Naproxen & Vicodin--can they be taken together?

General Questions
#1

My husband has a very bad contusion on his foot, and is currently on crutches. He was given Vicodin at the hospital, with samples to take home, and a prescription for Naproxen.

I’m trying to figure out whether or not these can be taken at the same time. The drug sites I’ve checked are just technical enough to make me confused.

He says that while he was at the hospital, they didn’t say anything about whether or not he could take them together. He didn’t ask, either.

Can anyone help me? I know there’s a coupla doctors out there! :smiley:

Thanks!

Persephone

#2

I can’t speak to your husband’s situation in specific, but for most patients, naproxen and vicodin are compatible.

I will often tell patients to take the naproxen for lesser pain, and if that is not sufficient, take the vicodin for worse pain.

Or, if treating inflammation, they are told to take the naproxen twice a day, and the vicodin as needed for pain.

Naproxen is an NSAID like aspirin and ibuprofen. Vicodin is a mix of hydrocodone (an opiate narcotic painkiller) and acetaminophen (tylenol). I am assuming you have vicodin, and not vicoprofen, which is hydrocodone with ibuprofen, and should be used quite cautiously with naproxen.

If in doubt, contact your husband’s pharmacist or physician

QtM, MD

#3

He has a very bad contusion across the top of his foot. Not a break, but bad enough so that he needs crutches.

From reading the literature given with the naproxen, I got the impression that it was, like you said, like aspirin or ibuprofen.

Looking back at my OP, I realize that I probably wasn’t as clear as I should have been–I’m wondering if he can take them *at the same time. * As in, will swallowing one of each pill at the same time be okay, or should he space them?

#4

I would not expect any harm to come from taking both at the same time for a typical patient.

#5

Thanks, **QtM. ** I appreciate the assist. Do you happen to know of any good drug sites, that could be read and understood by laymen like me? Thanks again.

#6

Sorry, I don’t. Most of the sites I visit are for prescribers. try googling patient education pharmacy

#7

It sounds like you have your question answered. I will chime in to say, though, even if your doctor isn’t available, your pharmacist will gladly help. Many pharmacies are open 24/7 and the pharmacist on duty will gladly answer your questions.

#8

Pharmacists like it when you ask them stuff. They feel bad about going to school for so long and being perceived only as people who can stand a foot higher than you and count out 20 pills.

#9

As usual, Qadcop is right. You can take them both simultaneously. If you need to take Vicodan in addition to the Naproxen to get adequate pain relief, it may be worth taking a dose of a laxative too (like milk of magnesia).