Undesirable effects may be minimised by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to control the symptoms (see section 4.2, and GI and cardiovascular risks below).
Co-administration of naproxen with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including COX-2-selective inhibitors should be avoided.
Naproxen must be stopped immediately in case of gastrointestinal bleeding or visual disturbances or hearing impairment.
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects
Appropriate monitoring and advice are required for patients with a history of hypertension and/or mild to moderate congestive heart failure because fluid retention and oedema have been reported in association with NSAID therapy.
Clinical studies and epidemiological data suggest that the use of some NSAIDs, particularly at high doses and during long-term treatment, may be associated with a small increased risk of arterial thrombotic events (e.g. myocardial infarction or stroke). Although data from epidemiological studies suggest that naproxen (1,000mg/day) may be associated with a lower risk, some of such risk can, however, not be completely excluded.
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 also be made before initiating longer-term treatment of patients with risk factors for cardiovascular events (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking).
Respiratory tract
Particular caution (careful risk/benefit assessment) is necessary in patients with asthma and allergic diseases such as hay fever, chronic swelling of the nasal mucosa, angioedema, urticaria (including a history thereof) or chronic obstructive airway disease because bronchospasm (asthma attack) may be triggered. This applies especially if other NSAIDs have previously caused this reaction. If this is the case, Naproxen must not be administered (see section 4.3).
Gastrointestinal tract
Gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration or perforation, which can be fatal, has been reported with all NSAIDs at any time during treatment, with or without warning symptoms or a previous history of serious GI events.
The risk of gastrointestinal 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 older patients. These patient groups should commence treatment with the lowest dose available (see section 4.2).
Combination therapy with protective agents (e.g. misoprostol or proton pump inhibitors) should be considered for these patients and also for patients requiring concomitant treatment with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid or with other drugs that may increase gastrointestinal risk (see below and section 4.5).
Patients with a history of gastrointestinal toxicity – particularly when older – should report any unusual abdominal symptoms (especially gastrointestinal bleeding) particularly in the initial stages of treatment.
When gastrointestinal bleeding or ulceration occurs during naproxen therapy, the treatment must be stopped.
Particular caution should be exercised in patients receiving concomitant medication that might increase the risk of ulceration and bleeding, such as oral corticosteroids, anticoagulants such as warfarin, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or antiplatelet agents such as acetylsalicylic acid (see section 4.5).
NSAIDs should only be given with caution to patients with a history of gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease) as these conditions may be exacerbated (see section 4.8).
Haematological
Patients who have coagulation disorders or are receiving drug therapy that interferes with haemostasis should be carefully observed if naproxen-containing products are administered.
Patients at high risk of bleeding or those on full anti-coagulation therapy (e.g. dicoumarol derivatives) may be at increased risk of bleeding if given naproxen containing products concurrently.
Kidney, urogenital tract
There have been reports of impaired renal function, renal failure, acute interstitial nephritis, haematuria, proteinuria, renal papillary necrosis and occasionally nephrotic syndrome associated with naproxen.
The administration of an NSAID may cause a dose dependent reduction in prostaglandin formation and precipitate renal failure. Patients at greatest risk of this reaction are those with impaired renal function, cardiac impairment, liver dysfunction, those taking diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists and the older patients. Renal function should be monitored in these patients (see also section 4.3).
As naproxen and its metabolites are excreted to a large extent (95%) in the urine via glomerular filtration, naproxen should be used with great caution in patients with renal impairment (whose creatinine clearance is greater than 30mL per minute). In addition, monitoring of serum creatinine and/or creatinine clearance is advised in these patients.
Certain patients, specifically those with compromised renal blood flow, such as in extracellular fluid volume depletion, liver disease, sodium retention, congestive heart failure and pre-existing renal disease, should have their renal function assessed before and during naproxen therapy.
Older patients with presumably impaired renal function would fall within this category, as would patients receiving diuretic therapy. A reduction in the daily dose should be considered to avoid the possibility of excessive accumulation of naproxen metabolites in these patients.
Careful monitoring is recommended also because of possible changes in the water and electrolyte balance immediately after major surgery.
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)
Exfoliative dermatitis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and 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 Naproxen Oral Suspension treatment (see section 4.8). If signs and symptoms suggestive of these reactions appear, Naproxen Oral Suspension should be withdrawn immediately. If the patient has developed exfoliative dermatitis, or SJS, or TEN or DRESS with the use of Naproxen Oral Suspension, treatment with Naproxen Oral Suspension must not be restarted and should be permanently discontinued.
Anaphylactic (anaphylactoid) reactions
Hypersensitivity reactions may occur in susceptible individuals. Anaphylactic (anaphylactoid) reactions may occur both in patients with and without a history of hypersensitivity or prior exposure to acetylsalicylic acid, other NSAIDs or naproxen-containing medicinal products putting them at risk of such reactions. They may also occur in patients with a history of angioedema, bronchospastic reactions (e.g. asthma), rhinitis or nasal polyps. Anaphylactoid reactions, like anaphylaxis, may have a fatal outcome. Bronchospasm may be precipitated in patients suffering from or with a history of asthma, allergic diseases or hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid (see section 4.3).
Eyes
Studies have not shown any ocular changes attributable to naproxen administration. In rare cases, ocular side effects such as papillitis, retrobulbar optic neuritis and papilloedema have been reported in users of NSAIDs including naproxen, although a causal relationship could not be established. Therefore, patients who develop visual disturbances during treatment with naproxen should have an ophthalmological examination.
Uterus
Caution should be exercised in women with abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding (e.g. menorrhagia, metrorrhagia).
Autoimmune disorders
Caution should also be exercised in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune disorders – there have been reports of aseptic meningitis and renal impairment.
Porphyria
In patients with inducible porphyria, naproxen should only be used after very careful risk/benefit assessment.
Elderly (over 65 years of age)
Elderly patients show an increased incidence of adverse reactions to NSAIDs, particularly of gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation, which may have a fatal outcome (see sections 4.2 and 4.8).
Liver
As with other NSAIDs, one or more liver function tests may show elevated readings, which would be the result of hypersensitivity rather than toxicity. Severe hepatic reactions including jaundice and hepatitis – some cases have been fatal – have been reported with naproxen as with other NSAIDs. Cross-reactions have been reported.
General precautions
Persistence of underlying disease
As a result of its pharmacodynamic properties, naproxen – like other NSAIDs – might mask an underlying disease by its analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. Patients should be instructed to seek medical advice immediately in case of persistence or worsening of symptoms such as pain or other signs of inflammation, e.g. in case of worsening of overall well-being or development of fever during therapy.
Analgesic-induced headache
Inappropriate prolonged high-dose use of analgesics may give rise to headaches that must not be treated with increased doses of this medicinal product. Patients should be informed accordingly as appropriate.
Analgesic nephropathy
Habitual use of analgesics may – especially if multiple analgesic drugs are used in combination – lead to permanent kidney damage with the risk of renal failure. Patients should be informed accordingly as appropriate.
Clinical monitoring
All patients receiving long-term and/or high-dose treatment should have periodic blood counts, as well as hepatic and renal function tests. This applies particularly to patients with hepatic impairment, cardiac insufficiency, high blood pressure or kidney damage.
When diabetics treated with hypoglycaemic sulphonylurea derivatives are additionally given naproxen, blood glucose should be monitored particularly carefully to avoid missing possibly increased blood glucose reduction.
Patients receiving concomitant anticoagulant therapy are also recommended to have their clotting status monitored; the potassium concentration should be monitored (in patients taking potassium-sparing diuretics); patients taking lithium should have their lithium levels monitored, and those taking cardiac glycosides should have cardiac glycoside concentrations monitored (see section 4.5).
Interference with laboratory tests
• Increase in transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, serum potassium, urea
• Decrease in haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum calcium, creatinine clearance
• Bleeding time: It should be kept in mind that naproxen reversibly decreases platelet aggregation and prolongs bleeding time during treatment with naproxen and for up to 4 days thereafter.
• Possible interferences with 17-ketogenic steroids in adrenal function tests and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in urine tests: It is recommended that naproxen be temporarily discontinued at least 72 hours before such tests are performed.
Information on excipients
Sucrose
Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine. 1 mL contains 300mg sucrose (sugar). This should be taken into account in patients with diabetes mellitus. May be harmful to the teeth.
Sorbitol
1mL of Naproxen Oral Suspension contains 90 mg sorbitol. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take/be given this medicinal product.
Sodium
This medicinal product contains 9.2mg sodium per mL, equivalent to 0.46 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate
May cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).