The use of Naproxen Orion with concomitant NSAIDs including cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors should be avoided.
Undesirable effects may be minimised by using the minimum effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to control symptoms (see section 4.2, and the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks below). Patients treated with NSAIDs long-term should undergo regular medical supervision to monitor for adverse events.
Elderly patients:
The elderly have an increased frequency of adverse reactions to NSAIDs; especially gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation which may be fatal (see section 4.2). Prolonged use of NSAIDs in these patients is not recommended. Where prolonged therapy is required, patients should be reviewed regularly.
Effects on the heart, blood circulation and cerebral circulation:
Appropriate monitoring and advice are required for patients with hypertension and/or mild or moderate cardiac failure as fluid retention and oedema have been reported in association with NSAID therapy.
Clinical trial and epidemiological data suggest that use of coxibs and some other anti-inflammatory analgesics, particularly at a high dose and in long term treatment may be associated with a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events (e.g. myocardial infarction or stroke). Although the current data suggests that the risk may be lower in connection with naproxen use (1,000 mg/day), it cannot be excluded entirely.
Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure, established ischaemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and/or cerebrovascular disease should only be treated with naproxen after careful consideration. Similar consideration should be made before initiating longer-term treatment of patients with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking).
Serum potassium concentrations should be monitored especially in patients using ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or potassium-sparing diuretics. Anti-inflammatory analgesics may reduce the efficacy of some antihypertensive drugs (see section 4.5).
Renal effects:
Patients with renal or hepatic failure, hypertension, or cardiac failure, and elderly patients should be monitored for renal function and haemodynamics during naproxen treatment. Naproxen should be avoided, if possible, in patients with moderate renal failure. Naproxen is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment (baseline creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min) or severe hepatic impairment (see section 4.3).
Dehydration during the use of an anti-inflammatory analgesic (i.e. NSAID) increases the risk of acute renal failure, so the patient's possible dehydration should be corrected before naproxen treatment is initiated. The naproxen treatment should be started with caution in patients with a history of considerable dehydration. Like other anti-inflammatory analgesics, long-term treatment with naproxen has caused renal papillary necrosis and other pathological renal alterations.
Renal toxicity has also been detected in patients in whom renal prostaglandins maintain the renal perfusion. In these patients, the use of anti-inflammatory analgesics may cause a dose-dependent reduction in the formation of prostaglandins, leading to reduced renal perfusion. This may progress into renal failure. The risk is highest in elderly patients, those using diuretics, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin‑II receptor antagonists, and in patients with renal or hepatic impairment or cardiac failure. Discontinuation of treatment usually corrects the patient's status to the pre-treatment level.
Liver effects:
As with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, elevations of one or more liver function tests may occur. Hepatic abnormalities may be the result of hypersensitivity rather than direct toxicity. Severe hepatic reactions, including jaundice and hepatitis (some cases of hepatitis have been fatal) have been reported with this drug as with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Cross reactivity has been reported.
Chronic alcoholic liver disease and probably also other forms of cirrhosis reduce the total plasma concentration of naproxen, but the plasma concentration of unbound naproxen is increased. The implication of this finding for Naproxen Orion dosing is unknown but it is prudent to use the lowest effective dose. Naproxen is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see section 4.3).
Haematological effects:
Naproxen inhibits platelet aggregation and prolongs the bleeding time. This effect should be kept in mind when bleeding times are determined. Patients who have coagulation disorders or are receiving drug therapy that interferes with haemostasis should be carefully observed if naproxen-containing products are administered.
Gastrointestinal haemorrhages, ulcers and perforations:
Gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration or perforation, which can be fatal, has been reported with all NSAIDs at anytime during treatment, with or without warning symptoms or a previous history of serious GI events.
Naproxen reduces thrombocyte activation and aggregation but this effect is transient and lasts less than 48 hours after a single dose. This should be taken into account when treating postoperative patients with an increased risk of haemorrhage, patients on anticoagulant medication (see section 4.5), patients with haemophilia, or other patients with diseases impairing the functioning of the coagulation system or with thrombocytopenia. The risk of gastrointestinal haemorrhage increases even by this mechanism.
The risk of GI bleeding, ulceration or perforation is higher with increasing NSAID doses, in patients with a history of ulcer, particularly if complicated with haemorrhage or perforation (see section 4.3), and in the elderly. These patients should commence treatment on the lowest possible dose available. Combination therapy with protective agents (e.g. misoprostol or proton pump inhibitors) should be considered for these patients, and also for patients requiring concomitant low dose acetylsalicylic acid, or other drugs likely to increase gastrointestinal risk (see below and section 4.5).
Patients with a history of GI adverse reactions, particularly when elderly, should report any unusual abdominal symptoms (especially GI bleeding) particularly in the initial stages of treatment. Caution should be advised in patients receiving concomitant medications which could increase the risk of ulceration or bleeding, such as oral corticosteroids, anticoagulants such as warfarin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or anti-platelet agents such as acetylsalicylic acid (see section 4.5).
When GI bleeding or ulceration occurs in patients receiving Naproxen Orion, the treatment should be withdrawn.
NSAIDs should be given with care to patients with a history of gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease) as their condition may be exacerbated (see section 4.8).
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs):
Serious skin reactions, including exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which can be life-threatening or fatal, have been reported post-marketing in association with the use of NSAIDs (see section 4.8). Patients appear to be at highest risk of these reactions early in the course of therapy: the onset of the reaction occurring in the majority of cases within the first month of treatment. Naproxen Orion should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash, mucosal lesions, or any other sign of hypersensitivity. If the patient has developed SJS, or TEN or DRESS with the use of Naproxen Orion, treatment with Naproxen Orion must not be restarted and should be permanently discontinued.
Pseudoporphyria:
Pseudoporphyria (blistering cutaneous photosensitivity) has been reported in up to 10 % of paediatric rheumatic patients in connection with naproxen treatment exceeding four weeks. Patients should be monitored for this reversible phenomenon and the use of the preparation should be discontinued if symptoms occur.
Anaphylactic reactions:
Hypersensitivity reactions may occur in susceptible individuals. Anaphylactic reactions may occur both in patients with and without a history of hypersensitivity or exposure to aspirin, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or naproxen-containing products. They may also occur in individuals with a history of angio-oedema, bronchospastic reactivity (e.g. asthma), rhinitis and nasal polyps.
Anaphylactic reactions may have a fatal outcome.
SLE and mixed connective tissue disease:
In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disorders there may be an increased risk of aseptic meningitis (see section 4.8).
Ocular effects:
Studies have not shown changes in the eye attributable to naproxen administration. In rare cases, adverse ocular disorders including papillitis, retrobulbar optic neuritis and papilloedema, have been reported in users of naproxen. A cause-and-effect relationship has not been established. Patients who develop visual disturbances during treatment with naproxen-containing products should have an ophthalmological examination.
Precautions related to fertility:
The use of naproxen may impair female fertility and is not recommended in women attempting to conceive. In women who have difficulties conceiving or who are undergoing investigation of infertility, withdrawal of naproxen should be considered.
Anti-inflammatory analgesics may aggravate bronchospasm in patients with allergic disease (see section 4.3).
The antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities of Naproxen Orion may reduce fever and inflammation, thereby diminishing their utility as diagnostic signs.
Naproxen Orion oral suspension contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate and propyl parahydroxybenzoate which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Naproxen Orion oral suspension contains 400 mg/ml sorbitol. Daily doses as per instructions yield 1.6 g–20 g sorbitol. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine. Sorbitol may have a mild laxative effect.
This medicinal product contains 0,8 mg/ml sodium, 24 mg sodium per 30 ml dose, which is equivalent to 1,2 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.