Skip to main content

Esomeprazole / Naproxen Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 22, 2024.

Applies to esomeprazole / naproxen: oral tablet delayed release.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (tablet, delayed release)

There is an increased risk of serious and potentially fatal cardiovascular (CV) thrombotic events, myocardial infarction, and stroke with NSAID use, especially with longer durations, a history of CV disease, or risk factors for CV disease.

NSAIDs increase the risk of serious and sometimes fatal gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events, which can include bleeding, ulceration, and perforation of the stomach or intestines.

The elderly are at increased risk.

These GI events can occur at any time without warning.

This drug is contraindicated for the treatment of perioperative pain related to CABG surgery.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood, urine, and other laboratory tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not use this medicine together with medicines containing rilpivirine (Complera®, Edurant®, Odefsey®). Using these medicines together may cause unwanted side effects.

Naproxen may increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This is more likely in people who already have heart disease. People who use this medicine for a long time might also have a higher risk. Get emergency help right away if you have any symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Some possible symptoms are chest pain or discomfort, uneven heartbeat, pain that spreads to your arm or jaw, unusual sweating, feeling faint, trouble breathing, slurred speech, or weakness on one side of your body.

Naproxen may cause bleeding in your stomach or bowels. 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, steroids or a blood thinner).

This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

Serious skin reactions, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child 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 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.

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

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have any symptoms of liver problems including dark-colored urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

If you or your child are rapidly gaining weight, having chest pain or discomfort, extreme tiredness or weakness, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, or excessive swelling of the hands, wrist, ankles, or feet, check with your doctor immediately. These may be symptoms of heart problems or your body keeping too much water.

This medicine may cause kidney problems. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child has blood in the urine, decreased urine output, confusion, dizziness, headache, muscle twitching, rapid weight gain, swelling of your face, ankles, or hands, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Hyperkalemia (high potassium in the blood) may occur while you are using this medicine. Call your doctor right away if you have confusion, nausea or vomiting, weakness or heaviness of the legs, uneven heartbeat, trouble breathing, numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or lips.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child has a change in frequency of urination or amount of urine, blood in the urine, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, skin rash, swelling of the body, feet, or ankles, unusual tiredness or weakness, or unusual weight gain after using this medicine. These could be symptoms of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Taking this medicine for a long time may make it harder for your body to absorb vitamin B12. Tell your doctor if you have concerns about vitamin B12 deficiency.

This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood). Your doctor may want to check your blood levels if you are taking this medicine for more than 1 year, or if you are taking this medicine together with digoxin (Lanoxin®) or certain diuretics or "water pills". Check with your doctor right away if you have seizures, fast, racing, or uneven heartbeat, muscle spasms (tetany), tremors, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Serious stomach conditions may occur while taking this medicine alone. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child has stomach cramps, bloated feeling, watery and severe diarrhea which may be bloody sometimes, fever, nausea, vomiting, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may increase your risk of having fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine. This is more likely if you are 50 years of age and older, if you receive high doses of this medicine, or use it for one year or more.

Cutaneous or systemic lupus erythematosus may occur or get worse in patients receiving a PPI. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has joint pain or a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse when exposed to the sun.

This medicine may increase your risk for fundic gland polyps (abnormal tissue growth in the upper part of your stomach). This is more likely if you are receiving this medicine for more than 1 year. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Do not Stop taking esomeprazole / naproxen without first checking with your doctor, or unless told to do so by your doctor.

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.

Before having any kind of surgery or medical tests, tell your doctor that you are using this medicine. It may be necessary for you to stop the medicine for a while, or to change to a different medicine before your procedure.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription (eg, atazanavir, nelfinavir, Reyataz®, Viracept®) or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, esomeprazole / naproxen 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 esomeprazole / naproxen:

More common side effects

  • blistering, peeling, or reddening of the skin
  • burning feeling in the chest or stomach
  • indigestion
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea
  • stomach bloating, cramping, pain, tenderness, or upset
  • upper abdominal or stomach pain
  • vomiting
  • weight loss

Less common side effects

  • black, tarry stools
  • bladder pain
  • bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
  • bloody or cloudy urine
  • bloody stools
  • chest pain
  • difficult, burning, or painful urination
  • difficulty with moving
  • difficulty with swallowing
  • frequent urge to urinate
  • full or bloated feeling
  • heartburn
  • lower back or side pain
  • muscle pain or stiffness
  • pain in the joints
  • pain or burning in the throat
  • pressure in the stomach
  • rapid weight gain
  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
  • stomach discomfort or swelling
  • tingling of the hands or feet
  • trouble breathing
  • unusual weight gain or loss
  • vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Incidence not known

  • chills
  • confusion
  • cough
  • drowsiness
  • dry mouth
  • fever
  • mood or mental changes
  • muscle cramps, spasms (tetany), or twitching
  • numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
  • seizures
  • sore throat
  • stomach cramps
  • swollen glands
  • trembling
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • unusual tiredness or weakness

Other side effects

Some side effects of esomeprazole / 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

  • belching
  • diarrhea

Less common side effects

  • body aches or pain
  • change in taste
  • cough producing mucus
  • difficulty having a bowel movement
  • ear congestion
  • excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
  • fever
  • increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
  • loss of taste
  • loss of voice
  • loss or thinning of the hair
  • pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
  • passing gas
  • severe sunburn
  • sneezing
  • stuffy or runny nose

Incidence not known

  • decreased interest in sexual intercourse
  • inability to have or keep an erection
  • loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

For healthcare professionals

Applies to esomeprazole / naproxen: oral delayed release tablet.

General adverse events

Naproxen:

Gastrointestinal

Esomeprazole-naproxen:

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Esomeprazole-naproxen was reported to cause fewer NSAID-related upper gastrointestinal adverse events (e.g., duodenal ulcer) (53.3%) compared to enteric coated naproxen taken as monotherapy (70.4%).

NSAIDs, including naproxen, have been reported to lead to upper gastrointestinal ulcers and gross bleeding or perforation in approximately 1% of patient treated for 3 to 6 months, and about 2% to 4% of patients treated for one year.[Ref]

Genitourinary

Esomeprazole-naproxen:

Esomeprazole:

Respiratory

Esomeprazole-naproxen:

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Musculoskeletal

Esomeprazole-naproxen:

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Cardiovascular

Esomeprazole-naproxen:

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Clinical trials and epidemiological data have suggested a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events (e.g., myocardial infarction or stroke) with the use of "coxibs" or some NSAIDs, especially when used at high doses and for long treatment durations. Although naproxen doses of 1000 mg per day may be associated with a lower risk than COX-2 selective inhibitors, a small risk cannot be excluded.[Ref]

Other

Esomeprazole-naproxen:

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Renal

Esomeprazole-naproxen:

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Dermatologic

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Endocrine

Esomeprazole:

Hematologic

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Hepatic

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Hypersensitivity

Esomeprazole:

Metabolic

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Nervous system

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Ocular

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

Psychiatric

Esomeprazole:

Naproxen:

See also:

References

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

2. (2010) "Product Information. VIMOVO (esomeprazole-naproxen)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals

Further information

Esomeprazole/naproxen 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.