Key takeaways
Ibuprofen / famotidine and naproxen / esomeprazole are both combination medications used to treat arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while also helping to protect the stomach from ulcers. However, they differ in several ways. Ibuprofen / famotidine combines ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), with famotidine, a histamine H2 antagonist, and is taken three times a day. Naproxen / esomeprazole, on the other hand, combines naproxen, another NSAID, with esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), and is taken twice a day. Naproxen / esomeprazole is also approved for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Both medications are available as lower-cost generics. Ibuprofen / famotidine used to be available as brand-name Duexis, but this product was discontinued. Similarly, naproxen / esomeprazole was available under the brand name Vimovo until it was discontinued. Common side effects of ibuprofen / famotidine include nausea and high blood pressure, while naproxen / esomeprazole may cause inflammation of the stomach lining and diarrhea. Both medications carry risks of serious side effects like heart attack, stroke, and kidney damage.
