Arthrotec vs. Naprosyn

• Are Arthrotec and Naprosyn the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Arthrotec?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Naprosyn?
• What Is Arthrotec?
• What Is Naprosyn?
• What Drugs Interact with Arthrotec?
• What Drugs Interact with Naprosyn?
• How Should Arthrotec Be Taken?
• How Should Naprosyn Be Taken?

Arthrotec (diclofenac sodium/misoprostol) and Naprosyn (naproxen) are used to treat arthritis.

Arthrotec is used in people at high risk for developing stomach or intestinal ulcers.

Naprosyn is also used for pain management for many diseases, and inflammatory diseases such as tendonitis, bursitis, and gout.

Arthrotec and Naprosyn both contain a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and Arthrotec also contains a prostaglandin that protects the stomach from irritating effects of NSAIDs.

Side effects of Arthrotec and Naprosyn that are similar include diarrhea, upset stomach or stomach pain, nausea, bloating, gas, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, or ringing in your ears.

Side effects of Arthrotec that are different from Naprosyn include drowsiness or unusual vaginal bleeding.

Side effects of Naprosyn that are different from Arthrotec include heartburn, constipation, nervousness, skin rash, or itching.

Common side effects of Arthrotec include:

• nausea,
• bloating,
• gas,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• headache,
• blurred vision,
• ringing in your ears, or
• unusual vaginal bleeding.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Arthrotec including:

• difficult or painful swallowing,
• swelling of the hands or feet,
• sudden or unexplained weight gain,
• vision changes,
• mental/mood changes (e.g., depression),
• fast or pounding heartbeat,
• persistent or severe headache,
• fainting,
• menstrual problems/irregular periods,
• unusual tiredness,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat),
• changes in the amount of urine, or
• unexplained stiff neck.

Common side effects of Naprosyn include:

• heartburn,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• bloating,
• gas,
• dizziness,
• nervousness,
• skin rash,
• headache,
• blurred vision,
• ringing in your ears, and
• itching.

Arthrotec (diclofenac sodium/misoprostol) is a combination non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a prostaglandin that protects the stomach from irritating effects of NSAIDs used to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in people at high risk for developing stomach or intestinal ulcers. Arthrotec is available in generic form. Common side effects of Arthrotec include diarrhea and upset stomach or stomach pain within a few weeks after you start taking this medication, and usually last for about 1 week.

Naprosyn (naproxen; other brand names: EC-Naprosyn and Anaprox/Anaprox DS), is a proprionic acid derivative and is considered a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is used for pain management for many diseases, arthritic diseases, and inflammatory diseases such as tendonitis, bursitis, and gout.

Arthrotec may interact with blood thinners, cyclosporine, digoxin, diuretics (water pills), insulin or oral diabetes medicine, lithium, methotrexate, phenobarbital, steroids, aspirin or other NSAIDs, or ACE inhibitors. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Arthrotec must not be used during pregnancy. It can harm the fetus and mother. Use birth control while taking this medication. This medication passes into breast milk. However, this drug is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Naprosyn may interact with aspirin, blood thinners, lithium, methotrexate, heart or blood pressure medications, diuretics (water pills), or steroids.

For the relief of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the recommended dose of Arthrotec is 50 mg diclofenac sodium/200 mcg misoprostol or 75 mg diclofenac sodium/200 mcg misoprostol.

Naprosyn is available in several doses and drug configurations; Naprosyn tablets with strengths of 250, 375 and 500 mg and as an oral suspension containing 125 mg Naprosyn per 5 ml of liquid, EC-Naprosyn (delayed release to reduce gastric irritation) with strengths of 375 and 500 mg, Anaprox in 275 mg tablets, Anaprox DS in 550 mg tablets. Almost all Naprosyn drugs are recommended to be dosed twice per day (every 12 hours) with children's doses (strength in mg per Kg) based on the child's weight, also twice a day with a maximum dose of 15 mg per Kg per day.