Naproxen Oral Tablet

This drug has black box warnings, which indicate potentially dangerous effects. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

• Naproxen may increase the risk of heart disease. Using naproxen in the long term or at high doses increases your risk. People with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, also have higher risk. Naproxen shouldn’t be used for pain before or after heart bypass surgery. Doing so may increase your risk of a heart attack and stroke.
• Naproxen may cause ulcers and bleeding in your stomach and intestines. This can happen at any time during treatment and may occur without symptoms. This effect can result in death. You’re at higher risk if you’re older than 65 years.

• High blood pressure warning: Naproxen can cause high blood pressure or make your high blood pressure worse. It can also make your high blood pressure medications not work as well. You may need to watch your blood pressure level carefully while taking naproxen.
• Water retention and swelling warning: Some formulations of this medication have extra salt in them. Talk to your doctor about which formulation to take if you’re watching your salt intake..
• Asthma warning: Naproxen can cause an asthma attack. If you have asthma that can be triggered by aspirin or other NSAIDs, don’t use naproxen.

Naproxen oral tablet may cause drowsiness. You shouldn’t drive, use machinery, or do other activities that require alertness until you know you can function normally. It can also cause other side effects.

More common side effects

The more common side effects that occur with naproxen oral tablet include:

• stomach pain
• constipation
• diarrhea
• gas
• heartburn
• nausea and vomiting
• dizziness

Mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if they’re more severe or don’t go away.

Serious side effects

If you experience any serious side effects, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are potentially life-threatening, or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911.

• chest pain
• shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• weakness in one part or side of your body
• difficulty speaking
• swelling of the face or throat
• high blood pressure
• bleeding and ulcers in your stomach and intestines, with symptoms such as:
  • stomach pain
  • bloody vomit
  • blood in your stool
  • black and sticky stool
• asthma attacks in people who have asthma
• low red blood cell count, which can cause fatigue, lethargy, and weakness
• yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
• unusual weight gain or swelling of your arms, legs, hands, and feet
• skin rash or blisters with fever

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Naproxen oral tablet can interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins you might be taking. That’s why your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully.

You can reduce your chances of drug interactions by having all of your prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. That way, a pharmacist can also check for possible drug interactions. If you have questions about whether naproxen might interact with something you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Examples of drugs that can interact with naproxen include:

Antidepressant drugs: Combining selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with naproxen increases your risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding.

Blood pressure drugs: Naproxen might make your blood pressure medications not work as well. If you’re older than 65 years, combining naproxen with certain blood pressure medications may damage your kidneys. These medications include:

• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• angiotensin receptor blockers
• beta-blockers, such as propranolol
• diuretics

Heartburn drugs and drugs that protect the stomach: Taking any of these medications with naproxen may make naproxen treat your pain more slowly:

• aluminum hydroxide
• cholestyramine
• magnesium oxide
• sucralfate

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Combining naproxen with other NSAIDs increases your risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding. These include:

• aspirin
• ibuprofen
• etodolac
• diclofenac
• flurbiprofen
• ketoprofen
• ketorolac

Lithium: Naproxen may increase the lithium in your body to harmful levels.

Methotrexate: Combining these medications may lead to harmful levels of methotrexate in your body.

Warfarin: Combining these medications increases your risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

Taking too much of a drug is called an overdose. In some cases, if you take too much naproxen, it could cause:

• fatigue
• drowsiness
• upset stomach
• heartburn
• nausea and vomiting
• loss of consciousness
• stomach bleeding

In rare cases, an overdose can cause:

• dangerous allergic reactions
• high blood pressure
• kidney failure
• trouble breathing
• coma

Get immediate medical attention if you think you’ve taken too much naproxen.

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

For arthritis

• Form: oral tablet
• Strengths: 250 mg, 275 mg, 375 mg, 500 mg, 550 mg
• Form: oral suspension
• Strength: 125 mg/5 mL
• Form: delayed-release oral tablet
• Strengths: 375 mg, 500 mg

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• The typical dosage is one 250-mg, 375-mg, or 500-mg tablet twice per day in evenly spaced doses. Your doctor will decide your specific dose.
• The maximum dose is 1,500 mg per day.

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

A dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special considerations

If you’re older than 65 years, your body may process this drug more slowly. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose so that too much of this drug doesn’t build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be toxic.

For juvenile arthritis

• Form: oral tablet
• Strengths: 250 mg, 275 mg, 375 mg, 500 mg, 550 mg
• Form: oral suspension
• Strength: 125 mg/5 mL
• Form: delayed-release oral tablet
• Strengths: 375 mg, 500 mg

Child dosage (ages 2–17 years)

Children in this age group generally receive the oral suspension form of this drug. The dosage will be based on your child’s weight. It should be given twice per day in evenly spaced doses.

Child dosage (ages 0–23 months)

Dosage for children younger than 2 years hasn’t been established.

For menstrual period pain

• Form: oral tablet
• Strengths: 250 mg, 275 mg, 375 mg, 500 mg, 550 mg
• Form: oral suspension
• Strength: 125 mg/5 mL
• Form: delayed-release oral tablet
• Strengths: 375 mg, 500 mg

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• This age group generally takes the delayed-release tablet. The initial dose is often 550 mg. The maximum initial dose is 1,375 mg.
• You would typically take 550 mg every 12 hours or 275 mg every 6–8 hours as needed. After the initial dose, the maximum dosage is 1,100 mg per day.

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special considerations

If you’re older than 65 years, your body may process this drug more slowly. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose so that too much of this drug doesn’t build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be toxic.

For tendonitis or bursitis

• Form: oral tablet
• Strengths: 250 mg, 275 mg, 375 mg, 500 mg, 550 mg
• Form: oral suspension
• Strength: 125 mg/5 mL
• Form: delayed-release oral tablet
• Strengths: 375 mg, 500 mg

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• This age group generally takes the delayed-release tablet. The initial dose is often 550 mg. The maximum initial dose is 1,375 mg.
• You would typically take 550 mg every 12 hours or 275 mg every 6–8 hours as needed. After the initial dose, the maximum dosage is 1,100 mg per day.

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special considerations

If you’re older than 65 years, your body may process this drug more slowly. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose so that too much of this drug doesn’t build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be toxic.

For gout pain and inflammation

• Form: oral tablet
• Strengths: 250 mg, 275 mg, 375 mg, 500 mg, 550 mg
• Form: oral suspension
• Strength: 125 mg/5 mL
• Form: delayed-release oral tablet
• Strength: 275 mg

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

• The initial dose is often one 750-mg tablet. Then you would take one 250-mg tablet every 8 hours until the symptoms go away.
• Sometimes, the initial dose may be 825 mg. Then you would take one 275-mg tablet every 8 hours until your symptoms go away.
• You shouldn’t take the extended-release form, because it takes longer to start working.

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special considerations

If you’re older than 65 years, your body may process this drug more slowly. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose so that too much of this drug doesn’t build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be toxic.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.