Hello Me,

You have two things going on here, you mention cramps, and then you mention stomach bleeding. If you have bleeding in your stomach, then you need to see a doctor right away. Stomach bleeding is not good. You could have a serious condition and it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. If you are cramping and having menstrual bleeding (obviously you must be female) welcome to the club!

Here is some information to look at. I want to caution you that while online sites are wonderful resources for getting information that will help you ask all the right questions when it's time to see your doctor, these sites can not take the place of your doctor's sound medical advice and care.

You asked about Naproxen. Naproxen is prescribed to help relieve pain and swelling, usually for arthritis patients. It can also help with headaches, back aches, dental pain and yes menstrual cramps. It's an all around pain reliever. HOWEVER, there is a strong warning against using this medication for extended periods of time because of the danger of stomach and intestinal bleeding. This medication can cause stomach bleeding (see my note above about seeing a doctor if you are indeed experiencing stomach bleeding) See this excerpt below:

"Stop taking naproxen and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: black stools (sure sign of bleeding of the stomach), persistent stomach  or abdominal pain, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side of the body, sudden vision changes, slurred speech."

I hope this helps. Please see your doctor if you think you are experiencing a serious medical condition. It's always better to be safe.

Take care and stay in touch. Let us know how you are doing!

Vicki M