Lake Forest, IL – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new combination package containing the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) naproxen and the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole (Prevacid, TAP Pharmaceuticals).

Called Prevacid NapraPac, it offers in one pill a combination of two medicines that are commonly used together in the same patients. It is indicated for reducing the risk of NSAID-associated gastric ulcers in people with a past history of documented gastric ulcer who require the use of an NSAID for the treatment of spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. According to this article, the most significant risk factor for NSAID-induced complications is a history of prior ulcer disease or complications – they increase the risk by 2- to 4- fold.