People's Pharmacy

Anaprox

Generic Name:naproxen sodium

Revised:4/1/2000

Table of Contents

Side Effects and Interactions

No matter how you swallow this medicine, the most common side effects involve the gastrointestinal tract. They include nausea, indigestion, heartburn, cramps, gas, constipation, and diarrhea.

Some people even develop ulcers and intestinal bleeding while taking Anaprox. These problems occasionally occur without obvious preliminary symptoms, leading to a sudden life-threatening crisis due to perforation of the stomach lining.

Older people appear to be more susceptible to this problem and should be monitored carefully.

Warning signs may include weight loss, persistent indigestion, a feeling of fullness after moderate meals, dark or tarry stools, anemia and unusual fatigue. Home stool tests such as Hemoccult or Fleet Detecatest may provide an early indication of bleeding.

Other side effects to be alert for include headache, ringing in the ears, rash, itching, difficulty breathing and fluid retention. Drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty concentrating, and confusion are possible; do not drive if you become impaired.

Less commonly Anaprox may produce jitteriness, insomnia, heart palpitations, hair loss, depression, tremor, tiredness, visual disturbances, and sores in the mouth.

Some people become sensitive to sunlight while on Anaprox, so use an effective sunscreen, stay covered or avoid the sun. Report any symptoms to your physician promptly.

Anaprox can affect both the kidney and liver, so periodic blood tests to monitor the function of these organs is important.

This medication can adversely interact with many other drugs, including aspirin, alcohol, beta-blocker heart or blood pressure medicine, blood thinners, Lasix, lithium and methotrexate.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Aleve (which contains the same ingredient as Anaprox) or others containing ibuprofen or aspirin should not be combined with Anaprox. Check with your pharmacist and physician to make sure Anaprox is safe in combination with any other drugs you take.