Naproxen

To relieve minor aches and pains, the drug Naproxen is quite popular in the market. In fact, Naproxen is quite the household name when it comes to minor aches and pains. So, what is Naproxen exactly for?

Technically speaking, Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID, for short. How Naproxen works is not really known for now. Studies have shown that Naproxen can hinder the activity of some substances that are related to inflammation. But what’s for sure is that Naproxen treats only the symptoms alone. It does not really treat the disease that’s causing these symptoms.

Naproxen comes in different dosages. The popular dosage of Naproxen sodium is Naproxen 500mg. These 500mg Naproxen tablets are usually colored yellow, and they take the shape of an oblong.

Although Naproxen treats merely gives relief to minor aches and pains, then you would expect that everyone can take the drug. But this is not the case at all. People who are allergic to any component of Naproxen should not take the drug at all. Severe allergic reactions can occur. The more common reactions are rashes, hives, breathing problems, and dizziness. If you are allergic to aspirin and to other NSAID drugs, then chances are, you’re also allergic to Naproxen. To be on the safe side, you have to determine whether or not you’re allergic to the drug before taking it. This can be determined by your physician for you.

If you just had bypass heart surgery, then you should not take Naproxen at all. The same goes if you are about to have bypass heart surgery. Taking the drug would only do you more harm than good. Also, if you are 6 months onwards in your pregnancy, you should not take Naproxen at all. Naproxen belongs to the FDA pregnancy category C. Although this medication has not been really proven to be harmful to unborn babies, drugs belonging in this category are known to cause birth defects in most cases. Thus, it would be safer for pregnant women not to take Naproxen at all. Your physician can prescribe another medication that’s safer for you to take. Also, if you’re undergoing prolonged treatment of Naproxen and you suspect you might be pregnant, inform your physician immediately.

Aside from these medical conditions, Naproxen also has its fair share of side effects. The side effects of Naproxen include dizziness and drowsiness. If you take Naproxen with alcohol or medicines that can cause these as well, then these effects just might worsen. This is why you should be extra careful when taking Naproxen. You should not be driving nor doing potentially hazardous activities when taking Naproxen.

Also, long-term treatment of Naproxen can cause stomach ulcers. This is even with regular doses; imagine what a Naproxen overdose can do! Unfortunately, this is an inevitable side effect of the drug, especially when you’re taking high Naproxen dosages. This is true even if you opt to take Naproxen with heavy meals. Long-term usage of Naproxen can really lead to stomach ulcers. Smoking and drinking can also increase the risk of these side effects occurring as well. For this case, you should look for the following symptoms: severe stomach pain, severe back pain, black stools, vomiting, and weight gain that seem unusual. Contact your physician should any of these symptoms occur.

Also, you should contact your physician if ever you have breathing problems and heartburn of the persistent kind. These just might be serious side effects from drinking Naproxen, and you might need to stop treatment right away.

If you have any questions regarding your Naproxen treatment, do not hesitate to contact your physician. Also, it is important to inform your physician of any side effects you think you might have from taking Naproxen.