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As with any medicine, side effects are possible with naproxen (Naprosyn). However, not everyone who takes the medicine will experience problems. In fact, most people tolerate it well. If side effects do occur, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
Serious Side Effects of Naproxen
Just like any drug, naproxen has the potential to cause serious side effects. People using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) other than aspirin, including naproxen, may have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke than those who do not take NSAIDs. This risk may be higher in people who have been taking NSAIDs for a long time. These events can occur without warning and can lead to loss of life.
Get emergency medical help as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness on one side of your body
- Slurred speech.
Other potentially serious side effects include but are not limited to:
- Allergic reactions, such as: Swelling of the face or body, Blisters, Unexplained skin rash, Wheezing, Difficulty breathing
- Stomach or intestine problems, such as: Bleeding, Ulcers, A hole (known as a perforation)
- Liver damage, which can cause: Nausea, Fatigue, Excessive tiredness, Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Kidney problems, including kidney failure
- Fluid retention or unexplained weight gain
- Congestive heart failure
- Feeling that the pill is stuck in your throat.
Because naproxen can increase your risk of major or life-threatening bleeding, contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or have any of the following symptoms:
- Bloody nose
- Black, tarry stools
- Blood in the urine or stools
- Vomiting blood
- Red or purple spots on the skin.
Common Naproxen Side Effects
Naproxen has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with thousands of people worldwide having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to those that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
Based on these studies, the most common side effects of naproxen, occurring in more than 3 percent of people, include:
- Heartburn
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Itching
- Unexplained rash
- Ringing in the ears
- Shortness of breath
- Fluid retention.
Rare Side Effects
During clinical studies, some side effects occurred rarely in people taking naproxen. These side effects occurred in less than 3 percent of people. Because these side effects are so uncommon, it is difficult to tell whether they were actually caused by the medication or something else. These possible side effects include but are not limited to:
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Spinning sensation (vertigo)
- Lightheadedness
- Vision or hearing problems
- Heart palpitations
- Increase in liver enzymes
- Ulcer in the stomach or intestines (peptic ulcer)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Hepatitis
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Infertility.
You may experience some or none of the side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any problems while taking the drug or if something "just does not seem right." While it may not be a naproxen side effect, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
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