Naprosyn Overdose, Contraindications and Information - Naproxen

Naprosyn Overdose, Contraindications and Information - Naproxen

OVERDOSE

Significant naproxen overdosage may be characterized by drowsiness, heartburn, indigestion, nausea or vomiting. Because naproxen sodium may be rapidly absorbed, high and early blood levels should be anticipated. A few patients have experienced seizures, but it is not clear whether or not these were drug- related. It is not known what dose of the drug would be life- threatening. The oral LD 50 of the drug is 543 mg/ kg in rats, 1234 mg/ kg in mice, 4110 mg/ kg in hamsters, and greater than 1000 mg/ kg in dogs.

Should a patient ingest a large number of tablets or a large volume of suspension, accidentally or purposefully, the stomach may be emptied and usual supportive measures employed. In animals 0.5 g/ kg of activated charcoal was effective in reducing plasma levels of naproxen. Hemodialysis does not decrease the plasma concentration of naproxen because of the high degree of its protein binding.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

All naproxen products are contraindicated in patients who have had allergic reactions to prescription as well as to over- the- counter products containing naproxen. It is also contraindicated in patients in whom aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory/ analgesic drugs induce the syndrome of asthma, rhinitis, and nasal polyps. Both types of reactions have the potential of being fatal. Anaphylactoid reactions to naproxen, whether of the true allergic type or the pharmacologic idiosyncratic ( eg, aspirin hypersensitivity syndrome) type, usually but not always occur in patients with a known history of such reactions. Therefore, careful questioning of patients for such things as asthma, nasal polyps, urticaria, and hypotension associated with nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs before starting therapy is important. In addition, if such symptoms occur during therapy, treatment should be discontinued.