Naprosyn SR (Naproxen)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Naprosyn SR Used For?
Naprosyn SR contains naproxen and belongs to a group of medicines called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). It helps manage pain and inflammation associated with various types of arthritis.
Primary Uses
Naprosyn SR is used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation (swelling, redness and soreness) in different types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The active ingredient is released slowly into the bloodstream during the day, making it unsuitable for conditions requiring rapid pain relief like migraine attacks or short-term pain relief.
How It Works
While Naprosyn SR can relieve symptoms of pain and inflammation, it will not cure your arthritis condition. It should be taken every day for as long as your doctor prescribes to help control pain, swelling and stiffness.
Good to know: Naprosyn SR is not addictive.
How to Take Naprosyn SR
Take Naprosyn SR exactly as your doctor has prescribed. Follow the instructions provided and continue using it until your doctor tells you to stop.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is one tablet once a day. Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water or milk – do not chew them. Take the tablets with or straight after food with a full glass of water or milk to help reduce the possibility of an upset stomach.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then continue taking it normally. If you have trouble remembering, ask your pharmacist for hints.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- stomach upset including nausea, heartburn, indigestion
- loss of appetite
- constipation, diarrhoea, stomach pain
- dizziness, light-headedness
- headache, drowsiness
- buzzing or ringing in the ears
- dry mouth
- aching muscles, muscle tenderness or weakness not caused by exercise
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- difficulty hearing, deafness
- severe or persistent headache
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- reddish or purplish blotches under the skin
- fast or irregular heartbeats
- eye problems such as blurred vision
- unusual weight gain, swelling of ankles or legs
- vomiting blood or what looks like coffee grounds
- bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions or bloody diarrhoea
- severe dizziness, spinning sensation
- severe pain or tenderness in any part of the stomach
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty swallowing
- difficulty breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath
- sudden or severe itching, skin rash or hives
- fainting, seizures or fits
- pain or tightness in the chest
- flu-like symptoms with facial rash then extended rash with high temperature and enlarged lymph nodes
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Naprosyn SR should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Naprosyn SR
Do not use if you are allergic to naproxen, aspirin or any other NSAID medicines; are vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; are bleeding from the rectum, have black sticky bowel motions or bloody diarrhoea; currently have or have had peptic ulcers; have severe liver disease; recently had or are about to have heart bypass surgery; are taking other medications containing naproxen or naproxen sodium; have severe heart failure; are in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy; or are a child under 2 years of age.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have allergies to other substances; heartburn, indigestion, stomach ulcers or other stomach problems; bowel or intestinal problems such as ulcerative colitis; kidney or liver disease; heart failure; high blood pressure or heart problems; swelling of ankles or feet; a tendency to bleed or blood problems such as anaemia; currently have an infection; or plan to have surgery as Naprosyn SR can prolong bleeding.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Naprosyn SR may affect your developing baby if taken during pregnancy and may impair fertility – it is not recommended for women attempting to conceive. If necessary during pregnancy, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits. The medication passes into breast milk and the effect on the baby is not known. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Pregnancy Warning: Call your doctor straight away if you become pregnant while taking Naprosyn SR.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Naprosyn SR and affect how it works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine or different medicines entirely.
- antacids (medicines for heartburn and indigestion)
- aspirin, salicylates or other NSAID medicines
- cholestyramine (for high cholesterol)
- diuretics (fluid or water tablets)
- lithium (for depression)
- probenecid (for gout)
- phenytoin (for epilepsy)
- methotrexate (for arthritis and some cancers)
- sucralfate (for stomach ulcers)
- warfarin and heparin (blood thinners)
- medicines for high blood pressure including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists and beta-blockers
- some diabetes medicines
- serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs for depression)
- steroids (for inflammation)
- zidovudine (for HIV infection)
- sodium bicarbonate (for stomach upset or ulcers)
Alcohol & Driving
Naprosyn SR may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, and alcohol can worsen these effects.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Naprosyn SR affects you. Naprosyn SR may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. Store in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not keep in the refrigerator. Store away from moisture, heat or sunlight – not in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach it.
Overdose Information
If you take too much Naprosyn SR, you may experience drowsiness, stomach pain or tenderness, stomach upset including nausea, vomiting, heartburn, indigestion or cramps. If you think you have used too much, immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Naprosyn SR releases the active ingredient slowly into the bloodstream during the day, so it’s designed for sustained relief rather than rapid pain relief. It’s not suitable for conditions where quick pain relief is needed like migraine attacks.
Yes, you should take Naprosyn SR with or straight after food with a full glass of water or milk. This helps reduce the possibility of an upset stomach.
No, Naprosyn SR is not addictive.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and continue normally. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol can worsen the dizziness or light-headedness that Naprosyn SR may cause in some people.
No, you must swallow Naprosyn SR tablets whole with a glass of water or milk. Do not chew them as this affects how the medication is released in your body.
Tell your doctor if you get an infection while using Naprosyn SR. The medication may hide some signs of infection (like pain and fever) and make you think you’re better when you’re not, or that the infection isn’t serious.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.