What would happen if you accidentally take 1000 mg of Naproxen? (3 possibilities) 

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “What would happen if you accidentally take 1000 mg of Naproxen?”. Naproxen is a Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can be used for the management and treatment of severe pain and inflammation. 

However, too much of this NSAID can result in a number of complications and that’s what we are going to talk about today. Stick with us till the end. 

What would happen if you accidentally take 1000 mg naproxen?

If you have accidentally taken 1000 mg Naproxen, there are a few things that could happen:

• Extreme gastrointestinal side effects 
• Complications related to an underlying health condition 
• Nothing at all

Extreme gastrointestinal side effects 

Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common concern when you take too much Naproxen or any other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. 

These meds are quite heavy on the stomach and this is why they are not even prescribed to patients who have some gastrointestinal disease like peptic or duodenal ulcers. Not only can they damage your stomach, but they can actually cause GI bleeding. 

This harmful effect of Naproxen can be quite prominent just in the case of standard dose administration. This can make you realise how a higher dose would harm your gastrointestinal tract. This is probably because of the mechanism of action of these meds. 

Naproxen works by blocking both cyclooxygenase I and II pathways (COX I and COX II). These pathways lead to the synthesis of prostaglandins that can act as mediators for pain and inflammation. 

When the pathway is blocked by Naproxen, the synthesis of these prostaglandins is stopped. This can significantly help you get rid of pain and inflammation, but there’s a downside of this prostaglandin synthesis. 

This is because some of these prostaglandins actually make the protective layer around the lining of your stomach. This lining protects your stomach from the corrosive action of gastric acid, which is known as one of the strongest acids in the entire world. 

When the PGs synthesis is stopped, the protective mucosa of your stomach is disturbed leaving your stomach susceptible to the danger of gastric acid. This is why Naproxen and other NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding and other gastrointestinal complications. 

This effect can become much greater if you take 1000 mg of Naproxen accidentally. Immediately report to your healthcare provider if you feel unbearable pain in your stomach or notice any kind of bleeding in your stool. 

The dark or tarry-coloured stool is the biggest symptom of gastrointestinal bleeding. Some people may also observe blood in their vomits. Make sure you seek immediate medical attention if any such thing happens. 

Complications related to an underlying health condition 

Too much Naproxen can interact negatively with some of your underlying health conditions. As described earlier, 1000 Naproxen can be extremely painful for you if you already have a gastrointestinal disease. 

In fact, Naproxen and other NSAIDs are not even prescribed to such a patient, similarly, because of the horrors it can inflict upon your stomach. A high dose of Naproxen can also become extremely dangerous for cardiac patients. 

This is because these meds hold blood thinning properties to some extent. This effect of Naproxen overdose can be dangerous for people who are at exposed risk to bleeding or people who have some kind of clotting factor disease like Haemophilia. 

An overdose of Naproxen can not only interact negatively with your underlying diseases, but can also interact with the medications you might be taking for the said conditions. 

Naproxen should not be used with other NSAIDs, antidepressants, antihypertensives, and anticoagulants. The additive effects caused by the concomitant use of these meds can become life-threatening for some people. 

If you have accidentally taken a 1000 mg dose of Naproxen, hold on before you take your other prescription medications. Immediately consult your healthcare provider and make sure if it’s safe for you to take your normal routine medications after taking such a high amount of Naproxen. 

Nothing at all

Yes, you read that right. You may feel or experience nothing at all after taking a 1000 mg dose of Naproxen. This is common with people who don’t have any other underlying health condition and their stomach is perfectly healthy. 

They may not even tell if they had taken such a high dose of Naproxen or not. However, some people may feel a little abdominal pain or minor stomach disturbances, but that’s it. That’s all that happens to them. 

If you’re one of the lucky ones, it doesn’t indicate that you should continue to consume such a high amount of Naproxen again and again. If you continue to be this reckless with your health, you will soon develop an NSAID-induced ulcer in your stomach that may bleed and cause excruciating stomach pain. 

Make sure you stick to your doctor’s recommended dose of Naproxen. It is not usually recommended to take more than 500 mg of Naproxen at one time. 

If you have a severe kind of pain, your doctor himself will prescribe you a higher dose and guide you properly about its usage. Do not take high amounts of Naproxen on your own. The side effects can be terrible and much more severe than what we have discussed. 

What are the common side effects associated with the use of Naproxen? 

Naproxen is associated with a number of side effects at standard dosage. These side effects can come on way too strongly if you take a higher dose of this medication. Some of the common side effects include:

• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhoea 
• Flatulence 
• Constipation 
• Acid reflux 
• Heartburn 
• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Drowsiness 
• Insomnia or inability to fall asleep 
• Tingling or pins-and-needles sensation in arms and legs 
• Difficulty in hearing 
• Tinnitus 
• Symptoms associated with cold and flu 
• Headache 
• Excessive thirst or Polydipsia 

Naproxen can also cause some rare and serious side effects which may require immediate medical attention. Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as you can if you suffer from the following side effects:

• An allergic reaction 
• Redness of skin 
• Itching 
• Burning sensation 
• Blue-purple patches 
• Tightness of chest 
• Wheezing 
• Hoarseness 
• Inability to breathe 
• Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body 
• Muscle twitching and weakness  
• Severe diarrhoea 
• Fatigue 
• Arrhythmia 
• Severe back pain
• Pale-coloured skin or eyes
• Confusion 
• Discoloured or bloody urine

These side effects can vary from person to person. Some people can suffer from side effects that may not have been mentioned here. Make sure you monitor your side effects properly and inform your doctor if you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect. 

Ensuring the proper use of Naproxen is the main key to achieving your desired therapeutic goals. First and the most important thing is to make sure that you are not allergic to Naproxen. 

If you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect right after taking your first ever Naproxen dose, then this med is not a good choice of medication for you. 

To prevent that from happening, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist about the excipients present in the formulation to make sure it does not contain anything that you know you’re allergic to. 

It is also extremely important to inform your doctor about all the meds you have been taking before you take Naproxen. Medications don’t always go well together. 

Some meds are highly incompatible with one another. Some meds are incompatible in terms of the side effects as they all cause the same kind of side effects that may become too much for you to bear. This is why you should inform your doctor if you have been taking anything like:

• Blood thinner or anticoagulants like warfarin, clopidogrel etc
• Other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 
• Antidepressants like Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Escitalopram, Venlafaxine, Imipramine, Amitriptyline, etc. 
• Steroidal medications
• Antipsychotics
• Antihypertensives

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed what one should expect if he or she accidentally takes a 1000 mg dose of Naproxen at once. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common concern when you take too much of Naproxen or any other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. 

These meds are quite heavy on the stomach and this is why they are not even prescribed to patients who have some gastrointestinal disease like peptic or duodenal ulcers. Make sure you immediately report to your healthcare provider so that they can manage your overdose symptoms properly. 

FAQs: accidentally took 1000 mg naproxen

Is 1000 mg of naproxen too much to take? 

It is okay to take 1000 mg Naproxen in one day, with the dose divided into different time intervals. However, taking such a high dose all at once can cause a number of disturbing side effects. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common concern when you take too much of Naproxen or any other Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. These meds are quite heavy on the stomach and this is why they are not even prescribed to patients who have some gastrointestinal disease like peptic or duodenal ulcers.

Can I take 2 naproxen 500mg at the same time?

It is not recommended to take more than 500 mg of Naproxen at one time. If you have severe pain, your healthcare provider may ask you to take three 500 mg doses after every 8 hours. In most common clinical practices, the dose should not exceed 1500 mg per day. If you have accidentally overdosed on Naproxen, make sure you immediately report to your healthcare provider so that they can manage your overdose symptoms properly. 

How many mg of naproxen is toxic?

Taking more than 1000 – 1500 mg of Naproxen can become toxic for your health. It is also not recommended to take these doses at once and they should be divided to be taken 3 to 4 times per day. Make sure you stick to your doctor’s recommended dose. 

What are the serious side effects of Naproxen? 

• An allergic reaction 
• Redness of skin 
• Itching 
• Burning sensation 
• Blue-purple patches 
• Tightness of chest 
• Wheezing 
• Hoarseness 
• Inability to breathe 
• Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body 
• Muscle twitching and weakness  
• Severe diarrhoea 
• Fatigue 
• Arrhythmia 
• Severe back pain
• Pale-coloured skin or eyes
• Confusion 
• Discoloured or bloody urine

Does Naproxen cause gastrointestinal complications? 

Yes, Naproxen can cause gastrointestinal complications. NSAIDs are quite heavy on the stomach and this is why they are not even prescribed to patients who have some gastrointestinal disease like peptic or duodenal ulcers. Not only can they damage your stomach, but they can actually cause GI bleeding. This harmful effect of Naproxen can be quite prominent just in the case of standard dose administration. This can make you realise how a higher dose would harm your gastrointestinal tract. 

References