Last updated on November 28th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory drug that is primarily used to treat various kinds of pain. It is one of the most popular pain relievers that is consumed to treat menstrual cramps, gout, muscle aches, rheumatoid arthritis, and migraine headaches. It results in quick pain relief, makes you feel better, and ensures that you are able to carry out your daily activities easily.
However, before you decide to consume it, it is important to learn about its usage and side effects. In this blog post, we will discuss more about naproxen and how you should use it for relieving the symptoms of headaches.
So, let’s get started!
Naproxen 500 mg for headache
As we said, naproxen is one of the most popular and widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs out there. It is an over-the-counter medicine and so, if you are using it without the prescription of a doctor, it is important to learn about its uses. Make sure to carefully read the medication guide and the ingredients at the back of the medicine.
Generally, the medicine is available as naproxen or naproxen sodium. One of the most significant differences between these two types is that naproxen sodium is more soluble and is absorbed by the body pretty quickly. Naproxen works by blocking the enzymes that result in inflammation. By controlling inflammation, naproxen reduces pain and discomfort.
Naproxen with an mg dose of 500 can help you in dealing with different types of headaches. If you get acute migraine attacks or frequent tension headaches, oral consumption of naproxen can help subside the effects.
How much naproxen can I take for a headache?
For treating headaches, oral consumption of 550 mg of naproxen sodium. The dosage should be repeated after 12 hours. In case there are no benefits, you can increase the mg dose to 825 mg. Remember, under no circumstances should the dosage go above 1,375 mg. This is because it can result in serious side effects and even an allergic reaction.
If your headache persists for a long time, we recommend that you seek proper medical advice before self-medicating. It is because even though naproxen is one of the trusted non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it can still have some side effects that can lead to adverse events.
Further, if you are dealing with a medical condition like high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease, and you consume some other medicines for them, you should talk to your doctor before consuming naproxen. This will help you ensure that naproxen will not interfere with your other medication.
Naproxen for tension headaches
Tension-type headaches also known as TTH are characterized by mild or moderate pain around the forehead and the back of the head. In very rare conditions, the pain can also be felt on one side of the body (head, back of neck, and face).
These headaches are often caused by the tension of the muscles around the neck and forehead. They can cause sharp pain along with occasional sensitivity to loud noise or bright light.
Tension-type headaches are incredibly common and are often not considered to be serious by medical professionals. There are several ways that can help you get rid of them and the most common ones include consuming pain-relieving tablets like naproxen.
How long does naproxen take to work for headaches?
When it comes to headaches like tension headaches, cluster headaches, etc., naproxen is believed to be a highly effective treatment option. Individuals are required to consume a naproxen tablet of 500 mg orally.
When it comes to how long will it take for the medicine to start working, the right answer usually depends on the severity of your headache. However, most people have reported feeling relief from their headaches after one hour of consuming the medicine. For some people, this time can be as high as two hours.
In rare cases, if the medicine doesn’t kick in or seem to work at all on your headache, make sure to seek medical help as this can be an indication of some underlying issue. Do not start consuming high doses of naproxen without consulting with your healthcare provider.
Naproxen side effects
While naproxen is believed to be a safe drug, it can still have some side effects or allergic reactions in people. Naproxen has confidence intervals of around 95%.
People who are dealing with chronic health issues like heart disease, kidney problems, etc. have a higher risk of experiencing side effects from naproxen.
Here are some common side effects of naproxen:
- Ringing in the ears
- Confusion
- Light-headedness
- Rashes on skin
Sometimes, in extremely rare cases, naproxen can also cause serious side effects that require immediate medical intervention. The major side effects of naproxen include the following:
- Swelling in and around the face
- Blood in vomit or tarry stools
- Nosebleeds and frequent nose infections
- Irregular heartbeat
- Painful urination or blood in urine, which can be a sign of kidney disease or infection
- Severe stomach pain
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
What happens if you take naproxen daily?
No medicine should be taken daily unless recommended by a professional healthcare provider. Occasional consumption of naproxen for dealing with headaches doesn’t cause a problem. However, if you start consuming the medicine daily, it can result in several health issues for you.
Using naproxen for a long time can increase the risk of heart disease. Since naproxen has blood-thinning properties, its continued consumption can even lead to heart attack or stroke. It can also cause ulcers in your stomach and several gut issues.
Why can’t you lay down after taking naproxen?
It is recommended that you should not lie down at least for 10 minutes after taking naproxen. This is because if you lie down immediately after taking the tablet, it can irritate or hurt your esophagus.
Immediately lying down after taking a naproxen tablet can also increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Thus, to avoid these issues and ensure that naproxen gives effective results, make sure to continue sitting for a while after taking naproxen.
Naproxen for migraines reviews
When it comes to dealing with migraines, naproxen has received an average rating of 9.0 out of 10 from users. People have reviewed the medicine to be quite effective for migraines and have claimed that it can help in relieving the pain and other symptoms of migraines.
Naproxen for migraine prevention
Migraine headaches are one of the most common types of headaches. It is characterized by a dull or throbbing pain in your forehead, behind your eyes, and even on the back of your neck. Migraine is also called medication overuse headache. This implies that it can occur due to the overuse of certain medicines.
While naproxen has been found to be quite healful in dealing with migraines and reducing their symptoms, studies have also shown that naproxen sodium can also prevent migraines.
However, while naproxen can prevent migraines to a certain extent, you should not start consuming it without consulting with your doctor first. This is because, as we mentioned above, naproxen can result in some serious side effects. So, if you get migraines quite frequently, we suggest you seek medical help and get a doctor’s prescription for naproxen.
What is the best medication for migraine prevention?
There are several medications that can help in migraine headaches prevention. Some of the major ones are as follows:
- Beta-blockers including Inderal or InnoPran XL
- Calcium channel blockers including Verapamil
- Propranolol
- Certain antidepressant medications like Nortriptyline or Amitriptyline
FAQ relating to naproxen for headaches
1. Does naproxen work on a headache?
Yes, naproxen can work on a headache. In fact, naproxen delivers better results than a placebo in relieving head pains and other symptoms.
Naproxen is one of the most used counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that reduces inflammation in your body and helps find dealing with pains that occur from various conditions – headache and migraine treatments are one of the most common uses of naproxen.
2. How long does it take for naproxen to work on a headache?
As we mentioned above, naproxen sodium delivers faster results than naproxen. For quick headache relief, it is recommended to consume naproxen sodium orally. Several clinical trials have discovered that naproxen sodium can relieve headache pain in 2 hours in older adults.
3. Is naproxen or ibuprofen better for headaches?
Both naproxen and ibuprofen are very similar in their composition and functions. They are both counter NSAIDs that have the same side effects and risk factors for high blood pressure and heart disease patients.
When it comes to the treatment of headaches, both naproxen, and ibuprofen give almost the same result. Since they are so similar, none of them is better than the other.
4. What is the best painkiller for headaches?
There are several over-the-counter painkillers that can help you get quick headache relief. The most common ones include the following:
- Advil
- Naproxen sodium
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Motrin IB
All of these above-mentioned medicines also act as blood thinners. You can buy any of these painkillers from your nearest pharmacy. However, if you get frequent severe headaches, it is recommended to talk to your healthcare provider before self-medicating.
