How long does it take for Naproxen to kick in?
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/
How long does it take for Naproxen to kick in?
Naproxen usually takes about an hour to start providing pain relief, but it can take much longer to manage your symptoms effectively. The actual time taken by this medication to manage your symptoms depends on the severity of your condition.
Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which is commonly used for the management of pain and inflammation(1).
Let’s say, you’re taking Naproxen for a headache, you will begin to feel better in about an hour or two. This is an occasional use of Naproxen. As such headaches are not too difficult to deal with, one Naproxen at times can be enough.
However, this can not be the case for someone who’s dealing with chronic pain. If you’re taking Naproxen for long-term pain management, it can take weeks to manage your symptoms effectively(2).
Most people find a noticeable difference in their symptoms within 2-3 weeks, depending on the condition. Make sure you only use Naproxen for the long term if prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Naproxen can cause gastrointestinal damage, so it should be taken only when needed to protect your stomach from unnecessary adverse events.
If you are a long-term user of Naproxen, I recommend taking it with food always and not lying down right away after taking this medication. In case you’re experiencing any painful side effects, reach out to your healthcare provider.
It is also important to make sure that you take the right dose of Naproxen and that your medication is not expired or is fully potent to help you deal with your symptoms in an effective way.
Factors affecting the time Naproxen takes to kick in
There are some factors that may affect the time taken by Naproxen to start working. These include:
- The dosage strength of Naproxen taken can affect the time it takes to work.
- The symptoms for which Naproxen is taken can also make a difference. Severe or chronic pain and inflammation do not respond to Naproxen right away.
- The dosage form of Naproxen taken. Naproxen is commonly available in both oral solid and liquid dosage forms.
- Certain medical conditions can affect how quickly Naproxen takes effect, such as gastrointestinal issues.
- Certain medications can affect how quickly Naproxen takes effect by interacting with it or affecting the body’s ability to absorb it.
How to take Naproxen for best results?
To make the most out of your Naproxen, you will have to take it in the best possible way. Let’s take a look at some useful tips:
- Properly follow your doctor’s directions. If you are using OTC Naproxen, make sure you read the label or ask your pharmacist about the right way of using it.
- Take the tablet with a full glass of water and do not lie down right after taking it.
- Take Naproxen with food to prevent gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Do not take Naproxen for longer than you should. If your pain hasn’t subsided yet, reach out to your provider. Do not start taking a higher dose on your own.
- Do not drink alcohol while taking Naproxen, as it can increase the risk of stomach bleeding and liver damage.
- You can crush Naproxen immediate-release tablets for ease of administration. However, never cut or crush extended-release dosage forms.
- Inform your doctor if you experience any side effects, such as stomach pain or indigestion.
- Store Naproxen in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture.
It is always best to follow your healthcare professional’s directions for the safe and effective treatment with Naproxen or any other medication.
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References
1.-
Brutzkus JC, Shahrokhi M, Varacallo M. Naproxen. 2023 Mar 3. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30247840. Bookshelf ID: NBK525965. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525965/
2.-
Davies NM, Anderson KE. Clinical pharmacokinetics of naproxen. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1997 Apr;32(4):268-93. doi: 10.2165/00003088-199732040-00002. PMID: 9113437. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9113437/
