Naproxen

Pronunciation: na-PROX-en.

Generic name
naproxen
Drug class
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
Form
Tablets (immediate- and delayed/sustained-release), oral suspension
Route
Oral
Legal status
Prescription and pharmacy/over-the-counter (strength- and country-dependent)

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Naprosyn (5) · Full directory

What naproxen is and how it works

Naproxen is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) used to relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness from a range of conditions, from arthritis to menstrual cramps. (1)

Take naproxen exactly as your prescriber or the product label directs, using the lowest dose that controls your symptoms for the shortest time needed -- NSAIDs carry real cardiovascular and digestive-tract risks that increase with higher doses and longer use.

Mechanism of action: how naproxen works

Naproxen is a propionic-acid-derivative NSAID that non-selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), reducing prostaglandin synthesis and thereby reducing inflammation, pain, and fever. (1)

What naproxen is used for

Arthritis and related joint conditions

Used to relieve the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. (1)

Pain, inflammation, and menstrual cramps

Used for tendonitis, bursitis, acute gout, general pain management, and primary dysmenorrhoea (period pain). (1)

Before taking naproxen

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take naproxen if you have had asthma, hives, or an allergic-type reaction after taking aspirin or any other NSAID. (all countries) (1)
  • Do not take naproxen around the time of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. (all countries) (1)
  • Avoid naproxen from about 30 weeks of pregnancy onward, because of the risk of serious harm to the baby's heart and kidneys. (all countries) (1)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any history of stomach ulcers, GI bleeding, or heart disease, high blood pressure, heart failure, or stroke.
  • Any kidney or liver problems.
  • All other medicines you take, especially blood thinners, aspirin, other NSAIDs, steroids, or SSRIs/SNRIs.
  • Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
(1)

How to take naproxen

  • Take naproxen with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.
  • Use the lowest dose that controls your symptoms, for the shortest time needed.
  • Swallow tablets whole; do not crush delayed/sustained-release tablets.
  • Never combine naproxen with other NSAIDs or extra aspirin unless your prescriber has told you to -- this increases the risk of stomach bleeding.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Missed dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose -- in that case, skip the missed dose and continue your normal schedule. Contact your prescriber or pharmacist if you are unsure.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical help immediately if too much naproxen has been taken, or if severe stomach pain, black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, or difficulty breathing occurs. (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Heartburn, stomach pain, indigestion, and diarrhoea.

What to notice: Heartburn, stomach pain, indigestion, and diarrhoea.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Headache, dizziness, and drowsiness.

What to notice: Headache, dizziness, and drowsiness.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Itching, skin rash, and easy bruising.

What to notice: Itching, skin rash, and easy bruising.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Swelling (fluid retention) and palpitations.

What to notice: Swelling (fluid retention) and palpitations.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)

Serious warnings

Signs of a heart attack or stroke — boxed_warning

Symptoms: Chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, or sudden severe headache.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately -- naproxen and other NSAIDs carry a real, boxed-warning risk of serious cardiovascular events. (1)

Signs of stomach or intestinal bleeding — boxed_warning

Symptoms: Black or tarry stools, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, or severe stomach pain -- these can occur at any time during use, sometimes with no warning.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately -- NSAIDs carry a real, boxed-warning risk of serious, sometimes fatal, GI bleeding. (1)

Signs of a serious allergic (anaphylactic) reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing; widespread rash or hives.

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. (1)

Signs of a serious skin reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Blistering or peeling skin, painful sores in the mouth or eyes, or a widespread rash.

Action: Get medical help immediately for any new or spreading rash -- your prescriber will assess urgently, and rare but serious skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported. (1)

Signs of liver problems — high caution

Symptoms: Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, unusual tiredness, nausea, or right upper abdominal pain.

Action: Contact your prescriber promptly -- liver problems need urgent evaluation, and your care team will decide on next steps. (1)

Signs of kidney problems, heart failure, or fluid retention — high caution

Symptoms: Swelling in the legs or ankles, sudden weight gain, reduced urination, or shortness of breath.

Action: Contact your prescriber promptly, especially if you have existing heart, kidney, or liver disease -- naproxen can worsen these conditions. (1)

Interactions

  • Blood thinners (such as warfarin), aspirin, and SSRIs/SNRIs increase the risk of bleeding when combined with naproxen. (1)
  • ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and beta-blockers may work less well for blood pressure when combined with naproxen, and the combination can increase the risk of kidney problems, especially in older adults or those who are dehydrated. (1)
  • Naproxen can reduce the effectiveness of furosemide and thiazide diuretics ('water tablets'). (1)
  • Naproxen can raise digoxin levels -- monitoring may be needed. (1)
  • Lithium, methotrexate, and ciclosporin levels or effects can be affected by naproxen -- monitoring is recommended. (1)
  • Combining naproxen with other NSAIDs or salicylates is not recommended, because it increases the risk of stomach and intestinal problems without added benefit. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Naproxen use should be limited from about 20 to 30 weeks of pregnancy because of a risk to the baby's kidneys and amniotic fluid levels, and avoided entirely from about 30 weeks onward because of the added risk of premature closure of a blood vessel in the baby's heart (the ductus arteriosus). Discuss any pain relief needs in pregnancy with your prescriber. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Breastfeeding

Naproxen passes into breast milk in small amounts. Discuss the benefits and risks with your prescriber before breastfeeding. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Children

Approved for juvenile idiopathic arthritis in some age groups; use in children should always be guided by a prescriber. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Elderly

Older adults are at greater risk of serious GI bleeding and kidney problems with NSAIDs -- the lowest effective dose is especially important. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Hepatic_impairment

Liver problems can increase the risk of naproxen-related side effects -- tell your prescriber about any liver issues. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Renal_impairment

Kidney problems can increase the risk of naproxen-related side effects, and NSAIDs should generally be avoided in advanced kidney disease unless a prescriber judges the benefit outweighs the risk. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Baseline blood pressure
  • Baseline kidney and liver function where relevant
  • Review of cardiovascular and GI bleeding risk factors
  • Review of other medicines, especially blood thinners

During treatment

  • Watching for signs of GI bleeding, heart problems, or kidney problems.
  • Periodic blood pressure checks.
  • Periodic liver and kidney function tests in long-term use or at-risk patients.
(1)

Storage

Store at controlled room temperature, 20C to 25C (68F to 77F); brief excursions between 15C to 30C (59F to 86F) are permitted. Keep in a well-closed container, out of reach of children.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current US FDA prescribing information; verify against the current full label before prescribing.

United States

Indication: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, acute gout, pain, primary dysmenorrhoea

Dose summary: Lowest effective dose for the shortest duration; dosage adjusted per clinical response; up to 1500 mg/day for up to 6 months in patients tolerating lower doses. Contraindicated in the setting of CABG surgery and from about 30 weeks gestation.

Renal context: Avoid in advanced renal disease unless benefit is judged to outweigh risk; monitor renal function in at-risk patients (elderly, volume-depleted, concomitant ACE inhibitor/ARB/diuretic use). (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Discontinuation should be considered by the treating clinician if abnormal liver tests persist or worsen, or if clinical signs of liver disease develop.

Overdose note

Overdose can cause GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, GI bleeding), drowsiness, dizziness, and rarely seizures or acute kidney injury; management is supportive, guided by a poison control center or emergency clinician. (1)

Frequently asked questions

Is naproxen available in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?

Yes, it is approved and available in all of these regions, both on prescription and, at lower strengths, over the counter in some countries. (1) (3) (2) (4) (5) (6)

Why does naproxen have a boxed warning?

All NSAIDs, including naproxen, carry a real, FDA-mandated boxed warning for an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke) and serious gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation, which is why it is used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time needed. (1)

Can I take naproxen late in pregnancy?

No -- naproxen should be avoided from about 30 weeks of pregnancy onward because of a real risk to the baby's heart and kidneys. Talk to your prescriber about safer pain relief options in pregnancy. (1)

What is the mechanism of action of naproxen?

Naproxen is a propionic-acid-derivative NSAID that non-selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), reducing prostaglandin synthesis and thereby reducing inflammation, pain, and fever. (1)

What is the generic name of Naproxen?

The generic name is naproxen. (1)

What class of drug is naproxen?

Naproxen is classed as: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). (1)

References

  1. NAPROXEN TABLETS and NAPROXEN SODIUM TABLETS -- full prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (NIH), full prescribing information · United States · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 1
  2. Naproxen 250 mg/500 mg Tablets -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 2
  3. Naproxen -- EU nationally authorised NSAID, harmonised cardiovascular/GI class warningsEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) -- NSAID class safety information · European Union · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 3
  4. NAPROXEN and NAPROXEN EC -- Product MonographHealth Canada product monograph · Canada · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 4
  5. NAPROSYN naproxen 250 mg tablet blister pack -- ARTG registrationTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 5
  6. Noflam (naproxen) -- New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand regulator) · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 6

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient naproxen names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • all day relief220 mg, 200 mg · walmart inc.
  • Aleve220 mg · navajo manufacturing company inc
  • rugby all day relief220 mg · rugby laboratories
  • Medique Mediproxen220 mg · a-s medication solutions
  • Back and Muscle Pain220 mg · rite aid corporation
  • Naproxen Sodium Back and Muscle Pain220 mg · dr.reddy's laboratories inc
  • Naproxen Sodium Headache Pain220 mg · dr.reddy's laboratories inc
  • Naprelan375 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg · almatica pharma llc
  • Flanax220 mg · belmora llc
  • Aleve Headache Pain220 mg · bayer healthcare llc.

United Kingdom

  • Naproxen (2)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 250 mg, 500 mg · multiple manufacturers

Canada

  • NAPROSYN
  • NAPROXEN EC
  • ALEVE
  • NAPROXEN-NA
  • ANAPROX DS
  • ANAPROX
  • PEDIAPHARM NAPROXEN
  • NAPROXEN-NA DF
  • NAPROXEN SODIUM DS
  • MAXIDOL

Australia

  • Naprosyn (5)TGA ARTG registered confirmed · 250 mg, 500 mg · not specified in fetched source

New Zealand

  • Noflam (6)Medsafe approved confirmed · 250 mg, 500 mg · not specified in fetched source
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Naproxen (various national brand names) (3)

This page provides general reference information about naproxen and is not a substitute for advice from the prescriber managing your treatment. All dosing and treatment decisions should be made with your prescriber.

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