Naprosyn EC

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Disturbances of the gut such as indigestion, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)
- Balance disorders involving the inner ear (vertigo)
- Sensation of ringing, or other noise in the ears (tinnitus)
- Skin reactions such as rash or itching
- Ulceration or bleeding of the stomach or intestines
- Retention of water in the body tissues (fluid retention), resulting in swelling (oedema)
- Increase in blood pressure
- Visual disturbances
- Drowsiness
- Concentration difficulties
- Depression
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Hypersensitivity reactions such as narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm), swelling of the lips, throat and tongue (angioedema), itchy blistering rash or anaphylactic shock
- Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)
- Kidney, liver or blood disorders

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before taking this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Indigestion remedies such as antacids should not be taken at the same time of day as enteric-coated naproxen tablets, as they will stop the special coating from working.

Naproxen should not be taken in combination with painkilling doses of aspirin or any other NSAID taken by mouth, eg ibuprofen, as this increases the risk of side effects on the stomach and intestines. Selective inhibitors of COX-2 such as celecoxib or etoricoxib should also be avoided for the same reason.

There may be an increased risk of ulceration or bleeding from the gut if naproxen is taken with corticosteroids such as prednisolone.

There may also be an increased risk of bleeding from the gut if naproxen is taken with the following medicines:

- anti-blood-clotting (anticoagulant) medicines such as warfarin
- anti-platelet medicines to reduce the risk of blood clots or 'thin the blood', eg low-dose aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole
- SSRI antidepressants, eg fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram
- venlafaxine.

Naproxen may enhance the effect of blood-thinning or anti-clotting medicines (anticoagulants) such as warfarin. As this may increase the risk of bleeding, people taking naproxen with an anticoagulant should be closely monitored by their doctor.

Naproxen may reduce the removal of the following medicines from the body and so may increase the blood levels and risk of side effects of these medicines. People taking naproxen with any of these should be closely monitored by their doctor:

- digoxin
- lithium
- methotrexate.

There may be an increased risk of side effects on the kidneys if naproxen is taken with any of the following medicines:

- ACE inhibitors, eg enalapril
- ciclosporin
- diuretics, eg furosemide
- tacrolimus.

Naproxen may oppose the blood pressure lowering effects of certain medicines to treat high blood pressure, such as the following:

- ACE inhibitors such as captopril
- beta-blockers such as atenolol
- diuretics such as furosemide.

Probenecid may increase the blood level of naproxen, which may increase the risk of side effects.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Naprosyn

Synflex

Naproxen tablets and enteric-coated tablets are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

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