Given Naproxen After Bowel Resection For Colon Cancer But Has High BP Ad Do Smoking. Suggest?

Posted on Thu, 19 Sep 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 Answered on

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : hi! MY wife has been given a prescription for naproxen for post surgery (bowel resection for colon cancer) but she has very high blood pressure & is a smoker 57 years old. The scrip is for pain & bloating 13 weeks after surgery. Do you think this medicine is safe for her?

Answered by Dr. Nsah Bernard (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Naproxen should be used with caution in HTN

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for posting on XXXXXXX

Well while naproxen is a good non-steroidal antiinflammatory medication (NSAIDs) it is advised to use with caution (for short term) when having cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure and hypertension. Prolonged use may increase risk of adverse cardiovascular events such as thrombosis, myocardial infarction (MI/heart attack), stroke which can be fatal. May cause anaphylactoid reactions, even in patients with no prior exposure to NSAIDs.
Since she is already at risks of cardiovascular disease (smoking, hypertension, age, diabetes etc) it would be best if her doctors can consider alternate medication with similar analgesic effects which is not semi-contraindicated in cardiovascular diseases and risk factors. How ever, do discuss this with her doctor.

Hope this helps and wish you the best.
Dr. Nsah

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar