What is the most important information I should know
about naproxen?
•
Take naproxen with food, milk, or an antacid to
lessen stomach upset.
•
Do not crush or chew the extended-release forms of
naproxen (e.g., Naprelan, EC Naprosyn, others). Swallow
them whole. These are specially formulated to release
slowly in the body. Ask your pharmacist if you do not
know if you have an extended-release formulation.
•
Contact your doctor if you experience blood in vomit
or bloody, black, or tarry stools. These symptoms could
indicate damage to the stomach or intestines, which
could be dangerous.
•
Many over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, and pain medicines contain aspirin
or other medicines similar to naproxen (such as
ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and others). Before taking any
prescription or over-the-counter medicine, talk to your
doctor and pharmacist.
•
Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation. If you
drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
naproxen may increase the risk of dangerous stomach
bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking naproxen if
you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day.
•
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or
performing other hazardous activities. Naproxen may
cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid
these activities.
What is naproxen?
•
Naproxen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Naproxen works by
reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in
the body.
•
Naproxen is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and
stiffness caused by many conditions, such as
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis,
injury, abdominal cramps associated with menstruation,
tendinitis, and bursitis.
•
Naproxen may also be used for purposes other than
those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider
before taking naproxen?
•
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if
you
·
have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs,
·
have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach,
·
drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
·
have liver disease,
·
have kidney disease,
·
have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder,
·
have congestive heart failure,
·
have fluid retention,
·
have heart disease, or
·
have high blood pressure.
•
You may not be able to take naproxen, or you may
require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during
treatment if you have any of the conditions listed
above.
•
Naproxen is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This
means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn
baby. Naproxen should not be taken late in pregnancy
(the third trimester) because a similar drug is known to
affect the baby's heart. Do not take naproxen without
first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
•
Naproxen passes into breast milk and may affect a
nursing infant. Do not take this medicine without first
talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take naproxen?
•
Take naproxen exactly as directed by your doctor. If
you do not understand these instructions, ask your
pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
•
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
•
Take naproxen with milk, food, or an antacid to
lessen stomach upset.
•
Do not crush or chew the extended-release forms of
naproxen (e.g., Naprelan, EC Naprosyn, others). Swallow
them whole. These are specially formulated to release
slowly in the body. Ask your pharmacist if you do not
know if you have an extended-release formulation.
•
Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose.
To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the
liquid form of naproxen with a special dose-measuring
spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do
not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist
where you can get one.
•
Store naproxen at room temperature away from
moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
•
If you are taking naproxen on a regular schedule,
take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However,
if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed
dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not take a double dose.
•
If you are taking naproxen as needed, take the
missed dose if it is needed, then wait the recommended
or prescribed amount of time before taking another dose.
What happens if I overdose?
•
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is
suspected.
•
Symptoms of a naproxen overdose may include nausea,
vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness,
headache, ringing in the ears, blurred
vision, seizures, sweating, numbness or tingling, little
or no urine production, and slow breathing.
What should I avoid while taking naproxen?
•
Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Naproxen may
increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Use a
sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to
the sun is unavoidable.
•
Avoid alcohol or use it with moderation. If you
drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
naproxen may increase the risk of dangerous stomach
bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking naproxen if
you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a day.
•
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or
performing other hazardous activities. Naproxen may
cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid
these activities.
•
Many over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, and pain
medicines contain aspirin or other medicines similar to
naproxen (such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and others).
Before taking any prescription or over-the-counter
medicine, talk to your doctor and pharmacist.
What are the possible side effects of naproxen?
•
Contact your doctor if you experience blood in vomit
or bloody, black, or tarry stools. These symptoms could
indicate damage to the stomach or intestines, which
could be dangerous.
•
If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking naproxen and seek medical treatment
or contact your doctor immediately:
·
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing
of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or
hives);
·
muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling;
·
ulcers (open sores) in the mouth;
·
rapid weight gain (fluid retention);
·
seizures;
·
decreased hearing or ringing in the ears;
·
yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice); or
·
abdominal cramping, heartburn, or indigestion.
•
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely
to occur. Continue to take naproxen and talk to your
doctor if you experience
·
dizziness or headache;
·
nausea, diarrhea, or constipation;
·
depression;
·
fatigue or weakness;
·
dry mouth; or
·
irregular menstrual periods.
•
Side effects other than those listed here may also
occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that
seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect naproxen?
•
Before taking naproxen, tell your doctor if you are
taking any of the following drugs:
·
aspirin or another salicylate (form of aspirin) such
as salsalate (Disalcid), diflunisal (Dolobid), choline
salicylate-magnesium salicylate (Trilisate, Tricosal,
others), and magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others);
·
another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac
(Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid),
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), indomethacin
(Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT), ketorolac
(Toradol), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen),
oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac
(Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin);
·
an over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or pain
medicine that contains aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or
ketoprofen;
·
an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin
(Coumadin);
·
a steroid such as prednisone (Deltasone);
·
insulin or an oral diabetes medicine such as
glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase),
and others;
·
probenecid (Benemid);
·
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others); or
·
bismuth subsalicylate in drugs such as Pepto-Bismol.
•
You may not be able to take naproxen, or you may
require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during
treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed
above.
•
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact
with naproxen. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before
taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines,
including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Where can I get more information?
•
Your pharmacist has additional information about
naproxen written for health professionals that you may
read
•
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of
the reach of children, never share your medicines with
others, and use this medication only for the indication
prescribed.
•
Every effort has been made to ensure that the
information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and
complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug
information contained herein may be time sensitive. The
information has been compiled for use by healthcare
practitioners and consumers in the United States and U.K,
unless specifically indicated otherwise. This drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or
recommend therapy. It is an informational resource
designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in
caring for their patients and/ or to serve consumers
viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a
substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and
judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a
warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way
should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug
combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. We do not assume any responsibility for
any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of
information we provide. The information contained herein
is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions,
precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic
reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions
about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor,
nurse or pharmacist.
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Nr Alfreton, Derbyshire. DE55 7LY tel: 0115 8226260/61
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