GP and surgeon, Dr Shane Charles (MBBS, MRCS, PgDip SEM) provides a simple explanation of the medication below:

'Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used in the management of musculoskeletal pain, gout, osteoarthritis arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. '.

If you think Naproxen is a treatment that can help you, start an online consultation now for a registered prescriber to review. If treatment is deemed suitable, they can prescribe it, and we can deliver it to you from the comfort of your own home with a range of convenient delivery and payment options for you to choose from. If you have any questions about a medication, you should always consult your doctor with any questions prior to starting treatment, to ensure that it is safe and suitable for you.

After an online consultation with a prescriber, you will be able to buy Naproxen from UK Meds if your conditions indicate it. If you already have a prescription, we can fulfill it for you. If not, the online consultation will ensure that this medication is the right one for your medical condition.

In the UK, Naproxen is a prescription-only medication (NHS, 2022). If you wish to purchase this medication, but do not have a prescription, our prescriber service may be able to help you. You can take advantage of this service during the check-out process. In short, no, Naproxen is not over-the-counter medication.

It is a medication that is used to provide pain relief from various ailments. Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID (NHS, 2022).

Naproxen works by blocking the body’s production of certain natural substances that cause inflammation (WebMD, 2024).

Summary of Naproxen

For more information on the prescription medication patients should refer to the Naproxen patient information leaflet.

Video: An overview of Naproxen

In the video below Advanced Specialist Pharmacist at the University Hospitals of Leicester, Yasir Sacranie MPharm PGDip (GPhC number: 2215086), explains key facts about Naproxen:

@micropharm Pharmacist explains naproxen #fyp #foryoupage #pharmacy #medicine ♬ original sound - Yasir Sacranie

Naproxen is beneficial in providing relief from pain from various conditions such as headaches, tendonitis, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, and dental pain (WebMD, 2024). It is also beneficial in reducing the pain, swelling, and joint stiffness caused by gout attacks, bursitis, and arthritis (Mayo Clinic, 2023).

You should read first the medication guide or patient information provided for in the information leaflet that comes with the product package before you start using Naproxen.  Ask your doctor or your pharmacist if you have any questions about the use and safety of the medication.

Take Naproxen by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually 1 or 2 doses a day with a full glass of water (NHS, 2022). Avoid lying down within ten minutes after taking this medication (WebMD, 2024). Take Naproxen with food, milk, or an antacid in order to avoid having an upset stomach (NHS, 2022).

To reduce the risk of stomach bleeding and other side effects, take Naproxen at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time; do not increase your dose or take Naproxen more than directed by your doctor (WebMD, 2024). For ongoing conditions such as arthritis, take this medication continuously as directed by your doctor (NHS, 2022). For arthritis, the full benefit of this drug may show after about two weeks of continuous use (Medline Plus, 2022).

If you are taking Naproxen as needed, you should remember that pain medication like Naproxen works best when used as the first signs of pain occur (WebMD, 2024). The medication may not work well if you wait until the pain has worsened.

Inform your doctor if your condition will not improve or if it gets worse.

You should always follow your doctor's advice on the correct dosage of Naproxen to take to treat your case of gout. Typically, the usual dose of Naproxen is 1 to 2 doses a day (NHS, 2022), or as directed by your doctor. The dosage of this medication is based on your medical condition and your response to the treatment.

Naproxen Reviews

See what gout patients have to say about their experiences with the medication by taking a look at the naproxen user reviews and experiences available at Drugs.com and Web MD.

Naproxen has been found to be an effective treatment for alleviating the inflammation of acute gout (Roddy et al, 2020; Willkens et al, 1975).

Whilst interactions haven't been found between naproxen and colchicine, it does not necessarily mean that no interactions exists between the two gout treatments (Drugs.com). This is why it is important to always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting treatment with any medication.

Strictly speaking, there isn't a simple answer to whether naproxen or ibuprofen is better as a treatment for gout. Whilst they are both NSAID medications, the answer will depend on the gout patient's individual circumstances and what their doctor deems the most appropriate and safe; whilst Ibuprofen is short acting, naproxen is long acting and could increase the possibility of the patient experiencing stomach upset (Drugs.com, 2023).

We've provided a summary table below comparing the NSAID medications Naproxen & Ibuprofen (used to treat gout) below:

Naproxen vs Ibuprofen Comparison

• Mayo Clinic - Naproxen Oral Route
• NHS - Naproxen
• BNF - Naproxen
• UK Gout Society - Gout and Treatment
• CreakyJoints - Naproxen Beats Colchicine for Gout Flares
• Drugs.com - Naproxen Dosage
• WebMD - Naproxen Oral Tablet
• Healthline - Naproxen Oral Tablet

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