Dave asked
What is safer, in general, to take: Ibuprofen of Naproxen?
Answer
Ibuprofen and Naproxen belong to the same class of drugs, the non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). NSAIDS are used to treat pain and inflammation. In general, since Ibuprofen and Naproxen both belong to the same drug class, their safety profiles are considered the same. This means one cannot be considered more safe than the other. Some of the safety concerns patients should be aware of when taking NSAIDS, like Ibuprofen or Naproxen, are discussed below.
Cardiovascular Events
NSAIDS are known to increase the risk of a patient experiencing a thrombotic event, such as a myocardial infarct or stroke. It has been found that even taking one dose of a NSAID increases a patient’s risk for a cardiovascular event. One study looked at the risk among NSAIDS. In this study, Ibuprofen was found to have a slightly higher risk of causing a cardiovascular event than Naproxen.
Increase In Blood Pressure
NSAIDS are also known to cause an increase in blood pressure regardless of which drug is taken. Taking one dose of an NSAID was shown to increase blood pressure by 5mmHg. This is especially significant in patients with known high blood pressure. As with cardiovascular events, the PRECISION study showed that Ibuprofen raised blood pressure slightly more than Naproxen.
Gastrointestinal Events
NSAIDS also cause an increased risk for gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation, ulceration, bleeding and perforation. Patients with known bleeding disorders, GI disease or ulcers are especially at an increased risk of having an adverse event and should discuss taking these medications with his or her doctor.
Conclusion
NSAIDS, like Ibuprofen and Naproxen, have known associated risks with them that patients should be aware of. Some of these risks include an increased likelihood to experience a cardiovascular event like stroke or myocardial infarct, increased blood pressure and increased gastrointestinal bleeding.
Though some studies have reported that Ibuprofen may have a slightly higher risk than Naproxen to cause adverse events, Naproxen cannot be considered a safer drug because the significant risks have still been reported with Naproxen. Patients should use NSAIDS, like Ibuprofen and Naproxen, only when necessary and for the shortest time period as possible. Patients with chronic health conditions should check with their doctor or other health care provider before taking these drugs.
