Naproxen
According to the FDA label: CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND RISKS OF NAPROXEN AND OTHER TREATMENT OPTIONS BEFORE DECIDING TO USE NAPROXEN TABLETS. USE THE LOWEST EFFECTIVE DOSE FOR THE SHORTEST DURATION CONSISTENT WITH INDIVIDUAL PATIENT TREATMENT GOALS (SEE WARNINGS: GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING, ULCERATION, AND PERFORATION). NAPROXEN TABLETS ARE INDICATED: FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.
87,509 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA (2004–2026)
Top Reported Adverse Events
The most frequently reported events in association with Naproxen in the FAERS database. These are events reported by patients taking this medication, not necessarily caused by it. A single report may include multiple events.
Show these terms with plain-language definitions
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Drug Ineffective 11,692 reports
A report that the medication did not work as expected for the person taking it. This is a reporting category, not a sign the drug is defective. It simply means someone felt it was not helping their condition.
Full definition in the glossary →Pain 10,218 reports
A general report of physical discomfort, used when no more specific location is given.
Full definition in the glossary →Fatigue 9,140 reports
Extreme tiredness or lack of energy that does not improve with rest.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Arthralgia 8,642 reports
Nausea 8,336 reports
The feeling of sickness in your stomach that often comes before vomiting.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Off Label Use 7,379 reports
Using a medication for a condition or in a way that the FDA has not officially approved. This is common and often legal, and a report of it does not mean something went wrong. Doctors sometimes prescribe drugs off label based on their judgment.
Full definition in the glossary →Headache 7,069 reports
Pain in the head or upper neck.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Diarrhoea 6,788 reports
Loose or watery bowel movements, often frequent. Also spelled diarrhea in American English.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Vomiting 6,159 reports
Throwing up the contents of the stomach.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Dizziness 6,009 reports
A feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady, or like the room is spinning.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Rash 5,989 reports
An area of irritated, red, or bumpy skin.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Dyspnoea 5,622 reports
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Also spelled dyspnea in American English.
Full definition in the glossary → See all drugs reporting this event →Malaise 5,554 reports
A general feeling of being unwell or uncomfortable, without a specific symptom.
Full definition in the glossary →Joint Swelling 5,551 reports
Swelling in or around a joint.
Full definition in the glossary →Rheumatoid Arthritis 5,531 reports
An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling. It often appears in reports because it is a condition being treated, not always a reaction.
Full definition in the glossary →
Ranked by frequency of reports, not severity. The most-reported event is not necessarily the most dangerous or the most common in patients taking this drug.
Who Is Reporting
Demographics of patients in FAERS reports that included this information. Not all reports include patient demographics.
By Sex
View reporter sex data as a table
| Sex | Reports |
|---|---|
| Female | 53,196 |
| Male | 25,518 |
| Unknown | 185 |
By Age Group
View age group data as a table
| Age group | Reports |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 2,362 |
| 18-34 | 6,886 |
| 35-49 | 16,031 |
| 50-64 | 20,161 |
| 65-74 | 9,200 |
| 75+ | 5,474 |
This shows who filed reports, reflecting who takes this drug and who tends to report, not who is at greatest risk.
Reported Outcomes
Outcomes recorded in FAERS reports that included Naproxen. A single report may involve multiple reactions, each with a different outcome. These categories are defined by FDA reporting guidelines, not by PillSignal.
View outcome data as a table
| Outcome | Reports |
|---|---|
| Other Serious | 50,253 |
| Hospitalization | 29,442 |
| Non-Serious | 18,616 |
| Death | 10,005 |
| Disability | 7,849 |
| Life-Threatening | 7,847 |
Serious outcomes are far more likely to be reported than mild ones, so this overstates how often outcomes are serious. A recorded death does not mean the drug caused it.
Report Volume Over Time
Number of FAERS reports received per quarter for Naproxen. Changes in volume may reflect shifts in prescribing rates, media attention, or reporting behavior, not changes in the medication's safety profile.
View report trend as a table
| Year | Reports |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 819 |
| 2005 | 975 |
| 2006 | 876 |
| 2007 | 830 |
| 2008 | 1,117 |
| 2009 | 1,265 |
| 2010 | 1,565 |
| 2011 | 2,373 |
| 2012 | 3,780 |
| 2013 | 2,770 |
| 2014 | 3,065 |
| 2015 | 4,264 |
| 2016 | 5,376 |
| 2017 | 4,744 |
| 2018 | 5,974 |
| 2019 | 7,595 |
| 2020 | 7,746 |
| 2021 | 6,316 |
| 2022 | 5,699 |
| 2023 | 6,071 |
| 2024 | 6,696 |
| 2025 | 6,496 |
| 2026 (partial) | 1,097 |
The steep increase around 2004 reflects the FDA's move to electronic submission, not a change in this drug's safety. Trends track reporting volume, not risk.
Medications commonly reported with Naproxen
In FDA adverse event reports that mention Naproxen, these medications appeared most often in the same report.
- Methotrexate (18,476 reports)
- Prednisone (16,445 reports)
- Acetaminophen (16,146 reports)
- Adalimumab (13,143 reports)
- Folic Acid (12,970 reports)
This reflects co-occurrence in submitted reports, not evidence of drug interaction or combined risk. People often report several medications taken for the same condition or for unrelated reasons. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.
Related Drugs
Other medications with similar adverse event profiles in FDA FAERS reports.
Data Source
This data is sourced from the FDA's Adverse Event Monitoring System (AEMS), formerly FAERS, via the OpenFDA API. PillSignal is not affiliated with the FDA.
View this data on the FDA website →Data last updated: June 2026