Naproxen Sodium 220 mg (Aleve) and Sleep Architecture

[So Well]

I began taking 220mg at bedtime for minor muscle (and maybe skeletal) pain that disturbs my sleep.

After seven days, subjective judgment says mixed results.

I certainly seem to be sleeping for longer periods without waking and I am experiencing more dreams.

Energy levels the next day vary - some days level is high, some days low with sleepiness. This is similar to before naproxen treatment. AHI is always below 2.0 with no long apneas.

Are there any studies on long term effects of naproxen sodium on sleep architecture?

I see some claims that aspirin, another NSAID, reduces stage 3 and 4 sleep, so I wonder about naproxen.

Ah drugs, good primary effects but undesirable side effects.

[Hawthorne]

I don't know about Naproxen but I have been taking Voltaren (another NSAID) daily for Rheumatoid Arthritis for about 15 years. That's 8 years longer than I have had sleep apnea and been on cpap.

Since I was on the Voltaren first, my experience is that it does not appear to have a big effect on sleep architecture. I feel better, as far as daytime sleepiness goes, on cpap. My AHI is almost always below 1. There are days when I experience more sleepiness but that seems to have little to do with the Voltaren and more to do with other things in my life like stress, staying up late and maybe eating or drinking something later in the evening, etc.

It certainly does have some effect on sleep architecture but certainly MUCH LESS of an effect than being wakened continuously during the night because of pain.

While it is not a scientific study, it is my personal experience.

[cotech50]

I was taking Aleve for arthritis but DOC prescribed MOBIC generic MELOXICAM and I can get 30 days for less than the Aleve and it is only 15 or 30 mg I take 15 and have had good results better that the Aleve.

[Sleepin'jax]

75mg Arthrotec (same family) for spinal arthritis 2x a day here....
sleeping with it is far better that waking up and moving after NOT taking it......

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi Cotech50-----well I too take MOBIC (generic MELOXICAM ) 15 mgs. for piriformace synydrome--which is the siatic nerve in the left hip---being a side sleeper I need a pain reliever and this seems to keep the pain down for me,
Carrie

[cotech50]

sleeplessinaz

I was amazed when i switched to Meloxicam after a few days was actually able to drop to a squat and come back up without holding on to something and with much less pain. I feel 15mg of that is better than the 220 of Aleve I was taking and it was not helping the joint pain as much as Meloxicam. Now I wonder with some issues I have showing a real improvement since being on cpap I might try to eliminate the Meloxicam and see what happens>

[rise&shiner]

I have been on naproxen 500mg/5mg aspirin for a month. I can report that this has had no ill effects on any stage of my sleep. I am in a specialized program where all my doctors primary, pulminologist, pain specialist, physcial therapist and neurologist are working in consortium on my chornic pain issues so they are very sensitive to make sure that any medications that I am using is not counter intuitive to my sleep apenea. The only wish is that they would of been able to get me the new autoset 9 mainly because of the humidifier since some of the medication I am on is giving me dry mouth and on top of the rainout that I am expderiencing it is causing me other problems.

[So Well]

You guys are great. I knew you are the tops with CPAP and now I see how useful you are on other subjects.

I am impressed with what you are telling me about Meloxicam and plan to discuss it with my doctor on the next visit. I don't like visiting the doctor more than once per year so I plan to continue with naproxen for some time.

I have been on naproxen 500mg/5mg aspirin for a month.

r&s, What do your doctors say about the danger to your stomach lining? I see some warnings that it "could" cause a hole in the stomach lining. Is this overstated? Are there certain precautions your doctors advise? I always drink 8 to 12 ounces of water with the tablet.

Thanks again to all you fine people. Nothing is more effective than "individuals helping other individuals".

[SleepingUgly]

NSAIDs can cause ulcers. If you have no choice but to use them, talk to your doctor about taking a proton pump inhibitor to prevent ulcers.

[Hawthorne]

With long term use of ANY NSAID, there is the risk of stomach ulcers. I have been taking an NSAID for years and have ALWAYS taken a stomach protector (proton pump inhibitor). The current one I am taking is Prevacid but there are others. This is the third one I have been on over the 20 years I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis.

[So Well]

As of today, I am discontinuing the use of naproxen sodium (Aleve) at bedtime. After 18 days of alternating with 220 mg and none, I feel sure that naproxen sodium is negatively effecting my sleep architecture. I am more tired and sleepier on the days after I have taken a dose.

To further test this, last night I took a double dose (2 x 220 mg). I can clearly say that today was the most fatigue and sleepiness I have experienced during the 18 days.

As noted before, I see some studies indicating that aspirin shortens stage 3 and 4 sleep. I wonder if that is the case with naproxen sodium and, for that matter, all NSAIDs.

I will return to using 2 x 500 mg acetaminophen for nighttime muscle pain and other minor pain. I generally sleep well for the first 4 hours each night. So I take the acetaminophen upon that first awakening. Unfortunately it takes about one hour for the acetaminophen to become affective and some nights I lie awake during this one hour. But overall the benefit is excellent.

As for the naproxen sodium, I may occasionally take 220 mg at breakfast if there is much soreness present.

Thanks again for all of the advice.

[unadog]

I generally sleep well for the first 4 hours each night. So I take the acetaminophen upon that first awakening. Unfortunately it takes about one hour for the acetaminophen to become affective and some nights I lie awake during this one hour. But overall the benefit is excellent.

I have had that pattern of insomnia for years, partly due to chronic pain. I wil also take whatever pain meds I have available when I wake up. I am usually up for 1-2 hours after that.

I find it helpful to mediate or listen to relaxation tapes when I am awake during the night. It helps to keep the squirming and discomfort to a minimum and let my body get some rest during that period.

I used to get up and sit or lie down on the floor (yoga mat) to meditate. I find I can't do "real" meditation when lying down in bed. But now I am afraid of falling asleep on teh yoga mat w(which used to happen quite often) without my face mask on. So I will listen to relaxation tapes (more passive - u sually visuualization MP3's) or meditation tapes (more active) while lying in bed with my mask still on.

It helps! Beats posting online, which I also do on bad nights. Though I would be better off reading quiely or doing something like that.

Michael

[So Well]

As of today, I am discontinuing the use of naproxen sodium (Aleve) at bedtime. After 18 days of alternating with 220 mg and none, I feel sure that naproxen sodium is negatively effecting my sleep architecture. I am more tired and sleepier on the days after I have taken a dose.

....
As noted before, I see some studies indicating that aspirin shortens stage 3 and 4 sleep. I wonder if that is the case with naproxen sodium and, for that matter, all NSAIDs.

....

I saw my sleep doc today. First the nurse interviewed me and updated my records with the current medications and supplements I am taking. I told her occasional naproxen sodium 220 mg (Aleve) and mentioned that I would only take it mornings because at night it would interfere with my sleep.

The nurse remarked she does the same thing because naproxen sodium has a very pronounced negative impact on her sleep and some other patients have reported the same.

I felt like this was a good independent confirmation of the conclusion I had reached.

[gladtosleep]

Wow! Reading these posts have been great. I take 440 mg Aleve at bedtime, have been long before I started CPAP, and I always felt it helped me sleep. Now I suspect that it just prevented joint pain from keeping me awake. Since you said the nurse agreed it impeded sleep, I'm going to try something else. I guess not aspirin, tho - I think you said that impacted sleep architecture, too. Maybe I'll just ty to tough it out until I can ask about the alternatives.

As far as taking Aleve regularly, my doc said as long as my stomach tolerates it, which it does, I can take it for years. Like the others, I take Prilosec to prevent the heartburn.

Thanks for sharing!

[sunrunnerdave]

i was reading that the active ingredient in a lot of sleep medicines is diphenhydramine which is an allergy medicine ,the drowsy type