Can you drink coffee while taking Naproxen?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Can you drink coffee while taking Naproxen?
You can drink coffee while you’re taking Naproxen, but it’s best to space them out and not take them at the exact same time.
Naproxen is one of the most commonly used NSAIDs and is quite effective at what it does, but it can cause some side effects which may be enhanced if you drink coffee along with it.
This is why most doctors recommend having an adequate time gap between these two. This allows you to safely enjoy coffee while taking Naproxen.
Does coffee affect the absorption of Naproxen?
According to several research studies, caffeine does affect the absorption of Naproxen or NSAIDs in general and increases the bioavailability of these painkillers.
This does increase the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of these meds but can also increase the risk of side effects(1).
There are some combination NSAIDs – like fixed-dose Aspirin, Acetaminophen, and caffeine – which are used for greater pain relief, especially for migraines(2).
However, the risk-benefit ratio of the combined use of Caffeine and NSAIDs can vary from person to person. A healthy individual may gain some benefits if the doses are adjusted and are within the safety window.
However, people who have an underlying gastrointestinal illness can’t possibly take this combination because of the additive gastrointestinal adverse events.
Some NSAIDs may be combined with caffeine to help increase their activity, such as Aspirin Back & Body manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, which also contains caffeine. However, it is important to note that such formulations do not work well for everyone.
What are the potential risks of combining Naproxen and coffee?
Naproxen is an NSAID, which is commonly associated with a number of side effects that may hit you more prominently if you take coffee at the exact same time as you take Naproxen.
It usually happens because coffee can increase the absorption of Naproxen, which may increase the side effects or Coffee can cause side effects somewhat similar to Naproxen, and the two can cause additive side effects. Commonly expected side effects are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Flatulence
- Acid reflux
- Abdominal pain
- Anxiety
- Lightheadedness
Coffee and Naproxen may also significantly increase the risk of:
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Ulceration
- Stomach or intestinal perforation
This is why it’s best to space these two out. You can take these two on the same day as long as you have an adequate time gap in between.
Alternatives to Naproxen for pain relief
There are other OTC alternatives to Naproxen for pain relief, one of which is considered the safest. Acetaminophen is one of the safest OTC painkillers that you can combine with coffee and other medications as well.
The only concern with Acetaminophen is liver damage, which is not common at standard therapeutic doses. Since Acetaminophen has a wide safety window, a very high dose of this painkiller is considered harmful to your liver, and not a therapeutic dose.
However, you should consult your doctor if you already have liver disease or your pain is too severe for Acetaminophen to control.
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References
1.-
Granados-Soto V, Castañeda-Hernández G. A review of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors in the potentiation of the antinociceptive effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by caffeine. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 1999 Oct;42(2):67-72. doi: 10.1016/s1056-8719(00)00044-7. PMID: 10924888. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10924888/
2.-
Lipton RB, Stewart WF, Ryan RE Jr, Saper J, Silberstein S, Sheftell F. Efficacy and safety of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine in alleviating migraine headache pain: three double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Arch Neurol. 1998 Feb;55(2):210-7. doi: 10.1001/archneur.55.2.210. PMID: 9482363. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9482363/
