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EC-Naprosyn Side Effects

Generic name: naproxen

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 8, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about EC-Naprosyn Side Effects associated with naproxen. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name EC-Naprosyn.

Applies to naproxen: oral capsule liquid filled, oral suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet enteric coated, oral tablet extended release.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet; tablet, enteric coated; suspension)

NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal.

This risk may be increased in patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Naproxen is contraindicated in the setting of CABG surgery.

NSAIDs can also cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events, including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

Elderly patients and patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.

Oral route (tablet, extended release; tablet)

NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which can be fatal.

This risk may be increased in patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Naproxen sodium is contraindicated in the setting of CABG surgery.

NSAIDs can also cause an increased risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events, including bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal.

Elderly patients and patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease and/or GI bleeding are at greater risk for serious GI events.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This is more likely in people who already have heart disease or in people who use this medicine for a longer time.

This medicine may cause bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This problem can happen without warning signs. This is more likely if you have had a stomach ulcer in the past, if you smoke or drink alcohol regularly, if you are over 60 years of age, are in poor health, or are using certain other medicines (eg, steroid medicine, blood thinner).

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Serious skin reactions, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)can occur during treatment with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Some possible warning signs of some serious side effects that can occur during treatment with this medicine may include swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, severe stomach pain, black, tarry stools, or vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, unusual weight gain, yellow skin or eyes, decreased urination, unusual bleeding or bruising, or skin rash. Also, signs of serious heart problems could occur including chest pain or tightness fast or irregular heartbeat, unusual flushing or warmth of the skin, weakness, or slurring of speech. Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any of these warning signs.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have stomach pain, confusion, difficulty with breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, nervousness, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips, or weakness or heaviness of the legs.

This medicine may also cause serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires medical attention. Although this is rare, it may occur more often in patients who are allergic to aspirin or to any of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using this medicine.

Using this medicine during the later part of a pregnancy can harm your unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause a delay in ovulation for women and may affect their ability to have children. If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine.

Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty with reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after your treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Before having any kind of surgery or medical tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine. It may be necessary for you to stop treatment for a while, or to change to a different nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug before your procedure.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Even if taken at bedtime, it may cause some people to feel drowsy or less alert on arising. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. .

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of EC-Naprosyn

Along with its needed effects, naproxen (the active ingredient contained in EC-Naprosyn) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking naproxen:

More common side effects

  • belching
  • bruising
  • chest tightness
  • difficult or labored breathing
  • feeling of indigestion
  • headache
  • itching skin
  • large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
  • pain in the chest below the breastbone
  • skin eruptions
  • stomach pain
  • swelling

Less common side effects

  • bloating
  • bloody or black, tarry stools
  • blurred or loss of vision
  • burning upper stomach pain
  • cloudy urine
  • constipation
  • decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
  • disturbed color perception
  • double vision
  • fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
  • halos around lights
  • indigestion
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea or vomiting
  • night blindness
  • overbright appearance of lights
  • pale skin
  • pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
  • severe and continuing nausea
  • severe stomach burning, cramping, or pain
  • skin rash
  • swelling or inflammation of the mouth
  • trouble breathing
  • tunnel vision
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds
  • weight loss

Rare side effects

  • anxiety
  • back or leg pains
  • bleeding gums
  • blindness
  • blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  • blood in the urine or stools
  • blue lips and fingernails
  • canker sores
  • change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
  • chest pain or discomfort
  • clay-colored stools
  • cold sweats
  • coma
  • confusion
  • cool, pale skin
  • cough or hoarseness
  • coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
  • cracks in the skin
  • darkened urine
  • decreased vision
  • depression
  • diarrhea
  • difficult, burning, or painful urination
  • difficult, fast, or noisy breathing
  • difficulty with swallowing
  • dilated neck veins
  • dizziness
  • dry cough
  • dry mouth
  • early appearance of redness, or swelling of the skin
  • excess air or gas in the stomach
  • eye pain
  • fainting
  • fever with or without chills
  • fluid-filled skin blisters
  • flushed, dry skin
  • frequent urination
  • fruit-like breath odor
  • greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
  • hair loss
  • high fever
  • hives
  • increased hunger
  • increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
  • increased sweating
  • increased thirst
  • increased urination
  • increased volume of pale, dilute urine
  • irregular breathing
  • joint or muscle pain
  • large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
  • late appearance of rash with or without weeping blisters that become crusted, especially in sun-exposed areas of skin, may extend to unexposed areas
  • light-colored stools
  • lightheadedness
  • loss of heat from the body
  • lower back or side pain
  • nervousness
  • nightmares
  • no blood pressure
  • no breathing
  • no pulse
  • nosebleeds
  • numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
  • pain in the ankles or knees
  • pain or burning in the throat
  • pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
  • painful, red lumps under the skin, mostly on the legs
  • pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
  • pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
  • pounding in the ears
  • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  • rapid, shallow breathing
  • red, irritated eyes
  • red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  • red-green color blindness
  • redness or other discoloration of the skin
  • redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
  • scaly skin
  • seizures
  • severe sunburn
  • shakiness
  • skin thinness
  • slurred speech
  • sneezing
  • sore throat
  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
  • sores, welting, or blisters
  • spots on your skin resembling a blister or pimple
  • stiff neck or back
  • stomach cramps or tenderness
  • stomach upset
  • swelling in the legs and ankles
  • swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
  • swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
  • tiny bumps on the inner lining of the eyelid
  • unexplained weight loss
  • unpleasant breath odor
  • watery or bloody diarrhea
  • weakness or heaviness of the legs
  • weight gain
  • yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking naproxen:

Symptoms of overdose

Other side effects of EC-Naprosyn

Some side effects of naproxen may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

  • continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  • hearing loss

Less common side effects

  • acid or sour stomach
  • change in hearing
  • feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
  • passing gas
  • sensation of spinning
  • stomach soreness or discomfort

Rare side effects

  • appetite changes
  • burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  • burning, dry, or itching eyes
  • difficulty with moving
  • discharge, excessive tearing
  • general feeling of discomfort or illness
  • lack or loss of strength
  • menstrual changes
  • muscle aching, cramping, stiffness, or weakness
  • not able to concentrate
  • redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
  • seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
  • shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  • swollen joints
  • trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
  • trouble getting pregnant
  • trouble performing routine tasks
  • trouble sleeping
  • unusual drowsiness, dullness, or feeling of sluggishness

For healthcare professionals

Applies to naproxen: compounding powder, oral capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release, oral and topical kit.

General adverse events

The most frequently reported adverse events were headache, dyspepsia, nausea, constipation, heartburn, abdominal pain, and influenza-like syndrome.[Ref]

Hepatic

Nervous system

Renal

Cardiovascular

Hematologic

Hypersensitivity

Dermatologic

Respiratory

Other

Metabolic

Endocrine

Gastrointestinal

Genitourinary

Musculoskeletal

Ocular

Oncologic

Psychiatric

See also:

References

1. (2002) "Product Information. Naprosyn (naproxen)." Syntex Laboratories Inc

2. (2006) "Product Information. Anaprox (naproxen)." Roche Laboratories

3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics."

4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information."

5. (2010) "Product Information. Naprelan 375 (naproxen)." Shionogi USA Inc

6. MHRA. Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency (2013) MHRA Drug Safety Update. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/DrugSafetyUpdate

Frequently asked questions

Further information

EC-Naprosyn side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.