Naprosyn online

Item name:

Naprosyn (naproxen) (Roche)

Generic name:

naproxen

Brand names:

Naprosyn

Item info:

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.

Drug class:

Naproxen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Interactions:

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.

Side effects:

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.

Prescription needed / OTC: 

Rx only

Dosage:

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.

Patients who are taking over-the-counter naproxen products (Aleve) should follow the instructions on the label. Do not exceed the recommended over-the-counter doses for naproxen (220 milligrams twice daily) and do not take naproxen for longer than ten days unless a physician directs otherwise.

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. 

Contraindications:

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.

Storage:

Store naproxen at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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