Drug interactions
Naproxen + Prednisone
Severity: Moderate
Naproxen and Prednisone: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Combining naproxen with prednisone raises the risk of gastric ulcers and upper GI bleeding compared with either agent alone. Risk is highest in older adults, those with ulcer history and with extended use.
What this interaction means in plain words
Naproxen and Prednisone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Naproxen belongs to Musculoskeletal; Prednisone belongs to Endocrine.
Why it happens
Additive pharmacodynamic mucosal injury from NSAID prostaglandin inhibition and corticosteroid-impaired healing.
What to do
Limit dose and duration and prescribe a proton pump inhibitor for patients at risk. Monitor for melena, hematemesis or falling hemoglobin.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Naproxen and Prednisone, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone Major
Other interactions of Naproxen
- Ketorolac intranasal + Naproxen Contraindicated
- Ketorolac + Naproxen Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Naproxen Major
- Acemetacin + Naproxen Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Naproxen Major
- Alteplase + Naproxen Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Naproxen with Prednisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Naproxen and Prednisone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Combining naproxen with prednisone raises the risk of gastric ulcers and upper GI bleeding compared with either agent alone. Risk is highest in older adults, those with ulcer history and with extended use.
How serious is the interaction between Naproxen and Prednisone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Limit dose and duration and prescribe a proton pump inhibitor for patients at risk. Monitor for melena, hematemesis or falling hemoglobin.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
