safer treatment option. On December 20, 2004, the FDA issued a naproxen safety warning in the United States. A recent Alzheimer prevention study conducted by the National Institutes of Health was stopped after patients taking naproxen were found to be at an elevated risk of suffering serious cardiovascular side effects. This Alzheimer prevention study also included groups taking naproxen alternatives such as Celebrex. This particular study did not find cardiovascular risks associated with Celebrex patients.

Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that acts to inhibit both the COX-1 and 2 enzymes that are responsible for pain caused by tissue inflammation. Naproxen is considered an original non-selective NSAID and was approved to treat the pain associated with arthritis and other health conditions by the FDA in 1976. Other original NSAID naproxen alternatives include ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) and at least a dozen others. Original NSAIDs carry the risk of serious gastrointestinal side effects. Because of these potential health threats, naproxen alternatives were developed with the hopes of creating an NSAID that was as effective as naproxen and naproxen alternatives but without the same gastrointestinal side effects.

A group of COX-2 selective NSAIDs were developed in the 1990s as naproxen alternatives. These naproxen alternatives were intended to be as effective in treating pain but without the serious risk of gastrointestinal complications. Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra are three of the most popular naproxen alternatives that have been available on the market since the late 1990s. Unfortunately, these naproxen alternatives are associated with serious side effects as well.

Studies have indicated that these naproxen alternatives pose less of a threat to gastrointestinal safety than original NSAIDs. These naproxen alternatives do have the potential to cause stomach problems, but to a much lesser extent than naproxen and similar drugs. COX-2 selective naproxen alternatives have been associated with an increase in cardiovascular health risks.

In September 2004, Vioxx was pulled off the shelves after a study indicated that people taking these naproxen alternatives for eighteen months were twice as likely to suffer heart attack or stroke as people taking naproxen. Studies have indicated that the naproxen alternative, Bextra, may cause and increased risk of heart attack or stroke in patients who have recently undergone cardiac bypass surgery. Celebrex has also been shown to cause increased cardiovascular risks in patients taking 400 milligrams or more.

If you are concerned about the side effects of naproxen, you may wish to speak to your doctor about naproxen alternatives. Celebrex and Bextra may be viable naproxen alternatives for certain patients. As with any drug, there are risks and benefits associated with naproxen and naproxen alternatives. Your doctor can help you determine which one is safest for you.

For more information on naproxen alternatives, please contact us to confer with a Naproxen Lawyer and learn your legal rights and options.

Contact a Naproxen Recall Lawyer

More Naproxen Resources