Naproxen instructions

• Naproxen uses
• Naproxen dosage
• Naproxen side effects
• Warnings & precautions
• Drug interactions
• Missed dose

Today's best Naprosyn (Naproxen) offers

Brand Name: Naprosyn, EC Naprosyn, Naprelan

Generic Name: Naproxen

The following product information is not intended to replace the physician's or manufacturer's instructions.

Naproxen Common Medical Uses:
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 here.

How to 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 any extended-release forms of naproxen. Swallow them whole. These are specially formulated to release slowly in your body. Ask your pharmacist if you do not know if you have an extended release formulation. To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid form of naproxen with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular tablespoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. Shake the suspension well.

Naproxen Possible Side Effects:
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking naproxen and seek medical treatment or call your doctor immediately:

• allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives)
• muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling
• ulcers (open sores) in the mouth
• rapid weight gain (fluid retention)
• seizures
• black, bloody, or tarry stools
• blood in your urine or vomit
• decreased hearing or ringing in the ears
• yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice)
• 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, gaseousness, diarrhea, or constipation
• depression
• fatigue or weakness
• dry mouth
• 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.

Naproxen Precautions:
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 unlikely to harm 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 harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Drug Interactions:
Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may increase the effects of naproxen and cause dangerous side effects.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

• other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Rufen, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail)
• other commonly used NSAIDs, including diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin)
• aspirin and other salicylates (forms of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate, and magnesium salicylate (watch the aspirin content of other over-the-counter products such as cough, cold, and allergy medicines)
• diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone), and amiloride (Midamor)
• anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• steroids such as prednisone (Deltasone)
• alcohol
• oral antidiabetic drugs such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• bismuth subsalicylate in drugs such as Pepto-Bismol

Naproxen can also decrease the effects of other drugs, such as:

• angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, such as benazepril (Lotensin) and captopril (Capoten)
• other commonly used ACE inhibitors, including enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• beta-blockers, used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, such as acebutolol (Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), and carteolol (Cartrol).

Talk to your doctor before taking naproxen 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.

Missed Dose:
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose of this medication. Wait the prescribed amount of time before taking your next dose.

Storage:
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.

Notes:
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.

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