Medication change from diclofenac to naproxen

Diclofenac is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat arthritis and other painful conditions. But there is increasing evidence that it is not as safe as other NSAIDs. For example in February this year the UK National Prescribing Centre reported on a meta analysis that showed that people taking diclofenac had a four fold increased risk of cardiovascular death compared to people taking naproxen.

A meta analysis report pools data from many drug trials and it can be used to analyse lots of data. In this meta analysis there were 116,429 patients who had been involved in 31 trials and had taken NSAIDs for 117,218 years. To read more about this analysis click here.

We have started writing to patients and swapping their diclofenac to naproxen. Naproxen is as strong as diclofenac and the only difference is that it is usually taken twice a day instead of three times a day.

And for once this drug switch is not due to cost as both drugs cost the same. We are swapping patients because it is a drug safety issue.

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