Aleve...

Pix · February 9, 2008

Ok, I have read a few times that some of you take Aleve, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STOP!! Aleve nearly cost my Brother in Law his life, I don't want to see anyone else go though what he went though.

You see, he was taking aleve now and then (not a daily thing AT ALL) for minor aches and pains that kinda lasted longer then tylonal would, so Aleve it was. About two months after he started taking it (now remember he took it maybe once a week) he started bleeding profusely from his rectum. Tuns out the Aleve had worn away some of the lining in his bowels. 5 or 6 blood transfusions later the bleeding had stopped and he was stable. Sadly he has no case against aleve cause that is a listed LONG TERM side affect, not short term like his was, but LONG TERM. So no attorney would take it because it is listed as a possible long term side affect (one of the rare ones)

So PLEASE switch to Tylonal, Motrin, or something else take that second dose couple hours later if your still in pain, just PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop taking Aleve.

DonHoll1 · February 9, 2008

Thanks for the info. Good to know of the possibility. Donna

trish5713 · February 10, 2008

i'm sorry to hear about what your brother-in-law went though pix. however, gastric bleeding is always a possible side effect when taking any kind of NSAID (aleve, ibuprophen, aspirin, etc.). That's because it blocks the chemical messages (prostiglandins, specifically cox-1) that cause the production of mucus in the gastrointestinal tract. without mucus the acids in the stomach destroy the lining, causing ulcers and sometimes bleeding. it's not really a reason to stop taking these drugs but you're doctor should always know what you're taking, why, and how frequently.

Pix · February 10, 2008

Trish, I know NSAIDS have that long term affect. Key words LONG TERM. I personally don't touch the stuff unless I HAVE too. Thankfully that is rare that I do. But after doing research on ALEVE I found that this is more common then people are willing to admit. Its scary what they are saying is a long term affect, but 1 out of 50 people wind up with this happening to them after short term intermediate consumption (ie once or twice a week for a month or two, nothing daily). My doctor refuses to recommend ALEVE to his patients because with 12 hour "pain relieve" he says its taking to many chances, and NSAIDS interfere with to many other medications.

I don't know but it is something I refuse to take, not only for what it did to my brother in law but just because I can barely tolerate motrin (200mg) let alone anything else.

BJean · February 12, 2008

Hey gang, I read that banded patients should never take NSAIDS because of the potential for erosion where the band contacts the stomach. I also read that it takes quite some time for this to happen, but I wouldn't want to do anything that could possibly cause erosion. That can, if bad enough, cause long-term problems and even death.

My GP (family doc - who does not do LB surgery) told me about a patient of his who had been banded and wound up in intensive care because of erosion and who had to spend over a month in the hospital with two surgeries and half of her stomach removed.

I have really bad knees and I have taken Naproxyn and Aleve the entire time I've had the band because no one told me that it was risky. I am now using Extra Strength Tylenol - so now I only have to worry about my liver. :mad:

Pix · February 13, 2008

BJean .. take your B12 supplements and you should be fine. Most of the meds I have to take can kill my liver, sooo I take my B12 and every year my liver function tests are perfect. AND I take tylonal.

BJean · February 13, 2008

Pix, I didn't know that B12 could have a positive affect on liver function. Very cool! I just got some that is to be dissolved under the tongue. I haven't been good about taking it but now I definitely will be! Thanks a lot!!!