Naproxen Gastro-resistant Tablets

Naproxen Gastro-Resistant Tablets

What are naproxen gastro-resistant tablets used for?

Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. It lessens pain, swelling, redness and heat, so it’s used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation across a range of conditions in adults.

Naproxen gastro-resistant tablets are used for:

• Muscle, joint and tendon problems, like strains, back pain, ankylosing spondylitis (pain and stiffness in the neck and back) and arthritis
• Period pain

The gastro-resistant version does the same job as standard naproxen tablets. The difference is in the coating, which is designed to be gentler on the stomach.

How do naproxen gastro-resistant tablets work?

Naproxen works by reducing the production of prostaglandins, the chemicals in the body that trigger pain, swelling and inflammation. By lowering these, it eases muscle and joint pain, as well as the stiffness associated with conditions like arthritis, back pain and period pain.

What sets these tablets apart is the gastro-resistant, or enteric, coating. Standard naproxen tablets start to dissolve in the stomach, which is where the risk of stomach irritation from NSAIDs is greatest. A gastro-resistant coating stops the tablet from breaking down there. Instead, it passes through the stomach intact and releases the naproxen further down, in the small intestine.

That’s why they must be taken intact. Crushing or chewing them breaks the coating and defeats the point.

Who can use naproxen gastro-resistant tablets?

Naproxen gastro-resistant tablets are for adults aged 18 and over. They aren’t recommended for anyone under 16.

Don’t take them if you:

• Are allergic to naproxen, naproxen sodium or any of the other ingredients
• Are allergic to aspirin or other NSAIDs like ibuprofen or diclofenac
• Have now, or have ever had, a stomach or gut ulcer or bleeding
• Have had bleeding or a perforation in your stomach while taking NSAIDs before
• Have severe kidney, liver or heart problems
• Are in the last three months of pregnancy

If you’re not sure any of these apply to you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking them.

How To Take Naproxen Gastro-Resistant Tablets

Always take naproxen exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. The dose depends on what you’re treating:

• For muscle, joint or tendon problems and period pain, the usual starting dose is one 500mg tablet, followed by a 250mg tablet every 6-8 hours as needed.
• For arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, the usual dose is between 500mg and 1000mg. This can be taken all at once or split into two doses across the day.
• If you’re older or have liver or kidney problems, your doctor will usually set a lower dose.

Gastro-resistant tablets should be swallowed whole with a little water, with or after food. Don’t crush or chew them. Try to drink plenty of fluids while taking naproxen, especially if you have kidney problems.

Don’t take more than the recommended dose, or for longer than you’ve been told, as this raises the small risk of heart and stomach problems that comes with NSAIDs.

Side Effects of Naproxen Gastro-Resistant Tablets

Like all medicines, naproxen carries a risk of side effects, though not everyone gets them.

More common side effects include:

• Heartburn, indigestion, stomach ache, feeling or being sick, constipation, diarrhoea and trapped wind
• Headache, dizziness, feeling sleepy or light-headed
• Difficulty sleeping or changes in your dreams
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), changes to your hearing or eyesight
• Swelling of the hands, feet or legs
• Bruising, itching, sweating, skin being more sensitive to the sun or hair loss
• A sore mouth or mouth ulcers
• Blood or other changes shown in blood tests

Stop taking naproxen and tell a doctor straight away if you notice any of these, as you may need urgent treatment:

• Signs of serious stomach or gut problems, like vomiting blood or bits that look like coffee grounds, black sticky stools or bloody diarrhoea, or severe stomach pain
• Signs of an allergic reaction, like sudden swelling of the throat, face, hands or feet, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, or a rash, blisters or itching
• A severe rash with blisters or peeling skin, possibly with blisters in the mouth, throat or eyes, alongside fever, headache and aching
• Signs of liver problems, like yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, feeling very tired, loss of appetite and pale stools
• Signs of a heart attack, like chest pain spreading to the neck, shoulders or left arm
• Signs of a stroke, like weakness or numbness on one side of the body or a sudden change to your sense of smell, taste, hearing or vision
• Signs of meningitis, like fever, a stiff neck, headache, sensitivity to light and confusion

For the full list of side effects, please read the Naproxen Gastro-Resistant Tablets Patient Information Leaflet.

Reporting Naproxen Gastro-Resistant Tablets Side Effects

If you notice any side effects, tell your doctor or pharmacist, even if they aren’t listed here. You can also report them via the Yellow Card Scheme. Reporting helps improve the understanding of this medicine’s safety.

Naproxen Gastro-Resistant Tablets Ingredients

Active ingredient: naproxen, either 250mg or 500mg per tablet.

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

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist first if you have heart problems, have had a stroke, or might be at risk, for example, if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, or if you smoke.
• Talk to your doctor first if you have asthma or allergies like hay fever or have had swelling of the face, lips, eyes or tongue before.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, problems with how your blood clots, problems with your blood vessels, or too much fat in your blood.
• Take extra care if you’re older or feeling weak, or if you have nasal polyps, a runny, blocked or itchy nose, or an autoimmune condition like lupus, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
• Medicines like naproxen carry a small increased risk of heart attack or stroke. This is more likely with higher doses and longer-term use, so take the lowest dose for the shortest time you need.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you take, including ones bought without a prescription and herbal remedies, as naproxen can interact with blood thinners, other painkillers, steroids, some blood pressure medicines and others.
• If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, think you might be pregnant or are planning a baby, get advice before taking naproxen.
• Naproxen can make you tired, drowsy or dizzy, or affect your eyesight and balance. If it does, don’t drive, use tools or operate machines.
• Store below 30°C in the original pack to protect the tablets from light, and keep them out of the sight and reach of children.