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Naproxen (INN
International Nonproprietary Name

An International Nonproprietary Name is the official non-proprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance, as designated by the World Health Organization ....
) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs or NAIDs, are Medications with analgesic, antipyretic and, in higher doses, with anti-inflammatory effects ....
 (NSAID) commonly used for the reduction of moderate to severe pain
Pain

Pain, in the sense of physical pain, is a typical sensory experience that may be described as the unpleasant awareness of a noxious stimulus or bodily harm....
, fever
Fever

Fever is a frequent medical sign that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels above normal. Fever is most accurately characterized as a temporary elevation in the body's thermoregulatory set-point, usually by about 1?2 ?C ....
, inflammation
Inflammation

Inflammation is the complex biological response of Blood vessel tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue....
 and stiffness caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis , is a group of diseases and mechanical abnormalities entailing degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and the subchondral bone next to it....
, rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic disease inflammation that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints producing a inflammatory synovitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints....
, psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, affects around 10-30% of people suffering from the chronic skin condition psoriasis....
, gout
Gout

Gout is a crystal deposition disease hallmarked by elevated levels of uric acid in the Circulatory system. In this condition, crystals of monosodium urate or uric acid are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues....
, ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis It is a member of the group of the spondyloarthropathy with a strong genetic predisposition. Complete fusion results in a complete rigidity of the spine, a condition known as bamboo spine....
, menstrual cramps, tendinitis, bursitis
Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more Bursa of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone....
, and the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is a medical condition characterized by severe uterine pain during menstruation. While most women experience minor pain during menstruation, dysmenorrhea is diagnosed when the pain is so severe as to limit normal activities, or require medication....
. It works by inhibiting both the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Naproxen and naproxen sodium are marketed under various trade names including: Aleve, Anaprox, Antalgin, Miranax, Naprelan, Naprogesic, Naprosyn, Proxen, Synflex, Xenobid.

Naproxen was originally marketed as the prescription drug
Prescription drug

A prescription drug is a medication that is regulated by legislation to require a medical prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription....
 Naprosyn in 1976, and naproxen sodium was first marketed under the trade name Anaprox in 1980.






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Naproxen (INN
International Nonproprietary Name

An International Nonproprietary Name is the official non-proprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance, as designated by the World Health Organization ....
) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs or NAIDs, are Medications with analgesic, antipyretic and, in higher doses, with anti-inflammatory effects ....
 (NSAID) commonly used for the reduction of moderate to severe pain
Pain

Pain, in the sense of physical pain, is a typical sensory experience that may be described as the unpleasant awareness of a noxious stimulus or bodily harm....
, fever
Fever

Fever is a frequent medical sign that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels above normal. Fever is most accurately characterized as a temporary elevation in the body's thermoregulatory set-point, usually by about 1?2 ?C ....
, inflammation
Inflammation

Inflammation is the complex biological response of Blood vessel tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue....
 and stiffness caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis , is a group of diseases and mechanical abnormalities entailing degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and the subchondral bone next to it....
, rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic disease inflammation that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints producing a inflammatory synovitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints....
, psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, affects around 10-30% of people suffering from the chronic skin condition psoriasis....
, gout
Gout

Gout is a crystal deposition disease hallmarked by elevated levels of uric acid in the Circulatory system. In this condition, crystals of monosodium urate or uric acid are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues....
, ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis It is a member of the group of the spondyloarthropathy with a strong genetic predisposition. Complete fusion results in a complete rigidity of the spine, a condition known as bamboo spine....
, menstrual cramps, tendinitis, bursitis
Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more Bursa of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone....
, and the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is a medical condition characterized by severe uterine pain during menstruation. While most women experience minor pain during menstruation, dysmenorrhea is diagnosed when the pain is so severe as to limit normal activities, or require medication....
. It works by inhibiting both the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Naproxen and naproxen sodium are marketed under various trade names including: Aleve, Anaprox, Antalgin, Miranax, Naprelan, Naprogesic, Naprosyn, Proxen, Synflex, Xenobid.

Naproxen was originally marketed as the prescription drug
Prescription drug

A prescription drug is a medication that is regulated by legislation to require a medical prescription before it can be obtained. The term is used to distinguish it from over-the-counter drugs which can be obtained without a prescription....
 Naprosyn in 1976, and naproxen sodium was first marketed under the trade name Anaprox in 1980. It remains a prescription-only drug in much of the world. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is an Government agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating and supervising the safety of foods, dietary supplements, Medications, vaccines, Biopharmaceutical, blood transfusion, medical devices, Electromagnetic radiation-emitting devices, veteri...
 (FDA) approved the use of naproxen sodium as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug in 1994, where OTC preparations are sold under the trade name Aleve. In Australia, small packets of lower-strength preparations of naproxen sodium are Schedule 2 Pharmacy Medicines
Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons

The Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons, abbreviated SUSDP, is a document used in the regulation of drugs and poisons in Australia....
. In the UK, 250mg tablets of naproxen were approved for OTC sale under the brand name Feminax Ultra in 2008, for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea in women aged 15 to 50.

Structure and details

Naproxen is a member of the 2-arylpropionic acid (profen) family of NSAIDs. It is an odorless, white to off-white crystalline substance. It is lipid
Lipid

Lipids are broadly defined as any fat-soluble , naturally-occurring molecule, such as fats, oils, waxes, cholesterol, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins , monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others....
-soluble and practically insoluble in water. It has a melting point
Melting point

The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes states of matter from solid to liquid. At the melting point the solid and liquid phase exist in equilibrium....
 of 153 °C
Celsius

Celsius is a temperature scale that is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death....
.

Adverse effects and warnings

IP110 Naproxen Tablets: Like other NSAIDs, naproxen can inhibit the excretion of sodium
Sodium

Sodium is an element which has the symbol Na , atomic number 11, atomic mass 23 amu , and a common oxidation number +1. Sodium is a soft, silvery white, highly reactive element and is a member of the alkali metals within "group 1" ....
 and lithium. Extreme care must be taken by those who use this drug along with lithium supplements. Naproxen is also not recommended for use with NSAIDs of the salicylate family (Aspirin) (drugs may reduce each other's effects) or with anticoagulant
Anticoagulant

An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents blood coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. A group of pharmaceuticals called anticoagulants can be used in vivo as a medication for thrombosis disorders....
s (may increase risk of bleeding). Naproxen preparations containing sodium (e.g., Anaprox, Aleve, etc.) are not recommended for use in patients with sodium-sensitive hypertension
Hypertension

Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated....
, due to potential adverse effects on blood pressure in this small subset of hypertensive patients.

In August 2006, the Journal Birth Defects Research Part B published results indicating that pregnant women who take NSAIDs including naproxen in the first trimester run an increased risk of having a child with congenital birth defects, particularly heart anomalies.

IP110-Naproxen link to Pseudoporphyria

Naproxen IP110 has also been linked to cases of Pseudoporphyria
Pseudoporphyria

Pseudoporphyria is a bullous photosensitivity that clinically and histologically mimics porphyria cutanea tarda . The difference is that no abnormalities in urine or serum porphyrin is noted on laboratories....
, specifically in those with skin type II or lower, especially with blue or green eyes.

Risk of heart attack or stroke

The National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research....
 prematurely terminated a randomized clinical trial of naproxen and celecoxib
Celecoxib

Celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pain, painful menstruation and menstrual symptoms, and to reduce numbers of colon and rectum polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis....
 for prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease , also called Alzheimer disease, Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of dementia....
, after preliminary data suggested similar effects to viagra, such as heart attack
Myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when the Blood flow to part of the heart is interrupted. This is most commonly due to occlusion of a coronary artery following the rupture of a Vulnerable plaque, which is an unstable collection of lipids and white blood cells in the wall of an artery....
 or stroke
Stroke

A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. According to the National Stroke Association, a "stroke" occurs when a blood clot blocks and artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain....
, in patients taking naproxen. However, recent meta-analyses
Meta-analysis

In statistics, a meta-analysis combines the results of several studies that address a set of related research hypotheses. This is normally done by identification of a common measure of effect size, which is modelled using a form of meta-regression....
, which took into account all data from significant clinical trials of naproxen, including randomized clinical trials and observational trials concluded that naproxen carries no increased risk of heart attack or stroke at any commonly used dose. This stands in contrast to other NSAIDs, such as rofecoxib
Rofecoxib

Rofecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug marketed by Merck & Co. to treat osteoarthritis, acute pain conditions, and dysmenorrhea. Rofecoxib was approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration on May 20, 1999, and was subsequently marketed under the brand name Vioxx, Ceoxx and Ceeoxx....
 (Vioxx), celecoxib
Celecoxib

Celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pain, painful menstruation and menstrual symptoms, and to reduce numbers of colon and rectum polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis....
 (Celebrex), and diclofenac
Diclofenac

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug taken to reduce inflammation and as an analgesic reducing pain in conditions such as arthritis or acute injury....
 (Voltaren), which did show significantly increased risk at some or all dosages. In February 2007, the American Heart Association
American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate Heart care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke....
 released a scientific statement advising that, when possible, physicians should avoid using NSAIDs in patients at high risk for heart disease. When pain relief is necessary, the AHA advises that doctors should preferentially use acetaminophen or aspirin
Aspirin

Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate medication, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication....
.

See also

  • Aspirin
    Aspirin

    Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate medication, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication....
  • Paracetamol
    Paracetamol

    Paracetamol or acetaminophen is a widely used over-the-counter drug analgesic and antipyretic . It is commonly used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains, and is a major ingredient in numerous common cold and Influenza remedies....
     (acetaminophen)
  • Ibuprofen
    Ibuprofen

    Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug originally marketed as Brufen, and since then under various other trademarks , most notably Nurofen, Advil and Motrin....


External links

  • , released 20 December 2004
  • (expressing the point of view that the risk of heart attack or stroke was overstated)