Lupus Site - a guide for lupus patients and their families

Brand names - Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn

Medication type - NSAID

Common side effects - Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhoea, constipation, headache, dizziness, sleepiness.

Rare side effects - Ulcers or sores in mouth, depression, rashes or blistering of skin, ringing sound in the ears, unusual tingling or numbness of the hands or feet, seizures, blurred vision. Also elevated potassium levels, decreased blood counts; such problems can be detected by your doctor.

Serious side effects - Shortness of breath or wheezing, with or without swelling of legs or other signs of heart failure; chest pain; peptic ulcer disease with vomiting of blood; black, tarry stools; decreasing kidney function. Call your doctor immediately

Dosage - Adults: 440 to 1,500 mg daily. Maximum dose is 1,500 mg a day, taken in 2 to 3 evenly divided doses.

Uses - To relieve minor pain or inflammation.

Other notes - Take with food; maintain your usual food and fluid intake. Prolonged use can cause gastrointestinal problems, including ulceration and bleeding, kidney dysfunction, and liver inflammation. Consult your doctor about the need for medical examinations and lab studies. Avoid alcohol when taking this drug; the combination of naproxen and alcohol can be highly toxic to the liver. Avoid or discontinue this drug if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Naproxen passes into breast milk; avoid or discontinue use while nursing. Because NSAIDs can interfere with blood coagulation, this drug should be stopped at least 3 days prior to any surgery. Do not take this drug with aspirin or any other NSAIDs without your doctors approval.