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Diphenhydramine; Naproxen Tablets

What is this medication?

DIPHENHYDRAMINE; NAPROXEN (dye fen HYE dra meen; na PROX en) treats pain and helps you go to sleep faster. It is a combination of an antihistamine and NSAID.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Aleve PM

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What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

  • Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery within the past 2 weeks
  • Frequently drink alcohol
  • Glaucoma
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • History of stomach bleeding
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Lung or breathing disease, like asthma or COPD
  • Tobacco use
  • Trouble passing urine
  • Prostate disease
  • Stomach or intestine problems
  • An unusual or allergic reaction to diphenhydramine, naproxen, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
  • Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
  • Breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

Take this medication by mouth with a full glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. You can take it with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Take your medication at regular intervals. Do not take it more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your care team's advice.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While this medication may be prescribed for children as young as 12 years old for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

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What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medication with any of the following:

  • Cidofovir
  • Ketorolac

This medication may also interact with the following:

  • Alcohol
  • Antacids
  • Antihistamines for allergy, cough and cold
  • Aspirin and aspirin-like medications
  • Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
  • Certain medications for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heart beat
  • Certain medications for depression like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
  • Certain medications for diabetes, like glipizide or glyburide
  • Certain medications for seizures like phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone
  • Certain medications that treat or prevent blood clots like warfarin, enoxaparin, dalteparin, apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban
  • Cholestyramine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Digoxin
  • Diuretics
  • General anesthetics like halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
  • Lithium
  • Local anesthetics like lidocaine, pramoxine, tetracaine
  • MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
  • Medications that relax muscles for surgery
  • Methotrexate
  • Opioid medications for pain
  • Other NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen
  • Pemetrexed
  • Phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
  • Probenecid
  • Sucralfate

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

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What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

Do not take other medications that contain aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen with this medication. Side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, or ulcers may be more likely to occur. Many non-prescription medications contain aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Always read labels carefully.

This medication can cause serious ulcers and bleeding in the stomach. It can happen with no warning. Tobacco or alcohol use, older age, and poor health can also increase risks. Call your care team right away if you have stomach pain or blood in your vomit or stool.

This medication does not prevent a heart attack or stroke. This medication may increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke. The chance may increase the longer you use this medication or if you have heart disease. If you take aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke, talk to your care team about using this medication.

This medication may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Contact your care team right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. Or, you might notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.

Talk to your care team if you wish to become pregnant or think you might be pregnant. This medication can cause serious birth defects.

This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.

Be careful brushing or flossing your teeth or using a toothpick because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving this medication.

This medication may make it more difficult to get pregnant. Talk to your care team if you are concerned about your fertility.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible

  • Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • Bleeding—bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds, red or dark brown urine, small red or purple spots on skin, unusual bruising or bleeding
  • Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded
  • Heart failure—shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, sudden weight gain, unusual weakness or fatigue
  • Increase in blood pressure
  • Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
  • Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
  • Rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
  • Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
  • Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
  • Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
  • Trouble passing urine

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Drowsiness
  • Dry mouth
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Upset stomach

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F).

Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.

To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:

  • Take the medication to a medication take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
  • If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, empty the medication out of the container. Mix the medication with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Copyright ©2024 Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Note: Introduction and Additional Common Questions written and medically approved by Cleveland Clinic professionals.

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