Q. I broke my wrist, and my surgeon recommended Aleve cream for the first week. It works great for the inflammation. Also, I suffer from neuropathy and find it helps ease that pain. Is there any reason I should stop using it after a week?
A. You’ll need to pay attention to which Aleve product you are buying. Aleve Arthritis Pain Gel contains the NSAID diclofenac, just as Voltaren Gel does.
A product with a similar-sounding name, AleveX Pain Relieving Lotion, contains the natural compounds camphor and menthol, somewhat similar to Vicks VapoRub. The manufacturer warns that if symptoms persist for more than a week, you should “stop use and ask a doctor.”
Topical diclofenac is less likely to cause stomach ulcers than if you were taking it as a pill. Nonetheless, symptoms such as stomach pain or acid reflux have been reported. Some readers of this column have experienced elevated blood pressure as a reaction to using topical diclofenac.
So far as we are aware, daily use of menthol and camphor should not cause any serious adverse effects. Redness, rashes and other allergic reactions have been reported, however.
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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”
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