Naproxen: Key Facts, Who Can Take It, Side Effects and Precautions

It is a medication that reduces inflammation and pain in the joints and muscles.

It is used to treat diseases of the joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout. It is also used for menstrual pain and muscle and bone disorders, such as back pain and sprains and strains.

Naproxen is available by prescription as a tablet or as a liquid that you drink. You can buy it without a prescription at a pharmacy for period pain. Naproxen can only be taken by a child when prescribed by the pediatrician or physician.

Key facts

  • Take Naproxen tablets with or right after a meal or snack.
  • Take the lowest dose of Naproxen for the shortest time to control your symptoms.
  • The most common side effects of Naproxen are confusion, headache, ringing in the ears, changes in vision, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness and rashes.

Naproxen is also called by the Naprosyn or Stirlescent brands. The Naproxen tablets that you buy to treat menstrual pain are called Feminax Ultra.

Who can and can not take Naproxen?

Naproxen can be taken by adults.

It can also be taken under medical supervision by children to treat:

  • Muscle and bone disorders for babies from 1 month.
  • Diseases of the joints for children from 2 years.
  • Menstrual pain – for girls of any age.

Naproxen is not suitable for certain people.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

  • You have had an allergic reaction to naproxen or any other medicine in the past.
  • Are allergic to aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen), or if you have developed signs of asthma (wheezing), runny nose, swelling of the skin (angioedema), or rash.
  • Have or have had stomach ulcers, bleeding in the stomach or intestines, or a hole in the stomach.
  • Have high blood pressure.
  • Have severe liver, kidney or heart failure.
  • You have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
  • Have lupus
  • Have a blood clotting disorder.
  • Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or breastfeed.

How and when to take it?

Always take your Naproxen tablets with or right after a meal so you do not have an upset stomach.

As a general rule in adults, the dose to be treated:

  • Joint diseases is 500 mg to 1000 mg per day in 1 or 2 doses.
  • Muscle, bone and painful periods are 500 mg at the beginning, then 250 mg every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
  • The attacks of gout are 750 mg, then 250 mg every 8 hours until the attack has passed.

The doses are generally lower for elderly people and people with heart, liver or kidney problems.

The doctor will use your child’s weight to calculate the correct dose.

If you get Naproxen with a prescription, the dose depends on the reason you take it, your age, how well your liver and kidneys are working, and how well your symptoms help.

If you buy Naproxen at a pharmacy for painful menstrual periods:
  • The first day: take 2 tablets when the pain begins, and after 6 to 8 hours, one more tablet that day if you need
  • In the second and following days: take one tablet every 6 to 8 hours if necessary

Do not take more than 3 tablets in 24 hours.

How to take it?

The prescription Naproxen comes in 2 different tablets: effervescent and gastro-resistant tablets.

  • Effervescent tablets dissolve in water before taking them.
  • Gas-resistant tablets have a coating that protects them from the breakdown of acid in the stomach. Instead, the medicine is released lower down into the intestine in your intestine.
  • If you take gastro-resistant tablets, eat whole with or after meals. Do not crush them or chew them.
  • If you take effervescent tablets, dissolve 1 to 2 tablets in a glass (150 ml) of water and drink it.
  • The doses of 3 tablets should be dissolved in 300 ml.
  • To make sure there is no medication left, rinse the empty glass with a small amount of water and take it.
  • You can take it with or after meals.

What happens if I forget to take it?

Take your missed dose as soon as you remember it, unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose.

If you miss doses frequently, it may be useful to set an alarm to remind you. You can also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medication.

What happens if I take too much?

If you take too many Naproxen tablets by accident, you are more likely to have some of the common side effects. Contact your doctor immediately.

Side effects

Like all medications, Naproxen can cause side effects, although not all.

Common side effects

The common side effects of naproxen occur in more than 1 in 100 people and include:

  • Confusion
  • Headache
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Changes in vision
  • Tiredness and sleepiness
  • Dizziness
  • Eruptions

Less common side effects of Naproxen occur in more than 1 in 1,000 people.

They include:
  • Depression
  • Irregular heart rhythm (palpitations)
  • Abnormal dreams
  • I forget
  • Difficult to focus
  • Sensitivity of the skin to light (can cause blisters
  • Difficulty to sleep

Rarely, Naproxen can cause some side effects that occur in less than 1 in 1,000 people:

  • Hair loss
  • Problems with hearing
  • Inflammation of the blood vessels, causing fever, swelling and, in general, not feeling well asthma worsens muscle weakness and pain in the cheeks, gums and inner tongue.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away.

Serious illnesses Tell your doctor immediately if you have:
  • Severe indigestion
  • Heartburn
  • Stomach aches
  • Sensation of discomfort or vomiting or diarrhea; these may be signs of an ulcer or inflammation in the stomach with blood or dark particles that look like coffee beans, blood in your tarry stool these could be signs of bleeding and perforation of the stomach
  • Sore throat, nosebleeds and infections, these can be signs of abnormalities in blood cells, known as agranulocytosis, chest pain or shortness of breath; these may be signs of fever due to anemia, nausea or vomiting, confusion
  • Headache, stiff neck and sensitivity to light;

These may be signs of aseptic meningitis:

  • Severe skin rash with redness, blisters or ulcers, these may be signs of Stevens
  • Johnson syndrome blood in your urine, decrease in the amount of urine that is passed, discomfort or vomiting, which may be signs of kidney damage or infection, acne or white skin, these may be signs of jaundice or inflammation of the urine.
  • Slow, irregular heartbeats caused by high levels of potassium in the blood, stomach pain and vomiting.

In case of allergic reactions:

A severe allergic reaction is an emergency. Contact a doctor immediately if you think you or someone around you is having a severe allergic reaction.

The warning signs of a severe allergic reaction are:

  • A rash that may include itching, redness, swelling, blistering, or peeling skin on the chest or throat that has trouble breathing or speaks of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

How to deal with side effects?

  • Headache: be sure to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an analgesic. Headaches usually disappear after the first week of taking Naproxen. Talk to your doctor if they last more than a week or if they are severe. feeling drowsy, tired or dizzy: as your body gets used to Naproxen, these side effects disappear.
  • Changes in vision: do not drive for a week. If Naproxen makes you feel dizzy, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better.

Pregnancy and lactation:

Generally, Naproxen is not recommended during pregnancy, especially if you have 30 or more weeks, unless prescribed by a doctor. This is because there could be a link between taking Naproxen during pregnancy and some birth defects, particularly damage to the baby’s heart and blood vessels.

There may also be a link between taking Naproxen at the beginning of pregnancy and spontaneous abortion. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harm of taking Naproxen. It will depend on how many weeks of pregnancy you have and the reason you need to take the medication.

There may be other treatments that are safer for you. In general, Paracetamol is recommended as the first choice of analgesics for pregnant women.

Naproxen and lactation

Naproxen is not recommended during breastfeeding.

Other anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen, are safer. However, if your baby is premature, has a low birth weight, or has an underlying medical condition, talk with your doctor before taking painkillers. Tell your doctor if you are sick. trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

Precautions with other medications

There are some medications that interfere with the functioning of Naproxen.

Tell your doctor if you are taking: other anti-inflammatory medications, such as:

  • Aspirin or Ibuprofen, which thin the blood
  • Warfarin or Rivaroxabansteroides
  • Prednisolone
  • Furosemide
  • Medications used to treat heart problems and depressants of high blood pressure, such as Citalopram
  • Medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis Methotrexate