Anaprox DS: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

Serious Warnings and Precautions

What is ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS used for?

ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS is used in adults for:

• the relief of mild to moderately severe pain, accompanied by inflammation in conditions such;

  • as musculo skeletal trauma and
  • post-dental extraction.
• the relief of pain associated with post-partum cramping and period cramps (dysmenorrhea)

How does ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS work?

• ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS (naproxen) belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It can reduce the chemicals produced by your body which cause pain and swelling.
• ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS only treats the symptoms and relieves pain and inflammation as long as you take it. ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS does not cure the illness or stop it from getting worse.

What are the ingredients in ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS?

Medicinal ingredients: naproxen sodium

Non-medicinal ingredients: magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone and talc. The coating suspension for both the 275 mg and 550 mg tablets contain hydroxypropyl methycellulose, indigotine aluminum lake, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.

ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS comes in the following dosage forms:

Film coated tablets: 275 mg and 550 mg.

Do not use ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS if you:

• have heart bypass surgery (planning to have or recently had)
• have severe, uncontrolled heart failure
• are bleeding in the brain or other bleeding disorders
• are pregnant and in a later stage of pregnancy (28 weeks or later).
• are currently breastfeeding (or planning to breastfeed)
• are allergic to naproxen sodium or any of the other ingredients in this medicine or the container

• are allergic or had symptoms of an allergic reaction to ASA (Acetylsalicylic Acid) or

  • other NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
• have a history of asthma, hives, growth in your nose, sinus swelling
• have active stomach or intestine ulcer
• have active bleeding from the stomach or gut
• have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis)
• have liver disease (active or severe)
• have kidney disease (severe or worsening)
• have high potassium in the blood
• are under 18 years old

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes
• have or had heart attacks, chest pain, heart disease, stroke or heart failure
• are on a low sugar diet
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• have poor blood flow to your extremities (like your hands and feet)
• smoke or used to smoke
• drink a lot of alcohol
• have a stomach infection
• have liver or kidney problems, urine problems, or are dehydrated
• have a history of ulcer or bleeding from the stomach or gut (small or large intestine)
• have other bleeding or blood problems
• previous bleeding in the brain
• have asthma
• are pregnant, planning on becoming or become pregnant while taking ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS
• have immune system problems

Other warnings you should know about:

Serious Side Effects: ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS can cause serious side effects, including:

• Fluid retention and unusual swelling: This may worsen existing heart problems, including heart failure. Speak to your healthcare professional if you have a condition that puts you at risk for fluid retention

• Blood and bleeding problems:

  • ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS can cause blood problems, bleeding and prolonged bleeding.

  • Taking ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS with the following drugs can increase the risk of bleeding:

    • anticoagulants (prevents blood clots), corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory) or antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

• Serious skin reactions: In rare cases, serious, life-threatening allergic and skin reactions have been reported with some NSAIDs, such as ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS.

  These skin problems most often happen during the first month of treatment. Tell your healthcare professional immediately if you notice any changes in your skin both during and after treatment. ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS might cause you to become more sensitive to sunlight. Sunlight or sunlamps may cause sunburn, skin blisters, skin rash, redness, itching or discolouration, or vision changes. If you have a reaction from the sun, talk to your healthcare professional.

• Check-ups and testing: You will have regular visits with your healthcare professional during treatment with ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS to monitor your health. They will:

  • Check your blood pressure.
  • Check your eyes. ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS can cause blurred or reduced vision.
  • Do blood and urine tests to check your liver, kidney and blood health.
• Surgery: Tell any doctor, dentist, pharmacist or healthcare professional that you see, that you are taking this medicine. This is especially important if you are planning to have heart surgery.

• Driving and Using Machines: ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS may cause eye or nervous system problems. This includes tiredness, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, spinning or dizziness (vertigo), hearing problems or depression. Be careful about driving or doing activities that require you to be alert. If you become drowsy, dizzy or light-headed after taking ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS, do NOT drive or operate machinery.

• Fertility in Women: ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS may affect your fertility. This means that it may be difficult for you to have a child. If you have trouble having a child, you might need to stop taking ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS. Talk to your healthcare professional if you have questions about this.

• Adults (65 years or older): Side effects like gastrointestinal problems may happen more often. Your healthcare professional might have you start with a lower dose of

  • ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS. They will monitor your health during and after treatment.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS:

• Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) or other NSAIDs, used to treat pain, fever and inflammation, like;

  • celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac, meloxicam, naproxen
• Antacids, used to treat symptoms of excess stomach acid Medicines used to treat depression (antidepressants) like citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, and lithium

• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure like;

  • ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors (eg. enalapril, ramipril, candesartan, irbesartan, propranolol)
  • ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers) (e.g. candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, valsartan)
• Medicines used as blood thinners or to prevent blood clots, like warfarin, ASA, clopidogrel
• Medicines used to lower extra fluid levels (diuretics), like furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide
• Medicines used to treat diabetes, like sulphonylurea or other oral hypoglycemics
• Medicines used to treat bacteria infections (antibiotics) like quinolone or sulphonamide
• Medicines used to lower the risk of organ rejection, like tacrolimus and cyclosporine
• Corticosteroids (including glucocorticoids such as prednisone), used as an anti-inflammatory
• Cholestyramine, used to lower cholesterol levels
• Digoxin, used to treat heart disorders
• Hydantoin, used to treat seizures
• Medicines used to treat different cancers, like methotrexate and pemetrexed
• Oral birth control, used to prevent pregnancy
• Probenecid, used to prevent gout
• Alcohol

How to take ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS (18 years of age and older):

• Take exactly as your healthcare professional has told you. They should recommend the lowest dose possible for your treatment for the shortest time needed.

• Swallow capsules whole with food or milk. Do NOT split, chew or crush the tablets.

• This medicine has been prescribed specifically for you. Do NOT give it to anyone else. It

  • may harm them, even if their symptoms seem to be similar to yours.
• If you will be taking ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS for more than 7 days, see your healthcare professional regularly. They will check if ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS is working for you and if it is causing any side effects.

Usual dose:

Adults 18 years and older:

• Your healthcare professional will decide on the best dosage for you based on your condition.

• Your healthcare professional may lower your dose, stop your treatment for a period of time or recommend that you stop treatment completely. This may happen if you:

  • experience serious side effects, or
  • your disease gets worse.

Overdose:

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose:

• If you miss a dose of ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS, take the dose as soon as possible. Take your next dose at the usual time.
• If it is close to the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the usual time.
• Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose.

What are possible side effects from using ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS?

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset/abdominal pain heartburn, indigestion, feeling gassy
• Headache, dizziness, light-headedness
• Feeling of burning / prickliness / numbing
• Confusion, hard to concentrate or think, short-term memory loss, nervousness
• Sensitivity to sunlight (may cause sunburn, skin blisters, skin rash, redness, itching or discolouration, or vision changes
• Bruises
• Skin rash
• Taste disorder, thirst, dry mouth
• Muscle pain
• Mouth sores
• Chills, fever, muscle aches or pains or other flu-like symptoms especially if they occur before or together with a skin rash.
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Stiff neck
• Hair loss
• Increased sweating
• Problems with your period (women)

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

Storage:

Store at room temperature 15-30°C in a well-closed container. Protect from light. Store in a dry place.

Do NOT keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Any outdated or unused medicine should be returned to your pharmacist.

Keep out of reach and sight of children.

If you want more information about ANAPROX or ANAPROX DS:

•

• Talk to your healthcare professional

•

• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes

  this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website (www.searchlightpharma.com), or by calling 1-855-331-0830.

•

• For Medical Information Inquiries and Adverse Event Reporting please call 1-855-331-0830.

•

• For all other inquiries please call 1-855-331-0830 for Customer Service.

Last Revised: JUN 25, 2025