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Taking a combination of two common drugs could dramatically
increase your risk of developing a stomach
ulcer.
The two drugs -- an osteoporosis drug called Fosamax and the anti-inflammatory
drug Naprosyn both cause stomach ulcers by themselves. But when they are
taken together, the rate
of stomach ulcers is far greater than would be expected from
adding the effects of the two drugs taken by themselves.
Anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen are often taken by people with
arthritis. Because the elderly -- particularly women -- are most likely to
suffer both arthritis and osteoporosis, it would not be surprising for
people to be taking both drugs.
Stomach ulcers developed in 8% of
the study participants receiving Fosamax alone,
in 12% of those receiving
Naprosyn alone, and in 38%
of the participants taking both.
Even in volunteers who did not develop ulcers, the damage
to the lining of the stomach was significantly worse
in those who received the combination of drugs than in those who took
either drug alone.
Archives of Internal Medicine January
8, 2001;161:107-110
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