Naproxen oral tablet is a generic drug that’s prescribed for pain and inflammation. The medication is also available as the brand-name drugs Anaprox DS, Naprelan, and Naprosyn. Naproxen belongs to the NSAID drug class.

  1. Prescription naproxen oral tablet is a generic drug that’s also available in some brand-name versions. Brand names: Anaprox DS, Naprelan, and Naprosyn.
  2. There are two kinds of prescription naproxen: regular naproxen and naproxen sodium. Regular naproxen comes as an immediate-release tablet, a delayed-release tablet, and an oral suspension. Naproxen sodium comes as an immediate-release tablet and an extended-release tablet. Naproxen sodium is also available in over-the-counter forms.
  3. All forms of prescription naproxen oral tablets help reduce swelling and pain. They’re taken to treat many conditions, including arthritis, menstrual pain, muscle and joint inflammation, and gout.

There are two kinds of prescription naproxen: regular naproxen and naproxen sodium. Naproxen sodium contains sodium (salt). Medications are sometimes manufactured as salt forms to help them be absorbed more quickly and released into your body. Naproxen sodium and regular naproxen are considered to be equally safe and effective.

Regular naproxen comes as an immediate-release tablet, a delayed-release tablet, and an oral suspension (a kind of liquid mixture).

Naproxen sodium comes as an immediate-release tablet and an extended-release tablet.

Naproxen sodium is also available in over-the-counter forms. This article only addresses prescription forms of naproxen.

Prescription naproxen oral tablets are available as the brand-name drugs Anaprox DS, Naprelan, and Naprosyn. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, generics may not be available in all the same strengths and forms as the brand-name drug.

Naproxen uses

Prescription naproxen oral tablets are used to treat pain and inflammation (swelling and damage) in a variety of conditions. This drug is approved to treat:

Generally, naproxen can be used in adults and children 2 years and older.

How it works

Prescription naproxen tablets belong to a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs help reduce pain and inflammation (swelling and damage). It isn’t fully understood how naproxen works to decrease pain. It may help reduce swelling by lowering levels of prostaglandin. This is a hormone-like substance that’s involved in causing inflammation.

How long it lasts

After you take a dose of naproxen, the drug may last as long as 4 days in your body.

Depending on the condition you’re treating with naproxen, you may take a dose every 6 to 12 hours. Regardless of how often you take naproxen, you’ll likely only take it until your symptoms go away.

Studies have determined the dosages that help keep an effective level of the drug in the body for the different conditions naproxen treats. Your doctor will recommend the right dosage of naproxen for your condition.

After you stop taking naproxen, the drug should be fully gone from your body in about 4 days.

If you have questions about how long naproxen lasts in your body, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Prescription naproxen oral tablets may cause drowsiness. You shouldn’t drive, use machinery, or do other activities that require alertness until you know you can function as you usually would. This drug can also cause other side effects.

More common side effects

The more common side effects that occur with naproxen oral tablet include:

  • abdominal pain
  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  • gas
  • heartburn
  • nausea and vomiting
  • dizziness

Mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if they’re more severe or don’t go away.

Serious side effects

Contact your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

  • chest pain
  • shortness of breath or trouble breathing
  • weakness in one part or side of your body
  • trouble speaking
  • allergic reaction
  • swelling of the face or throat
  • high blood pressure
  • bleeding and ulcers in your stomach and intestines, which can cause symptoms such as:
    • abdominal pain
    • bloody vomit
    • blood in your stool
    • black and sticky stool
  • asthma attacks in people who have asthma
  • fatigue, lethargy, or weakness, which may be caused by anemia
  • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
  • unusual weight gain or swelling of your arms, legs, hands, or feet
  • skin rash or blisters with fever

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:

  • your age
  • the condition being treated and how severe it is
  • other medical conditions you have
  • how you react to the first dose

Dosage forms and strengths

The table below lists the forms and strengths available for generic naproxen and naproxen sodium, as well as some of the brand-name versions of the drug.

All forms listed are taken orally (swallowed). An immediate-release tablet releases the drug right away in the body. A delayed-release tablet releases the drug after a period of time. An extended-release tablet releases the drug slowly over a certain period of time.

Strengths are given in milligrams (mg).

Generic nameBrand nameFormStrengths
naproxenNaprosynimmediate-release tablet• naproxen: 250 mg, 375 mg, 500 mg
• Naprosyn: 500 mg
naproxenEC-Naprosyndelayed-release tablet375 mg, 500 mg
naproxen sodiumAnaprox DSimmediate-release tablet• naproxen: 250 mg, 500 mg
• Anaprox DS: 500 mg
naproxen sodiumNaprelanextended-release tablet375 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg

Dosage for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

Naproxen immediate-release oral tablet

  • The usual dosage is 250 mg to 500 mg twice daily.
  • The maximum dose is 1,500 mg per day. This should be taken for a limited time (up to 6 months).

Naproxen delayed-release oral tablet

  • The usual dosage is 375 mg to 500 mg twice daily.
  • The maximum dose is 1,500 mg per day. This should be taken for a limited time (up to 6 months).

Naproxen sodium extended-release oral tablet

  • The usual dosage is 750 mg or 1,000 mg once daily.
  • The maximum dose is 1,500 mg per day. This should be taken for a limited time.

Child dosage (ages 0 to 17 years)

A dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special dosage considerations

If you’re older than 65 years, your body may process this drug more slowly. At the start of treatment, your doctor may prescribe a reduced dose so that too much of this drug doesn’t build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be dangerous.

Dosage for polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Child dosage (ages 2 to 17 years)

Children in this age group will generally take the oral suspension form of naproxen (a kind of liquid mixture). The dosage will be based on your child’s weight. It should be given twice daily in doses that are evenly spaced throughout the day.

Child dosage (ages 0 to 23 months)

Dosage for children younger than 2 years hasn’t been established.

Dosage for tendonitis, bursitis, and menstrual pain

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

Naproxen immediate-release oral tablet

  • The initial dose is 500 mg, followed by 250 mg every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
  • The maximum daily dose is 1,250 mg.

Naproxen delayed-release oral tablet

  • The initial dose is 1,000 mg once daily.
  • The dose may be temporarily increased to 1,500 mg once daily if greater pain relief is needed.

Child dosage (ages 0 to 17 years)

Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special dosage considerations

If you’re older than 65 years, your body may process this drug more slowly. At the start of treatment, your doctor may prescribe a reduced dose so that too much of this drug doesn’t build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be dangerous.

Dosage for gout pain and inflammation

Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)

Naproxen immediate-release oral tablet

  • The initial dose is 750 mg, followed by 250 mg every 8 hours until the attack subsides.

Naproxen delayed-release oral tablet

  • The initial dose is 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg once daily, followed by 1,000 mg once daily until the attack subsides.

Child dosage (ages 0 to 17 years)

Dosage for people younger than 18 years hasn’t been established.

Special dosage considerations

If you’re older than 65 years, your body may process this drug more slowly. At the start of treatment, your doctor may prescribe a reduced dose so that too much of this drug doesn’t build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be dangerous.

Yes, 500 mg of naproxen is considered a strong dose for pain relief and has been shown to be generally effective. Depending on your condition, your doctor might prescribe a dose of 500 mg every 6 to 12 hours.

How does naproxen compare with ibuprofen and narcotics?

Naproxen and ibuprofen are both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Pain relief with naproxen generally lasts longer than pain relief with ibuprofen. This means that naproxen doesn’t need to be taken as often as ibuprofen, in many cases. These drugs have similar risks and side effects, though the risk of some serious side effects may be higher with ibuprofen. For more information about how these drugs compare, you can refer to this ibuprofen versus naproxen article.

Naproxen is not as strong as narcotic drugs. The term narcotics usually refers to opioid drugs, which are powerful medications that can be used for acute and chronic (long-term) pain and other conditions. Opioids come with a risk of misuse and addiction.

Prescription naproxen oral tablets can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with naproxen are listed below.

Antidepressant drugs

Combining selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with naproxen increases your risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding. Examples of these drugs include:

Blood pressure drugs

Naproxen might make blood pressure medications less effective. Also, if you’re older than 65 years, combining naproxen with certain blood pressure medications may damage your kidneys. Examples of these medications include:

Heartburn drugs and drugs that protect the stomach

Taking any of these medications with naproxen may make naproxen treat your pain more slowly:

  • aluminum hydroxide
  • magnesium oxide
  • sucralfate (Carafate)

Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Combining naproxen with other NSAIDs increases your risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding. Examples of these medications include:

Cholestyramine

If you take cholestyramine (Prevalite) with naproxen, your body may absorb naproxen more slowly than usual. That means it may take longer to work.

Lithium

If you take naproxen with lithium (Lithobid), it may increase the lithium in your body to harmful levels.

Methotrexate

Taking methotrexate (Trexall) with naproxen can lead to harmful levels of methotrexate in your body.

Warfarin

Taking warfarin (Jantoven) with naproxen increases your risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding.

Naproxen oral tablets come with several important warnings.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Boxed warnings alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

  • Naproxen may increase the risk of heart disease. Taking naproxen long term or in high doses increases this risk. People with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, also have a higher risk of this side effect.
  • Naproxen should not be taken for pain before or after heart bypass surgery. Doing so may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
  • Naproxen may cause ulcers and bleeding in your stomach and intestines. This can happen at any time during treatment and may occur without symptoms. This effect can be fatal. You’re at higher risk if you’re older than 65 years.

High blood pressure warning

Naproxen can cause high blood pressure or make your high blood pressure worse. It can also make your high blood pressure medications less effective. You may need to watch your blood pressure carefully while taking naproxen.

Water retention and swelling warning

Some formulations of this medication have extra salt in them. Talk with your doctor about which formulation to take if you’re watching your salt intake.

Asthma warning

Naproxen can cause an asthma attack. If you have asthma that can be triggered by aspirin or other NSAIDs, don’t use naproxen.

Allergic reaction warning

Naproxen can cause allergic reaction, which can be mild or severe. Symptoms may include:

  • trouble breathing
  • swelling of your throat or tongue
  • hives

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking naproxen.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to naproxen, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Your doctor won’t prescribe naproxen if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal.

Alcohol interaction warning

Combining naproxen and alcohol increases your risk of an ulcer and stomach bleeding. If you drink alcohol, be sure to talk with your doctor about how much, if any, is safe for you to drink while you take naproxen.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic reactions (DRESS) warning

Naproxen may cause a serious condition called DRESS. It can occur 2 to 6 weeks after starting this drug and may be fatal. Call your doctor right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:

  • skin rash
  • fever
  • swollen lymph glands
  • organ damage, including liver failure

Serious skin reactions warning

Naproxen may cause life threatening allergic reactions called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Either can cause severe damage to your skin or internal organs and can lead to death.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms while taking this drug:

  • skin rash
  • hives
  • sores in your mouth
  • blistering or peeling of your skin

Harm to a fetus

Naproxen can cause harm to a fetus if taken at 20 weeks or later in pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant before taking this drug.

Warnings for certain groups

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.

For people with kidney disease: Naproxen can cause kidney damage when it’s taken for a long time. If you have serious kidney disease, you should not take this drug.

For people who are pregnant: Not enough studies have been done to know for sure how naproxen might affect a fetus during pregnancy. But it’s thought that the drug could cause fetal harm.

The FDA recommends avoiding naproxen during pregnancy starting at 20 weeks, as the drug could cause low amniotic fluid.

Before taking this drug, talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

For people who are breastfeeding: Naproxen passes into breast milk and could cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medication.

For older adults: Use caution when taking naproxen if you’re older than 65 years. Your body may process this drug more slowly. At the start of treatment, your doctor may prescribe a reduced dose so that this drug doesn’t build up too much in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be harmful.

For children: The safety and effectiveness of naproxen haven’t been established in children who are younger than 2 years.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering naproxen. What you’ll pay for naproxen may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for naproxen when using coupons from the site. See the coupon options below. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You can refer to this naproxen cost article to learn more. You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Prescription naproxen oral tablet is a short-term drug treatment. It comes with risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

If you stop taking naproxen suddenly or don’t take it at all: You may experience more pain and inflammation (swelling and damage) caused by your condition.

If you miss doses or don’t take naproxen on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. 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:

In rare cases, an overdose can cause:

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, contact your doctor right away. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What to do if you miss a dose: If you miss your dose of naproxen, take it as soon as you can. However, if it’s just a few hours until your next dose, wait until the scheduled time and take a single dose.

Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in toxic side effects.

How to tell if naproxen is working: Signs that the drug is working will depend on the condition being treated.

  • Adult arthritis: Your pain and swelling may get better, you may be able to walk faster, and your morning stiffness may get better.
  • Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Your pain and swelling may get better and you may be able to walk faster.
  • Menstrual pain: Your pain may get better.
  • Tendonitis or bursitis: Your pain, skin discoloration, and inflammation (swelling and damage) may get better.
  • Gout: Your pain and inflammation may get better and the temperature of your skin may start to return to usual.

General

  • You can take naproxen with or without food. Taking it with food may reduce your risk of upset stomach.
  • You can cut or crush the immediate-release tablet to make it easier to take. However, don’t cut or break the delayed-release or extended-release forms. Breaking them apart can increase your risk of stomach damage.
  • You may need to space your doses evenly throughout the day. If your doctor recommends taking a regularly scheduled dose, you may take the doses every 12 hours or every 6 to 8 hours.

Storage

  • Store naproxen at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C).
  • Keep the container tightly closed and protect the drug from light.

Refills

Generally, a prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Travel

When traveling with your medication:

  • Always carry your medication with you. When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag.
  • Don’t worry about airport X-ray machines. They won’t damage your medication.
  • You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Always carry the original prescription-labeled container with you.
  • Don’t put this medication in your car’s glove compartment or leave it in the car. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold.

Clinical monitoring

Your doctor will request tests to check your health and make sure this drug is working for you. These tests may include:

Other drugs are available to treat your condition. Some may be more suitable for you than others. Examples include:

  • acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin)
  • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  • diclofenac (Cambia)
  • meloxicam

Not all of the alternatives for naproxen are listed above. Additionally, not all of the drugs listed above treat the same conditions as naproxen is prescribed for (pain and inflammation). Talk with your doctor about possible alternatives.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.