description of naproxen
(na PROX en)
Aleve, Aleve Caplet, Anaprox, Anaprox-DS, EC Naprosyn, Naprelan, Naprosyn
What is the most important information I should know about naproxen?
• Take naproxen with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset description of naproxen.
• Do not crush or chew any extended-release forms of naproxen description of naproxen. Swallowthem whole description of naproxen. They are specially formulated to release slowly in your body description of naproxen. Askyour pharmacist if you do not know if you have an extended-release formulation description of naproxen.
• Watch for bloody, black, or tarry stools or blood in your vomit description of naproxen. Thesesymptoms could indicate damage to your gastrointestinal tract description of naproxen.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, naproxen mayincrease the risk of stomach bleeding description of naproxen.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities description of naproxen. Naproxen may cause dizziness description of naproxen. If you experience dizziness, avoidthese activities description of naproxen.
What is naproxen?
• Naproxen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs (NSAIDs) description of naproxen.
• Naproxen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and painin the body description of naproxen. Naproxen is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness causedby many conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosingspondylitis, injury, abdominal cramps associated with menstruation, tendinitis,and bursitis description of naproxen.
• Naproxen may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide description of naproxen.
Who should not take naproxen?
• 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 description of naproxen.
• You may not be able to take naproxen, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove description of naproxen.
• Naproxen is in the FDA pregnancy category B description of naproxen. This means that it is unlikelyto harm an unborn baby description of naproxen. Naproxen should not be taken late in pregnancy (thethird trimester) because a similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart description of naproxen. Do not take naproxen without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant description of naproxen.
• Naproxen passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant description of naproxen. Do nottake this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby description of naproxen.
How should I take naproxen?
• Take naproxen exactly as directed by your doctor description of naproxen. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou description of naproxen.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water description of naproxen.
• Take naproxen with milk, food, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset description of naproxen.
• Do not crush or chew any extended-release forms of naproxen description of naproxen. Swallowthem whole description of naproxen. These are specially formulated to release slowly in your body description of naproxen. Askyour pharmacist if you do not know if you have an extended release formulation description of naproxen.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid form of naproxenwith a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular tablespoon description of naproxen. Ifyou do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can getone description of naproxen. Shake the suspension well
• Store naproxen at room temperature away from moisture and heat description of naproxen.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late description of naproxen. If morethan 2 hours have passed since the missed dose, skip it and take only your nextregularly scheduled dose description of naproxen. Do not take a double dose description of naproxen.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention description of naproxen.
• Symptoms of a naproxen overdose include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain,dizziness, drowsiness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, seizures,sweating, numbness or tingling, little or no urine production, and slow breathing description of naproxen.
What should I avoid while taking naproxen?
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight description of naproxen. Naproxen may increase the sensitivityof your skin to sunlight description of naproxen. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing whenexposure to the sun is unavoidable description of naproxen.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities description of naproxen. Naproxen may cause dizziness description of naproxen. If you experience dizziness, avoidthese activities description of naproxen.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, naproxen mayincrease the risk of stomach bleeding description of naproxen.
What are the possible side effects of naproxen?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingnaproxen and seek medical treatment or call your doctor immediately:
· an 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); or
· abdominal cramping, heartburn, or indigestion description of naproxen.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur description of naproxen. Continueto take naproxen and talk to your doctor if you experience
· dizziness or headache;
· nausea, gaseousness, diarrhea, or constipation;
· depression;
· fatigue or weakness;
· dry mouth; or
· irregular menstrual periods description of naproxen.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur description of naproxen. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome description of naproxen.
What other drugs will affect naproxen?
• Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may increase the effectsof naproxen and cause dangerous side effects description of naproxen. Tell your doctor if you are takingany 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 aspirincontent of other over-the-counter products such as cough, cold, and allergymedicines);
· 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); or
· bismuth subsalicylate in drugs such as Pepto-Bismol description of naproxen.
• Naproxen can also decrease the effects of other drugs, such as
· angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, used to treat highblood 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); and
· beta-blockers, used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions,such as acebutolol (Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal),atenolol (Tenormin), and carteolol (Cartrol) description of naproxen.
• Talk to your doctor before taking naproxen if you are taking any of themedicines listed above description of naproxen.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with naproxen description of naproxen. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines description of naproxen.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about naproxen written forhealth professionals that you may read description of naproxen.
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