medication 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 medication naproxen.
• Do not crush or chew any extended-release forms of naproxen medication naproxen. Swallowthem whole medication naproxen. They are specially formulated to release slowly in your body medication naproxen. Askyour pharmacist if you do not know if you have an extended-release formulation medication naproxen.
• Watch for bloody, black, or tarry stools or blood in your vomit medication naproxen. Thesesymptoms could indicate damage to your gastrointestinal tract medication naproxen.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, naproxen mayincrease the risk of stomach bleeding medication naproxen.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities medication naproxen. Naproxen may cause dizziness medication naproxen. If you experience dizziness, avoidthese activities medication naproxen.
What is naproxen?
• Naproxen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs (NSAIDs) medication naproxen.
• Naproxen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and painin the body medication 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 medication naproxen.
• Naproxen may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide medication 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 medication 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 medication naproxen.
• Naproxen is in the FDA pregnancy category B medication naproxen. This means that it is unlikelyto harm an unborn baby medication naproxen. Naproxen should not be taken late in pregnancy (thethird trimester) because a similar drug is known to affect the baby's heart medication naproxen. Do not take naproxen without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant medication naproxen.
• Naproxen passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant medication naproxen. Do nottake this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby medication naproxen.
How should I take naproxen?
• Take naproxen exactly as directed by your doctor medication naproxen. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou medication naproxen.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water medication naproxen.
• Take naproxen with milk, food, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset medication naproxen.
• Do not crush or chew any extended-release forms of naproxen medication naproxen. Swallowthem whole medication naproxen. These are specially formulated to release slowly in your body medication naproxen. Askyour pharmacist if you do not know if you have an extended release formulation medication 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 medication naproxen. Ifyou do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can getone medication naproxen. Shake the suspension well
• Store naproxen at room temperature away from moisture and heat medication naproxen.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late medication naproxen. If morethan 2 hours have passed since the missed dose, skip it and take only your nextregularly scheduled dose medication naproxen. Do not take a double dose medication naproxen.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention medication 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 medication naproxen.
What should I avoid while taking naproxen?
• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight medication naproxen. Naproxen may increase the sensitivityof your skin to sunlight medication naproxen. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing whenexposure to the sun is unavoidable medication naproxen.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities medication naproxen. Naproxen may cause dizziness medication naproxen. If you experience dizziness, avoidthese activities medication naproxen.
• If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, naproxen mayincrease the risk of stomach bleeding medication 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 medication naproxen.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur medication 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 medication naproxen.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur medication naproxen. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome medication naproxen.
What other drugs will affect naproxen?
• Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may increase the effectsof naproxen and cause dangerous side effects medication 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 medication 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) medication naproxen.
• Talk to your doctor before taking naproxen if you are taking any of themedicines listed above medication naproxen.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with naproxen medication naproxen. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines medication naproxen.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about naproxen written forhealth professionals that you may read medication naproxen.
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