Arthritis Treatment Treating Arthritis With Naproxen A Popular NSAID By Carol Eustice facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD on October 11, 2020 linkedin Scott J. Zashin, MD, specializes in the treatment of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal conditions using both traditional and alternative therapies. Learn about our Medical Review Board Scott Zashin, MD Updated on December 01, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What It's For Availability Instructions Who Shouldn't Take It Side Effects Special Warnings Pregnancy/Nursing Drug Interactions Signs of Overdose Naprosyn (naproxen) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat certain types of arthritis, acute inflammatory conditions, and menstrual cramps. Naproxen is available in prescription strength and as Aleve, an over-the-counter (OTC) formulation. Before taking naproxen, you should check with your doctor. Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Indications Naproxen is commonly prescribed to relieve signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, tendonitis, and bursitis. It is used to reduce inflammation, joint stiffness, and joint pain. Availability OTC naproxen is available as a generic and by several brand names, such as Aleve. Prescription-strength naproxen comes as a regular tablet, enteric-coated tablet, extended-release tablet, and as a liquid suspension to take orally. The typical dose of naproxen is 250 milligrams (mg), 375 mg, or 500 mg, taken twice a day—in the morning and evening for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. Enteric-coated naproxen is usually taken in doses of 375 mg or 500 mg twice a day. Your doctor can adjust your dose based on how you are responding to the drug. Special Instructions Many doctors instruct patients to take naproxen with food. Some resources say that naproxen can be taken with or without food. Other resources suggest taking it with a full glass of water. To prevent stomach upset, you can take it with food or milk. If stomach upset occurs, consult your doctor. They may recommend that you take an antacid. Contraindications Patients who have had episodes of asthma, rhinitis, or nasal polyps after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs should not take naproxen. Aspirin-sensitive patients should not take naproxen. Be sure your doctor knows about any previous drug reactions. Patients who have had ulcers, stomach bleeding, severe kidney problems, or severe liver problems may not be candidates for treatment with naproxen. Common Side Effects Diarrhea, constipation, gas, mouth sores, headache, dizziness, thirst, lightheadedness, drowsiness, tingling in arms and legs, cold symptoms, ringing in the ears, hearing problems, and trouble falling or staying asleep are all possible side effects associated with naproxen. Special Warnings and Precautions Problems with stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding can occur with any NSAID, and naproxen is no exception. Typically, these problems are tied to long-term use of the drug, but not always—short-term use of naproxen or other NSAIDs can be problematic for some people. Stomach ulcers and bleeding can occur without warning. Signs can include burning stomach pain, black stools, or vomiting. Call your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms. Liver damage can occur in people taking NSAIDs like naproxen. Warning signs include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, appetite loss, itching, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and dark urine. Naproxen can cause fluid retention and swelling in the body. NSAIDs like naproxen have also been linked to increased blood pressure. NSAIDs, including naproxen, are associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and new onset or worsening of pre-existing hypertension (high blood pressure). Cardiovascular risk may be increased with longer duration of use of naproxen or pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Pregnant or Nursing Women Women who are pregnant are advised not to take naproxen, especially during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Women who are nursing should also not take naproxen. Potential Drug Interactions Naproxen can have serious adverse reactions to certain drugs. Drugs which can cause interactions to include: Aspirin ACE inhibitors Blood-thinning medications Diuretics, such as furosemide; and triamterene Lithium Signs of Overdose As with any medication, there can be severe consequences of taking excessive doses of naproxen. An overdose of naproxen or other NSAIDs can cause nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Other serious potential consequences of overdose include kidney and liver damage, meningitis, circulatory collapse, and even death. Be sure to take naproxen only as directed. Using Naproxen for Chronic Pain Management Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Brutzkus JC, Varacallo M. Naproxen. [Updated 2019 Oct 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Additional Reading Naproxen - MedlinePlus.com. Revised 09/15/2015. Naprosyn. PDRHealth.