Aleve

[splicer]

Does anyone know if there are any risks with taking Aleve while scuba diving? I googled it but couldn't find a good web site with the answer.

 

[bigken462]

I can't add factual statement, but will say I depend on the stuff to make my day better. Not sure if its just joint pain due to a lil ageing, or if I am experiencing some rotator cuff problems, but it makes my day of diving a lil more tolerable. After a day of diving it just seems like I ache all over - much may be due to carrying around doubles and other deco cylinders. I'm not in the best of shape, so can't really hold blame to any but myself. As a matter of fact, using a heat wrap on my shoulder now as I type and thankful I'm not actually diving.

In my spare time I may try to hunt some stuff up for you. If your a DAN member, they may have some stuff on their site. If you havent already done so, do a search under Naproxen. If I may ask, should you actually find something that states it may not be the best thing to do, will you please forward to me as well?

Thanks, and dive safe.

***from the DAN site** or the whole artical.

Anti-Inflammatories & Analgesics
As with any drug, it is wise to consider the underlying condition for taking anti-inflammatories or analgesics. These drugs are generally taken for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains, and although they may provide temporary relief, remember that the injury itself is still present. Limitations in range of movement because of the injury, swelling or pain can place a diver at risk of additional injury. In addition, they may mask mild pain due to decompression sickness, and the diver may subsequently delay seeking treatment.

Active ingredients include naproxen sodium and ibuprofen, with notable side effects such as heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness and drowsiness. Standard precautions discourage their use by those with medical disorders involving heartburn, gastric ulcers, bleeding problems or asthma.

With anti-inflammatories or analgesics, perhaps one of the most significant considerations is potential adverse drug interactions in individuals treated with anticoagulants, insulin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).


Kenny

 

[splicer]

Thanks, After 38 years of skiing hard and, also I splice chairlift and gondola cables for a living, I've just beat the hell out of myself. I found that diving with nitrox helps a lot for post diving joint pain and won't dive without it. (Plus my wife ((a non diver)) got tired of me falling a sleep at the dinner table after a day of diving. Anyway, I'll keep researching the Aleve interactions with diving and let you know if I find anything.

 

[jtivat]

I am not going to say it is ok as I am not a Doctor. I will say that my HBO Doctor prescribed Naproxen to me after being bent. He also recommended taking it before diving. Naproxen is the active drug in Aleve.

 

[geokr]

Does anyone know if there are any risks with taking Aleve while scuba diving? I googled it but couldn't find a good web site with the answer.

It might help to also know why you're taking Aleve.

 

[splicer]

Geokr, see my second post. Mostly Arthritis, 3 knee surgeries, 1 L5 S4 surgery, 1 Elbow surgery. But you know, I had a hell of a good time wrecking myself. C'est la vive.

 

[wve]

Geokr, see my second post. Mostly Arthritis, 3 knee surgeries, 1 L5 S4 surgery, 1 Elbow surgery. But you know, I had a hell of a good time wrecking myself. C'est la vive.

Sounds like your tendency to wreck yourself will pose more risk than Aleve will.

I take Advil (ibuprofen), which is in the same class of drug as Aleve (naproxen), and I don't worry about it at all.

 

[splicer]

Well, I never intended to wreck myself, it just happened over time. When I hit the late 50's, bam! it caught up with me. Still, I had lots of fun (still do). The Doc advised Aleve over Advil as they feel it is less harmful to the stomach, liver ect.

 

[TSandM]

I think the DAN article pretty much says it all. There is no known adverse affect to NSAIDs while diving, but one must consider the underlying condition that requires taking the drug.

Personally, I get out of bed in the morning and make a beeline for the ibuprofen bottle (23 fractures and multiple surgeries in my past) so I empathize.

 

[geokr]

Geokr, see my second post. Mostly Arthritis, 3 knee surgeries, 1 L5 S4 surgery, 1 Elbow surgery. But you know, I had a hell of a good time wrecking myself. C'est la vive.

There you go. Good on ya for not holding back but you might want to acknowledge that you have a few limitations now (hard to do, I know). That might make the need for painkillers less and allow the use of something more moderate, like good ol' aspirin. You might choose to drift dive rather than kick yourself like a NASCAR racer all around the reef, split fins might be a little easier on the knees, etc. But, no matter how you have to modify a bit, never give up!