Naproxen is one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to treat certain types of arthritis. Naproxen tablets were approved by the FDA in 1976. On January 11, 1994, the FDA approved naproxen in a nonprescription form.
The usual dose of naproxen is 250 mg, 375 mg, or 500 mg (Naproxen 500mg) -- twice a day in the morning and evening for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. Enteric-coated naproxen is usually taken in doses of 375 or 500 mg twice a day. Your doctor can adjust your dose based on how you are responding to the drug.
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Naproxen is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.
Naproxen is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, tendinitis, bursitis, gout, or menstrual cramps.
Naproxen may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Naproxen was originally marketed as the prescription drug Naprosyn by Syntex in 1976, and naproxen sodium was first marketed under the trade name Anaprox in 1980. It remains a prescription-only drug in much of the world. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its use as an OTC drug in 1994. In Australia, packets of 275 mg tablets of naproxen sodium are Schedule 2 pharmacy medicines, with a maximum daily dose of 5 tablets or 1375 mg. In the United Kingdom, 250 mg tablets of naproxen were approved for OTC sale in 2008, for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea in women aged 15 to 50.
Naproxen sodium (INN) ( /nəˈprɒksən/) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used for the reduction of pain, fever, inflammation and stiffness caused by conditions such as:
osteoarthritis
kidney stones
rheumatoid arthritis
psoriatic arthritis
gout
ankylosing spondylitis
menstrual cramps
tendinitis
bursitis
It is also used for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. It works by inhibiting both the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes.
Naproxen is used to relieve pain from various conditions such as headaches, muscle aches, tendonitis, dental pain, and menstrual cramps. It also reduces pain, swelling, and joint stiffness caused by arthritis, bursitis, and gout attacks. This medication is known as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by blocking your body's production of certain natural substances that cause inflammation.
If you have pain or inflammation, you may benefit from naproxen.
In particular, naproxen has been shown to be beneficial for the following:
Pain relief, such as for pain following a medical procedure, from straining a muscle, or because of inflammation in a tendon (tendonitis) or bursa (bursitis). It can also be used to treat general pain, such as lower back pain, neck pain, or knee pain.
Treatment of arthritis symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and swelling. Naproxen can be used to treat several different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gout. However, the medication does not cure these conditions.
Treatment of painful menstrual periods.
By blocking the effects of prostaglandins, naproxen is useful at:
Reducing pain related to bone, muscle, or tendon injury or inflammation
Reducing fever
Alleviating pain and joint swelling associated with different forms of arthritis and other diseases.
Naproxen is also sometimes used to treat Paget's disease of bone (a condition in which the bones become abnormally thick, fragile, and misshapen) and Bartter syndrome (a condition in which the body does not absorb enough potassium, causing muscle cramping and weakness and other symptoms). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to naproxen: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking naproxen and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
black, bloody, or tarry stools;
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
swelling or rapid weight gain;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).
Less serious naproxen side effects may include:
upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation;
bloating, gas;
dizziness, headache, nervousness;
skin itching or rash;
blurred vision; or
ringing in your ears.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
People who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (other than aspirin) such as naproxen may have a higher risk of having a heart attack or a stroke than people who do not take these medications. These events may happen without warning and may cause death. This risk may be higher for people who take NSAIDs for a long time. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke, if you smoke, and if you have or have ever had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Get emergency medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness in one part or side of the body, or slurred speech.
If you will be undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG; a type of heart surgery), you should not take naproxen right before or right after the surgery.
NSAIDs such as naproxen may cause ulcers, bleeding, or holes in the stomach or intestine. These problems may develop at any time during treatment, may happen without warning symptoms, and may cause death. The risk may be higher for people who take NSAIDs for a long time, are older in age, have poor health, or who drink three or more alcoholic drinks per day while taking naproxen. Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications: anticoagulants (“blood thinners”) such as warfarin (Coumadin); aspirin; other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Actron); or oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had ulcers, bleeding in your stomach or intestines, or other bleeding disorders. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking naproxen and call your doctor: stomach pain, heartburn, vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds, blood in the stool, or black and tarry stools.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will monitor your symptoms carefully and will probably order certain tests to check your body's response to naproxen. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling so that your doctor can prescribe the right amount of medication to treat your condition with the lowest risk of serious side effects.
Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs with naproxen may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix);
steroids (prednisone and others);
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), meloxicam (Mobic), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or
an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with naproxen. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Naproxen is the generic form of a type of pain relief medication that belongs to the group called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Brand names of Naproxen include Naprosyn, EC-Naprosyn, Naprelan, Midol Extended Relief, Leader Naproxen Sodium, Comfort Pac with Naproxen, Anaprox, and Aleve. The drug functions by lowering a number of hormones within the body that can cause inflammation and lead to pain. It is prescribed in order to treat either pain or inflammation or both, which could be caused by such conditions as tendinitis, bursitis, menstrual cramps, gout, arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
Though Naproxen pain medication is immensely useful, safe, and effective for many people, there are some who should not take this drug. For example, if heart or circulation problems exist, this drug may be avoided as it could increase the risk of worsening those conditions to the point of heart attack or stroke. The longer naproxen is taken, the greater this risk becomes. It should also not be taken ahead of bypass surgery on the heart – also known as a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Should any symptoms of circulation or heart issues occur during the use of naproxen, emergency medical assistance should be sought. These symptoms could include slurred speech, weakness, chest pain, balance problems, shortness of breath, or vision problems.
Gastrointestinal problems can also occur as a result of the use of naproxen, including issues in both the stomach and intestines, such as bleeding or perforation (hole formation). This type of condition can be exceptionally harmful or even fatal can occur at any point throughout the use of naproxen. These serious side effects are a higher risk among older adults. Should any symptoms of intestinal or stomach bleeding occur, the doctor should be phoned immediately, such as stools that are bloody, black, or tar-like, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, or coughing up blood.
There are many medications that should not be used in conjunction with naproxen. For this reason, all medications (prescription and non-prescription) as well as nutritional and herbal supplements should be disclosed to the prescribing doctor before naproxen is taken. Furthermore, if any drug or supplement is to be taken while on naproxen, it should first be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist. Even medicines as common as aspirin or allergy medications may change the way that naproxen works or could cause a drug conflict. It should also be noted that taking naproxen can also cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunlight, so sunburn could occur more quickly and so sun exposure should be limited.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 3.0
naproxen for Pain: Not a very good pain killer.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 9.0
naproxen for Headache: This is a great drug. It is fast acting and effective. I get severe migraines and this drug works really well. It stops it in its tracks, which a blessing to me as some of my migraines last 3 days.
Review by Lululovesu: User Rating: 9.0
naproxen for Osteoarthritis: I have been using Naproxen 500mg for a heel spur and it turns out it is working on my knee cap arthritis. I eat well and then take the pill with milk so not to kill the lining of my stomach. This pill is a wonder drug for treating arthritis especially on the knee cap. I will have to tell my doctor when I see him for my last Orthovisc injection. It has made a huge difference for me.
Review by Pamrae: User Rating: 10
naproxen for Pain: I use this for back pain. Helps me alot!
Review by from Trinidad to New York: User Rating: 8.0
naproxen for Period Pain: I have been using Naproxen 500mg for at least 8 years. I find this product very helpful for period pain, although if you take it to late, it sometimes takes up to an hour to relieve the pain, but when it goes it takes a long time to come back. I haven't had any side effects or none that I've noticed.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 8.0
naproxen for Muscle Pain: I used Naproxen when I tore a tendon in my knee and the swelling would not go down. Naproxen works. It takes some time but you have to be on a regular dose and once you stop taking it, it goes back to the way it was before (at least in my case it did).
Review by mee: User Rating: 8.0
naproxen for Pain: I have been using this for a few weeks and it really helps with my Sacroiliac joint pain.
Review by randyd2468: User Rating: 3.0
naproxen for Osteoarthritis: I took Naproxen for eight months before my doctor associated it with the severe side effect of my throat swelling and the feeling of something stuck in my throat, stomach bleeding and neck pain and enduring an oesophagoscopy.
Review by flashburn97: User Rating: 8.0
naproxen for Muscle Pain: I use this for lower back and hip pain. It works very well on the sciatic pain I get from injury to my back and hip. the only other drug that helps is at least 800mg of motrin. Naproxen works for about 7 hours while motrin only lasts 3-4 hours. I think these basically relieve swelling pressure on the nerve column.
Review by Anonymous:
naproxen for Rheumatoid Arthritis: I recently had my meniscus removed from my knee and am now dealing with arthritis in the knee which is hampering my recovery. I started on naproxen and didn't realize how helpful it's been until I switched to a cream version. Within a day I was in constant pain and could not exercise at all. I went back on the pill form and was back walking nearly normal before the 2nd dose.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 10
naproxen for Period Pain: The only thing that helps my severe period pain.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 7.0
naproxen for Osteoarthritis: Effective 12 hour pain medicine but caused significant long term gastro-intestinal disruption.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 9.0
naproxen for Sciatica: It works phenomenally. However, 2 a day doesn't keep the pain away for 24 hours.
Review by Cherokee ...: User Rating: 9.0
naproxen for Rheumatoid Arthritis: These pills are helping me with arthritis. I have arthritis all over the place. From my upper back all the way to my legs.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 8.0
naproxen for Gout, Acute: Used it for 3 days. Ankle swelling and pain now much reduced and can walk properly on left leg. Still some pain in big toe.
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 8.0
naproxen for Tendonitis: I am taking this medicine for Tendonitis from shoulder to wrist. Before Naproxen I had zero strength and very minimal movement. After a week on Naproxen (after 2 hours) I have most movement and strength. Side effects are nausea but it is mild. Apparently, the anti-inflammatory properties are just as beneficial to healing, as is the pain relief (relaxation of tendons).
Review by Anonymous: User Rating: 10
naproxen for Muscle Pain: I have taken l x ... 500 every morning for about 2 years and have found it is the only medication that completely relieves my pain. My only concern is the side effects and I don't know how long I can stay on this medication. As of yet ... as I know I have not had any side effect. I am 84 years of age. ...