The most appropriate naproxen dosage depends on why a patient needs the drug and relevant aspects of a patient's medical history. This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug can be useful for management of acute pain as well as chronic issues like arthritis. It is usually safe for use in patients older than five, although geriatric patients can be at increased risk of acute side effects. If patients have questions about how to use the drug safely, they should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
For acute pain, it is usually appropriate to take 500 milligrams of naproxen and to repeat this dose every 12 hours, depending on pain levels. It is important to avoid controlled release capsules with acute pain. These drugs have a coating to slow their breakdown in the stomach, and they will not take effect immediately. Once the pain resolves, the patient can stop using the naproxen.
Naproxen dosage for inflammation like bursitis and episodes of gout may be higher. For gout patients, naproxen dosage starts with 750 milligrams of the drug, and 250 milligrams every eight hours to control pain until the attack ends. If the gout persists or is accompanied with other symptoms, the patient may need to see a doctor. Cases of bursitis can involve doses of 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams daily.
Patients with arthritis may ramp up their naproxen dosage to address breakthrough pain, but usually start with 250 milligrams twice a day. They can increase this to 500 milligrams if the drug is not effective. For periods of six months or less, it is possible to increase the dose to 1,500 milligrams daily. These patients may opt to take a single time release capsule rather than two daily doses if they feel this will meet their needs more effectively.
The pediatric naproxen dosage is based on weight, and a doctor should calculate it; it usually starts around 2.5 milligrams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) and can increase if this is not effective for pain management. The safety of this drug in children under five is not known, and patients should discuss pain management options for very young patients with a doctor.
It is important to keep naproxen out of the reach of young children and pets, as they may overdose on the medication and become sick. If a patient experiences a bad reaction after taking the drug, this may be the result of an allergy, and it will be necessary to switch to a different medication for pain management.