Medical Question for Dr. Skunky

What are the dangers of taking more than the recommended dose of Aleve? It says you may take 2 tabs for the 1st dose then 1 tab every 8 - 12hrs, not to exceed 10 days. That sounds like it could be pretty potent. But, it's not helping my pain, so I have started taking 2 tabs every 12 hours for the last 3 days. And it's only helping marginally. (I'm not looking for a magic bullet, just a little temp. pain management.)

The earliest rheumatologist app't I could get is in mid July :shock:; but did find an orthopaedic surgeon for later this week. My regular doc is unsure who I should be seeing. We're trying to rule out causes of some pretty intense pain (scale of 1 - 10, mine about a 9 - - swelling, can't bend the knee) that it could be a damaged meniscus, arthritis, etc. And it is definately worse at night.

Anyway, not looking for you to diagnose, just a little input on the Aleve aspect. It might help others as well. Thanks!

JR, sorry to hear you are in such pain.:( I hope you get some relief soon.

JR, sorry to hear you are in such pain.:( I hope you get some relief soon.

Awww, thank you. I just don't want to OD on Aleve! That and an ice pack is about all that seems to give slight relief. That's why I'm on the board so much lately. Just sitting, reading and typing!! :rolling:

Why not just take a 600mg I B Pro Fin ;-)

Beach Jacket has chronic back pain due to playing basketball for so mnay years, as well as due to a back injury when she was on the MIT women's basketball team. I just started running again (despite my podiatrist's recommendation because of plantar fasciitis) to lose weight and to get ready for the Peachtree. I am in a lot of pain to the point that I have trouble sleeping at night. BJ says she takes 4 Advil at a time to relieve her pain and that should help me. She thinks she's an expert because she's pre-med. I'm afraid to take that many Advil after reading the instructions on the Advil bottle, and I'm worried about her for taking that many herself.

What do you think, Skunky?

Do you need a billing address?:lol: If you'd prefer not to answer, I'll understand.

Why not just take a 600mg I B Pro Fin ;-)

Thanks, but it dosen't do it for me. I tried 800mg for 2 days, every 6 hrs. Nada.

Thanks, but it dosen't do it for me. I tried 800mg for 2 days, every 6 hrs. Nada.

More Feen Drip :idontno:

Beach Jacket has chronic back pain due to playing basketball for so mnay years, as well as due to a back injury when she was on the MIT women's basketball team. I just started running again (despite my podiatrist's recommendation because of plantar fasciitis) to lose weight and to get ready for the Peachtree. I am in a lot of pain to the point that I have trouble sleeping at night. BJ says she takes 4 Advil at a time to relieve her pain and that should help me. She thinks she's an expert because she's pre-med. I'm afraid to take that many Advil after reading the instructions on the Advil bottle, and I'm worried about her for taking that many herself.

What do you think, Skunky?

Do you need a billing address?:lol: If you'd prefer not to answer, I'll understand.

Yeah, this was the 800mg of Advil mentioned in my previous post. A pharmacist friend of mine said I could take that with no problem. And it IS no problem, it just dosen't help with the pain much.

You see, I'm wondering if these warnings are protection for the pharmaceutical companies. Maybe we CAN push the limits a little if needed. :idontno:

Look at the dosage on the Aleve bottle. I wouldn't take more than 500mg twice daily, or a daily total of 1000mg. Without reference in front of me, I think OTC Aleve is 200mg per tablet. You might try 400mg every 12 hours for a few days and see how it goes. Remember that Aleve is naproxen sodium, so if you are supposed to be watching your salt intake, I would steer toward ibuprofen or tylenol. You might also be wary if you have a history of peptic ulcers or bleeding problems. Hope that helps!

Yeah, this was the 800mg of Advil mentioned in my previous post. A pharmacist friend of mine said I could take that with no problem. And it IS no problem, it just dosen't help with the pain much.

You see, I'm wondering if these warnings are protection for the pharmaceutical companies. Maybe we CAN push the limits a little if needed. :idontno:

Why not try [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoLdONp-enc"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia] :idontno:

Look at the dosage on the Aleve bottle. I wouldn't take more than 500mg twice daily, or a daily total of 1000mg. Without reference in front of me, I think OTC Aleve is 200mg per tablet. You might try 400mg every 12 hours for a few days and see how it goes. Remember that Aleve is naproxen sodium, so if you are supposed to be watching your salt intake, I would steer toward ibuprofen or tylenol. You might also be wary if you have a history of peptic ulcers or bleeding problems. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much! I'll be more careful now.

Why not try Tequila :idontno:

No way. If I drank for all my aches and pains, I'd be an alcoholic!
Thanks anyway. :clap:

So Skunky, what is the potential hazard of Aleve? I have heard that ibuprofin eats away at the stomach lining and I seem to recall about Aleve maybe being potentially toxic to your kidneys.

Look at the dosage on the Aleve bottle. I wouldn't take more than 500mg twice daily, or a daily total of 1000mg. Without reference in front of me, I think OTC Aleve is 200mg per tablet. You might try 400mg every 12 hours for a few days and see how it goes. Remember that Aleve is naproxen sodium, so if you are supposed to be watching your salt intake, I would steer toward ibuprofen or tylenol. You might also be wary if you have a history of peptic ulcers or bleeding problems. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the advice. Pain management is so difficult because the only meds that really help are too addictive to be a long-term solution.

I looked it up and I think OTC Aleve has 220mg of naproxwn sodium per tablet. Smiley J, here is a comprensive list of potential side effects.

ADVERSE REACTIONS SIGNIFICANT
1% to 10%:
Cardiovascular: Edema (3% to 9%), palpitations (<3%)
Central nervous system: Dizziness (3% to 9%), drowsiness (3% to 9%), headache (3% to 9%), lightheadedness (<3%), vertigo (<3%)
Dermatologic: Pruritus (3% to 9%), skin eruption (3% to 9%), ecchymosis (3% to 9%), purpura (<3%), rash
Endocrine & metabolic: Fluid retention (3% to 9%)
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain (3% to 9%), constipation (3% to 9%), nausea (3% to 9%), heartburn (3% to 9%), diarrhea (<3%), dyspepsia (<3%), stomatitis (<3%), heartburn (<3%), flatulence, gross bleeding/perforation, indigestion, ulcers, vomiting
Genitourinary: Abnormal renal function
Hematologic: Hemolysis (3% to 9%), ecchymosis (3% to 9%), anemia, bleeding time increased
Hepatic: LFTs increased
Ocular: Visual disturbances (<3%)
Otic: Tinnitus (3% to 9%), hearing disturbances (<3%)
Respiratory: Dyspnea (3% to 9%)
Miscellaneous: Diaphoresis (<3%), thirst (<3%)

<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Agranulocytosis, alopecia, anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction, angioneurotic edema, arrhythmia, aseptic meningitis, asthma, blurred vision, cognitive dysfunction, colitis, coma, confusion, CHF, conjunctivitis, cystitis, depression, dream abnormalities, dysuria, eosinophilia, eosinophilic pneumonitis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, glossitis, granulocytopenia, hallucinations, hematemesis, hepatitis, hyper-/hypoglycemia, hyper-/hypotension, infection, interstitial nephritis, melena, jaundice, leukopenia, liver failure, lymphadenopathy, menstrual disorders, malaise, MI, muscle weakness, myalgia, oliguria, pancreatitis, pancytopenia, paresthesia, photosensitivity, pneumonia, polyuria, proteinuria, pyrexia, rectal bleeding, renal failure, renal papillary necrosis, respiratory depression, sepsis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, tachycardia, seizure, syncope, thrombocytopenia, toxic epidermal necrolysis ulcerative stomatitis, vasculitis

By the way, another public service announcement, now that it is warm, be on the lookout for snakes! Last night I treated a pre-teen who was bitten on the leg by a (thankfully) non-venomous snake:sick:

That is messed up. How do they still produce that? The one I find ironic is that people often buy Aleve to get rid of headaches, yet 3% to 9% of the people who take it will get headaches from Aleve. I just don't understand.

By the way, another public service announcement, now that it is warm, be on the lookout for snakes! Last night I treated a pre-teen who was bitten on the leg by a (thankfully) non-venomous snake:sick:

This one was on a handrail which I passed by yesterday. Cute guy, but scary if you don't see him and you rub your hand against him.

That is messed up. How do they still produce that? The one I find ironic is that people often buy Aleve to get rid of headaches, yet 3% to 9% of the people who take it will get headaches from Aleve. I just don't understand.

Welcome to the world of people reporting side effects! It probably has to do with the sodium retaining fluid in the intravascular space. That said, millions of people are popping Aleves today and having nary a problem at all;-)

my neighbor across the street killed a 4-5 foot long diamond back last week. the snake had about 12 eggs in it!!!:yikes:

By the way, another public service announcement, now that it is warm, be on the lookout for snakes! Last night I treated a pre-teen who was bitten on the leg by a (thankfully) non-venomous snake:sick: