What is naproxen and what is it for?

What is naproxen?

Naproxen is an active substance, present in commercial or generic non-steroidal drugs, as it has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties.

Naproxen comes as a tablet, tablet, or solution form, asits only route of administration is oral. The doses of naproxen depend on the condition being treated specifically.

Note: A medical study mentions that: “Naproxen is used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic in the chronic and acute symptomatic treatment of musculoskeletal inflammation.” (1)

What is naproxen used for?

Naproxen sodium works to decrease pain and inflammation, especially if it is for symptomatic treatment. Its mechanism consists in reducing the release of prostaglandins,as it is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. And specifically it is prescribed for these cases:

1. Headache and fever

The drug naproxen is recommended in cases of migraine attacks (or migraine), which is called an intense headachetag. Moreover, naproxen also regulates the functions of thehypothalamus , to balance the body’s body temperature.

To highlight: The general doses of naproxen for these cases are 10 mg tablets every 8 hours for fevers, up to 750 mg daily in cases of headaches.

2. Rheumatic diseases and acute gout

Rheumatic conditions are all those that are related to wear on the tendons , joints or ligaments.

Such is the case of rheumatoid arthritis or acute gout , the latter is where a lot of blood accumulates due to excess uric acid in a joint, which causes inflammation.

You should know: The specific doses of naproxen in this case are 500 mg to 1,000 mg tablets daily, every 12 hours depending on improvements.

3. Dysmenorrhea

Note: Established doses of 500 mg naproxen tablets are recommended, for 8 hours a day.

Naproxen Side Effects

Naproxen, like various NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), brings with it a series of adverse effects , of which it is recommended to be aware, such as:

• Itch.
• Black Stools
• Stomachache.
• Diarrhea .
• Flatulence.

contraindications of naproxen

On the other hand, naproxen for safety reasons is contraindicated in a series of patients with specific conditions, therefore its administration is not recommended in the following cases: 

• Hypersensitivity to active compounds.
• asthma attacks
• Renal insufficiency.
• Intestinal ulcers.
• Liver failure.

Key Findings

• Naproxen sodium is a generic Non-steroidal anti -inflammatory drug . 
• Naproxen is prescribed for arthritis, acute gout, fever, and migraine . 
• Naproxen can cause diarrhea or stomach pain as side effects. 
• The administration of naproxen in patients with renal or hepatic insufficiencyis not recommended.