What is Naproxen used for?

Naproxen uses are varied as it can be of pain relieving benefit for anyone with pain caused by inflammation. As a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), naproxen uses the active ingredients to reduce the hormones that cause inflammation and pain throughout the body. The pain relief and inflammation can be reduced for chronic or acute caused by conditions including: arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, gout, muscle soreness, and/or menstrual cramps. Because of the blood thinning and digestive ailments that are caused by this medication, naproxen and alcohol can be a devastating combination. Always discuss the possible drug interactions and side effects with your physician and pharmacist and defer to their professional opinions.

Important Information About Naproxen Uses

The very mechanism that naproxen uses to reduce pain and inflammation can cause a series of potentially fatal complications, such as: heart attack, stroke, and intestinal bleeding. These ailments and serious side effects can be made worse with improper use such as higher than maximum dosages or prolonged use. Seek immediate emergency medical help if you experience any chest pain, shortness of breath, slurred speech, difficulty with balance, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, black vomit, and/or impaired vision. Any of these symptoms could be life-threatening and have been reported.

There is also the possibility that the medication that you purchase over the counter could be combined with aspirin or other medicines that can compound the side effects. The same medication that naproxen uses to reduce pain and increase your wellbeing can cause serious side effects if taken in a higher than allowable dose. The only way that you can be certain that the medication that you are taking is effective, and will not be harmful in combination with anything else that you may be taking, is to have a discussion with your physician and pharmacist. Avoid taking naproxen and alcohol together as the negative side effects can be amplified.

The Problems Around Combining Naproxen and Alcohol

There are two serious side effects of combining naproxen and alcohol, which can be easily avoided by not consuming alcohol on the same day that you take naproxen. The positive naproxen uses can be nullified when combined with alcohol because alcohol increases the side effects of ulcers or intestinal bleeding that can be caused by naproxen. Chronic alcohol consumption can also decrease the level of albumin in the blood, and naproxen molecules bind to albumin. The combination of naproxen and alcohol then causes too many of these albumin to become inactive, which then causes other negative health side effects.