Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, sold over the counter and by prescription. It treats pain, fever, and inflammation. It is not a controlled substance and carries no risk of the kind of addiction that opioids do, and it does carry serious cardiovascular and gastrointestinal warnings that many people taking it every day have never read.
What Is Naproxen?
Naproxen belongs to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug class, the same family as ibuprofen and aspirin. It reduces the body's production of the substances that cause inflammation, pain, and fever.
Prescription naproxen comes as regular tablets, delayed-release tablets, extended-release tablets, and a suspension. Over-the-counter naproxen comes as tablets, capsules, and gel capsules. Prescription forms for arthritis are typically taken twice a day. Over-the-counter forms are taken every 8 to 12 hours as needed.
What Naproxen Treats
Naproxen Side Effects
Some effects need medical attention right away: vision changes, swelling, rash or hives, difficulty breathing, yellowing of the skin or eyes, kidney problems, unusual bruising, or a fast heartbeat.
The Warnings That Matter Most
Two warnings apply to naproxen and to NSAIDs generally. Both are worth knowing before making it a daily habit.
People taking NSAIDs other than aspirin may have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke than people who do not take these medications. NSAIDs can also cause ulcers, bleeding, or holes in the esophagus, stomach, or intestine. That second risk is part of why naproxen is usually taken with food.
Neither warning means naproxen is unsafe when used as directed. They do mean that reaching for it every day for months, without a prescriber in the loop, deserves a second look.
Is Naproxen Addictive?
No. Naproxen is not a controlled substance, produces no high, and does not cause physical dependence or withdrawal. What sometimes happens instead is a pattern: pain that never resolves, escalating over-the-counter use, and eventually a stronger prescription. If chronic pain has led toward opioids or other substances, that is a different conversation, and a worthwhile one.
Getting Help
If pain management has turned into something harder to control, reaching out early makes a difference. Treatment can start with a prescriber or primary care physician, and can include medical detox or residential care when the situation calls for it.
Related Topics
Naproxen Questions People Ask Most
Is naproxen a controlled substance?
No. Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug available both over the counter and by prescription. It is not scheduled and has no potential for the kind of misuse associated with opioids or benzodiazepines.
Can you get addicted to naproxen?
No. Naproxen does not produce a high, physical dependence, or withdrawal. Frequent use can still signal an underlying pain problem that needs proper treatment.
What is the difference between prescription and over-the-counter naproxen?
Strength and form. Prescription naproxen comes in higher-dose tablets, delayed-release and extended-release tablets, and a suspension. Over-the-counter naproxen comes as lower-dose tablets, capsules, and gel capsules.
Why does naproxen have a heart warning?
People who take NSAIDs other than aspirin may have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke than people who do not. The warning applies across the NSAID class, not to naproxen alone.
