Naproxen in Pain and Inflammation – A Review

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Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are the main therapeutic alternatives in treating pain and inflammation among various populations. However, they are linked with some adverse reactions and drug interactions. This review aims to summarize the naproxen mechanism of action and place it in the therapeutic strategy. Naproxen is a reversible inhibitor of the pro-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX)  used in clinical practice for control of pain of various origin, namely post-traumatic pain (distortion and sprain), post-operative pains (in traumatology, orthopedics, gynecology, maxillofacial surgery), gynecological pains (pain and discomfort at primary dysmenorrhea, after the introduction of an intrauterine coil, etc.), headache and toothache, prevention or treatment of migraine, spinal pains, extra-articular rheumatism. It has been established that the duration of pain relief after a single dose of naproxen is significantly greater than after the intake of ibuprofen-containing products of equal concentration in the post-operative period of dental intervention. Naproxen is recommended as a drug for the choice of the class of tNSAIDs also in many national therapeutic guidelines (England, Canada, Russia).