Oxaprozin
Pronunciation: Not established from the source reviewed.
- Generic name
- oxaprozin
- Brand names
- Daypro
- Drug class
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
- Form
- Tablet/caplet
- Route
- Oral
- Legal status
- Not established from the source reviewed
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States
Australia: · Full directory
What oxaprozin is and how it works
Oxaprozin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The reviewed US label states that it is used for relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. (1)
Oxaprozin has important cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, kidney, liver, allergic-reaction, skin-reaction, bleeding, and pregnancy warnings. A clinician should assess whether it is appropriate for the individual and review other medicines.
Mechanism of action: how oxaprozin works
Oxaprozin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Further pharmacology details were not established from the source reviewed. (1)
What oxaprozin is used for
Osteoarthritis
Oxaprozin is indicated for relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. (1)
Rheumatoid arthritis
Oxaprozin is indicated for relief of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. (1)
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Oxaprozin is indicated for relief of the signs and symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The reviewed US label provides weight-based dosing for children aged 6 to 16 years. (1)
Before taking oxaprozin
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Do not use oxaprozin if there is known hypersensitivity to oxaprozin. (all uses) (1)
- Do not use oxaprozin in a person with a history of asthma, urticaria, or other allergic-type reactions after aspirin or another NSAID. (all uses) (1)
- Do not use oxaprozin in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. (CABG surgery) (1)
Tell your clinician about
- Any previous reaction to oxaprozin, aspirin, or another NSAID, including asthma, hives, or another allergic-type reaction.
- Heart disease, a previous heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure, heart failure, fluid retention, or planned CABG surgery.
- Any history of peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, or unusual bleeding.
- Kidney impairment, dehydration, hypovolemia, liver dysfunction, nausea, fatigue, or jaundice.
- All medicines, including anticoagulants, antiplatelet medicines, aspirin, SSRIs, SNRIs, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers, diuretics, lithium, methotrexate, and digoxin.
- Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
How to take oxaprozin
- Take oxaprozin orally exactly as prescribed.
- The dose depends on the condition, age, body weight, and clinical circumstances.
- Do not take more than prescribed or change the dose or schedule without advice from the prescriber.
- The reviewed source does not establish instructions for switching between products or formulations.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)
Missed dose
Specific missed-dose instructions were not established from the source reviewed. Contact the prescriber or pharmacist for advice and do not take an extra dose without professional guidance.
Overdose
Exact overdose-management protocol details were not captured from the source reviewed. If more oxaprozin than prescribed may have been taken, contact emergency services, a poison-information service, or a clinician urgently for case-specific advice. (1)
Side effects
Common adverse reactions reported in more than 3% of patients include constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea, and rash. Serious adverse effects can also occur.
Digestive symptoms
What to notice: Constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, or nausea.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the prescribing clinician or pharmacist. (1)
Rash
What to notice: A new rash or other skin change.
What to do: Seek prompt medical assessment because NSAIDs can cause serious skin reactions and hypersensitivity reactions. (1)
Possible liver injury
What to notice: Nausea, fatigue, or jaundice.
What to do: Contact a clinician promptly for assessment. (1)
Possible DRESS syndrome
What to notice: Fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and/or facial swelling, sometimes with involvement of other organ systems.
What to do: Seek prompt medical assessment. (1)
Fluid retention or worsening heart failure
What to notice: New or worsening symptoms that may suggest fluid retention or heart failure.
What to do: Contact a clinician promptly for assessment. (1)
Serious warnings
Cardiovascular thrombotic events — emergency
Symptoms: Symptoms that may suggest a heart attack or stroke.
Action: Seek emergency medical care immediately. NSAIDs can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal; risk may begin early in treatment and is greater with higher doses and prolonged use. (1)
Serious gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, or perforation — emergency
Symptoms: Gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, or perforation may occur with or without warning symptoms.
Action: Seek urgent medical assessment for possible gastrointestinal bleeding or other serious gastrointestinal symptoms. These events can occur at any time and can be fatal; risk is higher in elderly people and people with prior peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding. (1)
Anaphylactic reaction — emergency
Symptoms: Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.
Action: Seek emergency help immediately. (1)
Serious skin reaction — emergency
Symptoms: Skin rash or other signs of hypersensitivity, including possible Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or fixed drug eruption.
Action: Seek urgent medical assessment. A treating clinician should manage decisions about whether oxaprozin should be continued or discontinued. (1)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, aspirin, SSRIs, and SNRIs | These combinations can increase bleeding risk. Concomitant aspirin use increases the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions and is generally not recommended. | Give the prescriber and pharmacist a complete medicine list. Monitoring for bleeding may be needed. (1) |
| ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and beta-blockers | Oxaprozin may diminish the antihypertensive effect. In elderly, volume-depleted, or renally impaired people, use in combination carries a risk of deteriorating renal function. | A clinician may need to monitor blood pressure and renal function. (1) |
| Diuretics | Oxaprozin can reduce the natriuretic effect of furosemide and thiazide diuretics. | A clinician may monitor diuretic effectiveness. (1) |
| Lithium | NSAIDs elevate plasma lithium levels and reduce renal lithium clearance. The label reports an approximately 15% increase in lithium concentration and an approximately 20% decrease in clearance. | A clinician may monitor for lithium toxicity. (1) |
| Methotrexate | NSAIDs can increase plasma methotrexate levels and the risk of methotrexate toxicity. | A clinician may monitor for neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and renal dysfunction. (1) |
| Digoxin | NSAIDs can increase serum digoxin concentration and prolong its half-life. | A clinician may monitor digoxin levels. (1) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Children and adolescents
The reviewed label provides weight-based dosing for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children aged 6 to 16 years. Use must be directed by a clinician using the current product information. (1)
Older adults and people with previous gastrointestinal disease
Elderly people and those with a previous peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding have a higher risk of serious gastrointestinal adverse events. (1)
Kidney, liver, or heart disease
Renal function monitoring is advised for people with pre-existing renal impairment, dehydration, hypovolemia, heart failure, or liver dysfunction. Use in advanced renal disease and severe heart failure should be individually assessed because the label advises avoidance unless expected benefits outweigh risks. (1)
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
The label warns against NSAID use from approximately 30 weeks of pregnancy and later because of the risk of premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus. Between about 20 and 30 weeks, the label also warns that fetal renal dysfunction and oligohydramnios have been reported. If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, tell the prescribing clinician so they can assess whether oxaprozin should be used, continued, or changed and, if used, determine the dose and duration for this period of pregnancy. Excretion into human milk has not been established; the label advises use during lactation only if clearly indicated by the prescribing clinician. (1)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Review cardiovascular disease, hypertension, heart failure, gastrointestinal ulcer or bleeding history, kidney function, liver dysfunction, pregnancy status, and previous aspirin or NSAID reactions.
- Review all medicines for interactions, especially medicines affecting bleeding, blood pressure, kidney function, lithium, methotrexate, and digoxin.
- Confirm the indication, age, body weight where relevant, and prescribed dose.
During treatment
- Monitor for cardiovascular thrombotic events, gastrointestinal bleeding or ulceration, anaphylactic reactions, serious skin reactions, DRESS syndrome, and signs or symptoms of liver injury.
- Monitor renal function in people with pre-existing renal impairment, dehydration, hypovolemia, heart failure, or liver dysfunction.
- Monitor blood pressure because NSAIDs can cause new-onset hypertension or worsen pre-existing hypertension.
- Monitor for anemia and bleeding, particularly with anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, aspirin, SSRIs, or SNRIs.
- Where relevant, monitor diuretic efficacy, lithium toxicity, methotrexate toxicity, renal dysfunction, and digoxin levels.
Storage
Keep bottles tightly closed. Store at room temperature, 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local product information and individual clinical assessment. Non-US label variations were not reviewed in this research pass.
United States
Indication: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
Dose summary: The reviewed US label lists 1200 mg, as two 600 mg caplets, once daily. The maximum recommended total daily dose is 1800 mg or 26 mg/kg, whichever is lower, in divided doses. Initiate low-body-weight patients at 600 mg once daily.
Renal context: Monitor renal function in patients with pre-existing renal impairment, dehydration, hypovolemia, heart failure, or liver dysfunction. Avoid use in advanced renal disease unless expected benefits outweigh risks. Specific renal dose-adjustment tables were not established from the source reviewed. (1)
United States
Indication: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ages 6 to 16 years
Dose summary: For body weight 22 to 31 kg: 600 mg once daily. For 32 to 54 kg: 900 mg once daily. For 55 kg or more: 1200 mg once daily.
Renal context: Specific pediatric renal or hepatic dose-adjustment tables were not established from the source reviewed. (1)
Hepatic guidance
Monitor for signs and symptoms of liver injury, including nausea, fatigue, and jaundice. Liver-enzyme elevations have been reported in about 1% of treated patients, and rare severe hepatic injury, including fatal cases, has occurred. Specific hepatic dose-adjustment tables were not established from the source reviewed.
Overdose note
Exact overdose-management protocol details were not captured in this research pass. (1)
Frequently asked questions
What conditions is oxaprozin used for?
The reviewed US label indicates oxaprozin for relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. (1)
Can oxaprozin cause serious stomach or intestinal problems?
Yes. NSAIDs can cause serious gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines. These events can occur without warning and can be fatal; elderly people and those with prior peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding are at higher risk. (1)
Can I use oxaprozin during pregnancy?
Discuss this with a clinician. The reviewed label advises avoiding NSAID use from approximately 30 weeks of pregnancy and later. Between about 20 and 30 weeks, use should be limited to the lowest effective dose and shortest duration if a clinician considers it necessary. (1)
What is the mechanism of action of oxaprozin?
Oxaprozin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Further pharmacology details were not established from the source reviewed. (1)
What is the generic name of Oxaprozin?
The generic name is oxaprozin. It is sold under brand names including Daypro. (1)
What class of drug is oxaprozin?
Oxaprozin is classed as: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). (1)
References
- DAYPRO (oxaprozin) caplets — prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration (DailyMed) · United States · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 1
- OXAPROZIN TABLET, FILM COATED [ST MARY'S MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
- Oxaprozin — patient drug information (MedlinePlus)U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
- Oxaprozin — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA ANDA075855)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4
- oxaprozin — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 32613)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 5
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient oxaprozin names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- COXANTO300 mg · sola pharmaceuticals, llc