Naproxen what does it do

If you take naproxen with lithium, it may increase the lithium in your body to harmful levels. Taking methotrexate with naproxen can lead to harmful levels of methotrexate in your body. Taking warfarin with naproxen increases your risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions.

Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. All possible dosages and forms may not be included here.

Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:. Too much of the drug in your body can be dangerous. Children in this age group generally receive the oral suspension form of this drug.

It should be given twice per day in evenly spaced doses. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. 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.

Some formulations of this medication have extra salt in them. Naproxen can cause an asthma attack. If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room. Taking it again could be fatal cause death. Naproxen may cause life threatening allergic reactions. Either can cause severe damage to your skin or internal organs and can lead to death.

Naproxen can cause harm to an unborn baby if taken at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy. For people with stomach problems: If you have a history of ulcers or stomach or intestinal bleeding, naproxen increases your risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding. If you have serious kidney disease, you should not use this drug. For pregnant women: Naproxen is a pregnancy category C drug. That means two things:.

Avoid naproxen during the third trimester of pregnancy. It could harm your pregnancy. For women who are breastfeeding: Naproxen is passed through breast milk and could cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medication. Your body may process this drug more slowly.

Too much of the drug in your body can be harmful. Prescription naproxen oral tablet is a short-term drug treatment. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:.

If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: If you miss your dose, take it as soon as you can. How to tell if the drug is working: Signs that the drug is working will depend on the condition being treated. A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled.

If you will be undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft CABG; a type of heart surgery , you should not take naproxen right before or right after the surgery. NSAIDs such as naproxen may cause ulcers, bleeding, or holes in the stomach or intestine.

These problems may develop at any time during treatment, may happen without warning symptoms, and may cause death. The risk may be higher for people who take NSAIDs for a long time, are older in age, have poor health, or who drink three or more alcoholic drinks per day while taking naproxen. Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications: anticoagulants ''blood thinners'' such as warfarin Coumadin, Jantoven ; aspirin; other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen Advil, Motrin and ketoprofen; oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone Medrol , and prednisone Rayos ; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs such as citalopram Celexa , fluoxetine Prozac, Sarafem, Selfemra, in Symbyax , fluvoxamine Luvox , paroxetine Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva , and sertraline Zoloft ; or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs such as desvenlafaxine Khedezla, Pristiq , duloxetine Cymbalta , and venlafaxine Effexor XR.

Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had ulcers, bleeding in your stomach or intestines, or other bleeding disorders. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking naproxen and call your doctor: stomach pain, heartburn, vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds, blood in the stool, or black and tarry stools.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will monitor your symptoms carefully and will probably order certain tests to check your body's response to naproxen. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling so that your doctor can prescribe the right amount of medication to treat your condition with the lowest risk of serious side effects.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet Medication Guide when you begin treatment with prescription naproxen and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Prescription naproxen is used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis arthritis caused by a breakdown of the lining of the joints , rheumatoid arthritis arthritis caused by swelling of the lining of the joints , juvenile arthritis a form of joint disease in children , and ankylosing spondylitis arthritis that mainly affects the spine. Prescription naproxen tablets, extended-release tablets, and suspension are also used to relieve shoulder pain caused by bursitis inflammation of a fluid-filled sac in the shoulder joint , tendinitis inflammation of the tissue that connects muscle to bone , gouty arthritis attacks of joint pain caused by a build-up of certain substances in the joints , and pain from other causes, including menstrual pain pain that happens before or during a menstrual period.

Nonprescription naproxen is used to reduce fever and to relieve mild pain from headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, menstrual periods, the common cold, toothaches, and backaches. It works by stopping the body's production of a substance that causes pain, fever, and inflammation.

Prescription naproxen comes as a regular tablet, a delayed-release a tablet that releases the medication in the intestine to prevent damage to the stomach tablet, an extended-release long-acting tablet, and a suspension liquid to take by mouth. The extended-release tablets are usually taken once a day. The tablets, delayed-release tablets, and suspension are usually taken twice a day for arthritis.

The tablets and suspension are usually taken every 8 hours for gout, and every 6 to 8 hours as needed for pain. If you are taking naproxen on a regular basis, you should take it at the same time s every day. Nonprescription naproxen comes as tablet and a gelatin coated tablet to take by mouth.

It is usually taken with a full glass of water every 8 to 12 hours as needed. Nonprescription naproxen may be taken with food or milk to prevent nausea. Follow the directions on the package or prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take naproxen exactly as directed.

Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor or written on the package. Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly.

Use the measuring cup provided to measure each dose of the liquid. Swallow the delayed-release tablets and extended release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. The side effects in this table occur in approximately 3 to 9 percent of people. People with serious heart conditions, such as heart disease , cerebrovascular disease , and congestive heart failure , may experience severe side effects from taking naproxen.

People with high blood pressure should only take naproxen cautiously. Naproxen can cause sodium retention in the kidneys, which can result in increased blood pressure. A person with high blood pressure should consult their doctor before taking naproxen.

Gastrointestinal side effects of taking naproxen can be severe. Bleeding in the stomach, the formation of ulcers, and stomach or intestinal blockages can occur when taking naproxen. Most often, older adults are the most vulnerable age group for gastrointestinal side effects.

People who have a history of ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding have a fold higher risk for developing a bleed when taking naproxen. For these individuals, even short-term treatment can be risky. Naproxen may interact with several prescription and nonprescription drugs. Drinking alcohol and taking naproxen may increase the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

People taking the antidepressant class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs have an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers when taking naproxen.

SSRIs include:. Oral steroids, such as prednisone and antiplatelet drugs, may also increase stomach and intestinal bleeding and ulceration if people combine them with naproxen. Naproxen blocks the aggregation of platelets, which is an essential step in blood clotting. Blocking the aggregation of platelets can increase the time it takes for bleeding to stop. People must talk to a doctor before combining naproxen with blood thinners, such as antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications.

NSAIDs can prevent the body from producing prostaglandin, which may affect pregnancy. Taking naproxen during the third trimester of pregnancy may cause heart malformations in the fetus. Also, nursing babies may experience serious side effects if the mother is taking naproxen. Doctors do not recommend naproxen for women who are breastfeeding. Asthma symptoms and severe allergic reactions may occur when affected individuals take aspirin.

These people should avoid naproxen and all other NSAIDs because of the risk of developing severe side effects. During the first two trimesters of pregnancy, women should use naproxen cautiously. Once the pregnancy enters the third trimester, they must avoid taking naproxen. Naproxen may be present in breast milk, which can cause serious side effects for an infant. People should not combine certain antidepressants, high blood pressure, and blood thinners with naproxen.

Certain diagnoses may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects, such as heart disease, ulcers, and kidney disease. Children under 12 years old should avoid using naproxen unless a doctor prescribes the medication. People can use it to relieve pain that inflammation causes. Naproxen is not safe for everyone.

People taking certain medications should use naproxen cautiously to avoid side effects. People with stomach or intestinal diseases, cardiac disease, or kidney disease should discuss the use of NSAIDs with their doctor.

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