07 Mar 2022
First of all, let's see what Naproxen is. Naproxen comes with an oral tablet and is available in generic and brand-name drugs. Naproxen comes in an otc form with the brand name Aleve.
Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain from various conditions; when you have a regular fever, it is also used for headaches, tendonitis, dental pain, and menstrual cramps.
Naproxen reduces pain, swelling, and joint stiffness caused by arthritis, bursitis, and gout attacks. Bursitis is a quite painful condition that affects the small sacks filled with fluids called bursae; it cushions your bones, muscles, and tendons near your joints.
Naproxen belongs to the drug class of medication called (NSAID) (Todd, P.A. and Clissold, S.P., 1990).
Let's see What Brands are Available for Naproxen
Naproxen is available in an OTC brand name Aleve. OTC means the counter brand which is available without a prescription. you can also buy Naproxen online from certified pharmacy.
There are various brands that need a prescription, such as Movibon manufactured by Ranbaxy laboratories ltd as well as Naprosyn manufactured by RPG life sciences, etc.
When should You use Naproxen?
Naproxen is used to reduce fever to relieve mild pain such as headaches muscle aches, Naproxen is also prescribed for migraine, but for migraine, Naproxen is combined with sumatriptan.
It is also used for menstrual cramps, but if you are more than five months pregnant, you should not take Naproxen; the unborn baby will get some problems in the womb (Todd, P.A. and Clissold, S.P., 1990).
So What does Naproxen have to do with Constipation?
In a study, 1014 cases of gastrointestinal symptoms, identified in general practice, receiving chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment and the matched community controls were 975.
The NSAIDs which was used included Naproxen (11%) which is the third-largest, first and are aspirin (33%), ibuprofen(17%), .and the other components were diclofenac(7%) and piroxicam (9%), indomethacin (7%).
The gastrointestinal tract is a part of our digestive system.The study was done by R H Jones and C I Tait.It stated that 975 people out of 1014 had gastrointestinal symptoms because of Naproxen (Makins, R. and Ballinger, A., 2003).
Forms and Dosage
Naproxen is in the form of a tablet, liquid, and liquid capsules.The dose of Naproxen should be taken by doctor's advice because it depends upon the previous medical history, so a bit of advice for you is to take Naproxen after consulting a doctor or pharmacist.
And you should keep in mind to take the smallest amount possible of Naproxen if not consulted to a doctor. This is to prevent yourself from the side effects of Naproxen.
For mild fever and pain, people between 12 to 65 should take a 220mg tablet of Naproxen every 12 hours. Children between 2 to 12 should not take Naproxen unless and until the doctor says to.
You can take two doses of 10mg per kilogram of their weight Naproxen in 12 hours. But children between 2 to 12 should not take more than 1000mg of Naproxen in 24 hours. It can cause serious health issues (Maheshwari, R.K., Chaturvedi, S.C. and Jain, N.K., 2007).
Side Effects of Naproxen
Naproxen has various side effects.
Some are common, and some can be serious, which can lead to fatal.
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Ringing in ear
- Abdominal pain
- Itchy skin
People suffering from heart disease can face serious side effects of Naproxen.
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Blood clots
Smoking and daily alcohol are very dangerous while taking Naproxen.
Interaction
Naproxen can interact with various prescribed and nonprescribed medicines; smoking and drinking interact with Naproxen a lot.
- Vortioxetine
- Fluoxetine
- Escitalopram
- Citalopram
- Paroxetine
Conclusion
Naproxen is a prescriptive and OTC medicine that has various and serious side effects. Talking with a doctor would be advised; constipation is surely the main side effect.
Take care while taking Naproxen; you should not smoke tobacco and consume alcohol; it can result in serious health issues. People with heart disease should also avoid it; the overdose can be very dangerous.
It can show symptoms like passing out or trouble breathing; in that case, call 911. Otherwise, call the poison control center. US residents can call at 1-800-222-1222.and an important note that Naproxen is sensitive to the sun, take care of yourself while going out in the sun.
You should apply sunscreen or wear anti-sun clothing. And pregnant women should take special care that they should not take Naproxen after 20 weeks of pregnancy. And this drug passes through breast milk also.
