Can you take Naproxen with Amoxicillin?
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 take Naproxen with Amoxicillin?
Yes, you can take Naproxen with Amoxicillin. Naproxen is an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which can help reduce the inflammation and pain associated with a bacterial infection, like a tooth infection.
You can definitely take Amoxicillin while taking Naproxen for pain management. Such infections usually don’t do well without an antibiotic, but antibiotics don’t provide pain relief until they actually treat the infection.
Potential risks of taking Naproxen with Amoxicillin
The combination of Naproxen and Amoxicillin can cause some side effects, that may affect some people more severely than others. These include:
More pronounced common GI side effects
Both Naproxen and Amoxicillin are well-known for upsetting the gastrointestinal system and causing side effects like(1–2):
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Indigestion
- Flatulence
- Stomach pain
- Acid reflux
When Naproxen and Amoxicillin are combined, these side effects can become much more prominent and can make the course of your treatment difficult. An easy remedy is to take these meds with food, which can help mitigate some of the GI side effects.
Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding
Both Naproxen and Amoxicillin can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhoea. When taken together, they can increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which can be serious.
Kidney and liver damage
The concomitant use of Naproxen and Amoxicillin can affect your kidneys and liver. A research review indicated that there are a number of facts indicating that the combined use of NSAIDs and antibiotics can induce hepatic damage in outpatients(3).
However, it does not damage your organs overnight. Different factors like your dose, frequency, duration of treatment, any underlying disease, and overall health, can play an important role.
Important points to ensure safe and effective treatment with Naproxen and Amoxicillin
The main concern with this combination is gastrointestinal side effects, so you need to make sure that you take these meds in such a way that they don’t put a heavy load on your stomach. Let’s look at some important points.
- Take Naproxen and Amoxicillin with food to minimise the risk of adverse gastrointestinal events.
- Try to space them out and take them at separate times.
- Take Probiotics as long as you’re taking Amoxicillin and Naproxen.
- Keep your diet light and healthy.
- Avoid spicy foods.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Do not take these meds more often.
- Take Amoxicillin for as long as your doctor has advised. Leaving antibiotics halfway can result in therapeutic failure.
Make sure you properly take these meds and report to your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing any unwanted side effects.
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References
1.-
Peng S, Duggan A. Gastrointestinal adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2005 Mar;4(2):157-69. doi: 10.1517/14740338.4.2.157. PMID: 15794710. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15794710/
2.-
Mohsen S, Dickinson JA, Somayaji R. Update on the adverse effects of antimicrobial therapies in community practice. Can Fam Physician. 2020 Sep;66(9):651-659. PMID: 32933978; PMCID: PMC7491661. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7491661/
3.-
Actis GC, Pellicano R, Fadda M, Rosina F. Antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in outpatient practice: indications and unwanted effects in a gastroenterological setting. Curr Drug Saf. 2014;9(2):133-7. doi: 10.2174/1574886309666140120095233. PMID: 24446890. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24446890/
