Naprosyn 250mg & 500mg EC Tablets

Naprosyn EC Tablets for Pain and Inflammation

What are Naprosyn EC Tablets used for?

Naprosyn is a prescription anti-inflammatory used to relieve pain, swelling and stiffness in your muscles and joints. It’s a type of medicine called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and it’s used to treat adults for:

• Muscle, joint and tendon problems, like strains
• Back pain
• Arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis, which causes pain and stiffness in the neck and back
• Period pain

Naprosyn EC is available in 250mg and 500mg strengths.

How do Naprosyn EC Tablets work?

Each tablet contains naproxen, which blocks an enzyme the body uses to make prostaglandins, chemicals that can cause pain and inflammation. Naprosyn pain relief comes from reducing the swelling, redness and heat that build up around an inflamed muscle or joint.

EC stands for enteric-coated. These are delayed-release tablets that pass through the stomach before they dissolve. That’s why they need to be swallowed whole.

Who can use Naprosyn 250mg & 500mg EC Tablets?

Naprosyn EC Tablets are suitable for adults aged 18 and over. They aren’t for children or teenagers under 16.

You shouldn’t take them if you:

• Have an allergy or hypersensitivity to naproxen, naproxen sodium or anything else in the tablets
• Are allergic to aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac or any other NSAID or pain relief medicine
• Have or have ever had a stomach or gut problem like an ulcer or bleeding
• Have had bleeding or a hole (perforation) in your stomach while taking an NSAID
• Have a severe heart, liver or kidney condition
• Are in the final three months of your pregnancy

If you’re unsure about any of these, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Naprosyn.

Naprosyn 250mg & 500mg EC Tablets Dosage

Naprosyn doses vary depending on the condition you’re treating, so always take it as your prescriber advises.

For muscle, joint, tendon and period pain, the usual starting dose is 500mg, followed by Naprosyn 250mg every 6 to 8 hours as needed.

For arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, the usual daily dose is 500mg to 1g. You might take Naprosyn 500mg once or twice a day, up to two 500mg tablets in total.

Older people and anyone with liver or kidney problems will usually be given a lower dose.

How to Take Naprosyn 250mg & 500mg EC Tablets

1. Take your tablet with or after food.
2. Swallow each Naprosyn tablet whole with a little water.
3. Don’t crush or chew the tablet.
4. Drink plenty of fluids while you’re taking it.

Older people and anyone with liver or kidney problems will usually be given a lower dose. Don’t take more than the recommended dosage or take it for longer than advised.

Naprosyn EC Tablets Side Effects

Like all medicines, Naprosyn can cause adverse effects, although not everybody gets them.

Possible Side Effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of these are starting to affect you:

• Heartburn, indigestion, stomach ache, wind, constipation or diarrhoea
• Feeling or being sick
• Headache, dizziness or feeling sleepy
• Difficulty sleeping or changes in your dreams
• Changes to your eyesight or hearing, including ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Swelling of your hands, feet or legs
• Skin rashes, itching, bruising or skin being more sensitive to the sun
• Hair loss
• Thirst, sweating, feeling tired or generally unwell
• A sore mouth or mouth ulcers
• Muscle pain or weakness

Serious Side Effects

Stop taking Naprosyn and speak to a doctor straight away if you notice:

• Vomit containing blood or bits that look like coffee grounds
• Black, sticky stools or bloody diarrhoea
• Severe stomach pain that spreads to your back
• Swelling of your face, throat, hands or feet, or difficulty breathing
• A severe rash with blistering or peeling skin, sometimes with fever
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
• Chest pain that may spread to your neck, shoulders or left arm
• Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of your body, or confusion
• Fever, a stiff neck, headache and sensitivity to bright light

You can report side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

Naprosyn EC Tablets Ingredients

Active ingredient: naproxen 250mg or 500mg

Other ingredients: povidone, magnesium stearate, water, croscarmellose sodium, methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer, purified talc, sodium hydroxide, triethyl citrate, iron oxide black, shellac and propylene glycol

Warnings and Precautions

• Long-term use of Naprosyn may be linked to a small increased risk of heart attack or stroke, especially at higher doses.
• Speak to your doctor or pharmacist first if you have heart problems, have had a stroke or have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or smoking.
• Tell your doctor if you have asthma, allergies, nasal polyps or rhinitis, or have had swelling of the face, lips, eyes or tongue.
• Let your doctor know if you have kidney or liver problems, blood clotting or blood vessel problems, lupus (SLE), ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
• Don’t take other NSAIDs including naproxen from another source, aspirin or ibuprofen unless your doctor tells you to.
• Tell your doctor about any other medicines you take, including blood pressure medicines, steroids, lithium, SSRIs and methotrexate. Taking naproxen and anticoagulants (blood thinners) together may need closer monitoring.
• Probenecid given concurrently increases naproxen levels in the blood, so tell your doctor if you take it for gout.
• Don’t take Naprosyn in the first six months of pregnancy unless your doctor advises it, and never in the last three months.
• Speak to your doctor if you’re breastfeeding, planning a pregnancy or having trouble getting pregnant, as Naprosyn may make it harder to conceive.
• Naprosyn can make you feel tired, dizzy or drowsy or affect your eyesight. Don’t drive or use machines if this happens.
• Keep your tablets in their original box away from light at a temperature under 30°C, out of the sight and reach of children.