Experiences with
Naproxen

About naproxen

Naproxen is a medicine that reduces inflammation and pain in joints and muscles.

It's used to treat diseases of joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout.

It's also used for period pain and muscle and bone disorders, such as back pain and sprains and strains.

Naproxen is available on prescription as tablets or as a liquid that you drink. You can buy it without a prescription from a pharmacy for period pain.

Naproxen can only be taken by children when it's prescribed for them.

Who can and cannot take naproxen

Most adults can be prescribed naproxen.

It can also be prescribed to children to treat:

muscle and bone disorders for babies from 1 month
diseases of the joints for children from 2 years
period pain – for children under 15

Adults and teenagers aged 15 and over can buy it from a pharmacy for period pain.

Naproxen is not suitable for certain people. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

have had an allergic reaction to naproxen or any other medicines in the past
have had an allergic reaction to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen
have or have had stomach ulcers, bleeding in the stomach or intestines, or a hole in your stomach
have high blood pressure
have severe liver or kidney failure
have severe heart failure or other heart problems
have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
have lupus
have a blood clotting disorder
are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding

How and when to take naproxen

Always take your naproxen tablets with or just after a meal so you do not get an upset stomach.

As a general rule in adults, the dose to treat:

diseases of joints is 500mg to 1,000mg a day in 1 or 2 doses
muscle, bone disorders and painful periods is 500mg at first, then 250mg every 6 to 8 hours as required
attacks of gout is 750mg, then 250mg every 8 hours until the attack has passed

Doses are usually lower for elderly people and people with heart, liver or kidney problems.

The doctor will use your child's weight to work out the right dose.

If you get naproxen on prescription, the dose depends on the reason why you're taking it, your age, how well your liver and kidneys work, and how well it helps your symptoms.

If you buy naproxen from a pharmacy for painful menstrual periods:

on the first day – take 2 tablets when the pain starts, then after 6 to 8 hours take 1 more tablet that day if you need to
on the second and following days – take 1 tablet every 6 to 8 hours if needed

Do not take more than 3 tablets in 24 hours for period pain.

Naproxen on prescription comes as 2 different tablets: effervescent and gastro-resistant tablets.

Effervescent tablets are dissolved in water before you take them.

Gastro-resistant tablets have a coating to protect them from being broken down by the acid in your stomach. Instead, the medicine is released further down the gut in your intestine.

If you take gastro-resistant tablets, swallow them whole with or after food. Do not crush or chew them.

If you take effervescent tablets, dissolve 1 to 2 tablets in a glass (150ml) of water and drink.

Doses of 3 tablets should be dissolved in 300ml. To make sure there's no medicine left, rinse the empty glass with a small amount of water and drink it. Take with or after food.

What if I forget to take it?

Take your forgotten dose as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

If you take too many naproxen tablets, you're more likely to get some of the common side effects. Contact your doctor straight away.

Taking naproxen with other painkillers

Do not take naproxen with ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.

It's OK to take naproxen with paracetamol or co-codamol that you buy over the counter, but this should just be for short periods of time.

If you often need to take extra painkillers with naproxen or for more than a few days, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Sometimes taking different painkillers together is a good way to relieve pain, but there may be other treatments you can try.

It's OK to take other painkillers with naproxen for longer if your doctor has given them to you on prescription and told you to take them together.

If you're unsure, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Side effects

Like all medicines, naproxen can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

Common side effects of naproxen happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

They include:

confusion
headaches
ringing in the ears
changes in vision
tiredness and feeling sleepy
dizziness
rashes

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

Serious side effects

Call your doctor straight away if you have:

severe indigestion, heartburn, pains in your stomach, feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) or diarrhoea – these can be signs of an ulcer or inflammation in the stomach or gut
vomiting blood or dark particles that look like coffee grounds, blood in your poo, or black, tarry-looking poo – these could be signs of bleeding and perforation of the stomach or gut
a frequent sore throat, nose bleeds, and infections – these can be signs of abnormalities in your blood cells, known as agranulocytosis
fainting, chest pain, or breathlessness – these can be signs of anaemia
high temperature, feeling or being sick, confusion, headache, neck stiffness and sensitivity to light – these can be signs of aseptic meningitis
blood in your pee, a decrease in how much pee is passed, feeling or being sick – these can be signs of kidney damage or infection
yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow – these can be signs of jaundice or inflammation of the liver
irregular, slow heartbeats caused by high levels of potassium in the blood
high temperature, stomach pain and being sick – these can be signs of inflammation of the pancreas

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to naproxen.

How to cope with side effects of naproxen

What to do about:

confusion – if naproxen makes you feel confused, speak to your doctor.
headache – make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking naproxen. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
ringing in the ears – if this lasts for more than 1 or 2 days, speak to your doctor as they may need to change your treatment.
changes in vision – do not drive until this side effect has worn off.
feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy – as your body gets used to naproxen, these side effects should wear off.
dizziness – if naproxen makes you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better.
rashes – it may help to take an antihistamine, which you can buy from a pharmacy. Check with the pharmacist to see what type is suitable for you.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Naproxen is not usually recommended in pregnancy – especially if you're 30 or more weeks – unless it's prescribed by a doctor.

This is because there might be a link between taking naproxen in pregnancy and some birth defects, in particular damage to the baby's heart and blood vessels.

There may also be a link between taking naproxen in early pregnancy and miscarriage.

Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking naproxen.

It'll depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take the medicine. There may be other treatments that are safer for you.

Paracetamol is usually recommended as the first choice of painkiller for pregnant women.