Medication · nsaid

Supplements and Naproxen.

Every documented pair, every citation. Below: 3 documented pairs grouped by mechanism.

Naproxen, sold under the brand name Naprosyn, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID): it inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes, with documented gastrointestinal and renal long-term risks.

Below are the 3 documented pairs we have explicitly assessed against Naproxen in the Distil database: 3 amber. The pairs cluster around 1 mechanism: Additive antiplatelet effect. Every call is cited to either a clinical reference (PMID) or the British National Formulary. Anything not on this list is either still to be assessed or beyond our database scope. The checker beneath surfaces assessments by supplement, and the missing-item form at the bottom of the page routes any uncatalogued supplement into our next curation pass.

Documented interactions

Additive antiplatelet effect

Amber Garlic Extract

High-dose garlic extract has its own mild antiplatelet effect on top of naproxen's. For occasional pain relief at standard doses, this is rarely a problem. For chronic NSAID use or pre-surgery, the combined effect can mean more bleeding and bruising.

PMID 32478963 · PMID 29196903 · BNF: Naproxen

Amber Ginkgo Biloba

Both ginkgo and naproxen can slow blood clotting. Used together for short periods at standard doses, the combined effect is usually mild. Used at high doses for long periods, the combined effect can mean more bleeding and bruising. Stop ginkgo at least two weeks before any planned surgery.

PMID 22530457 · PMID 32478963 · PMID 29196903 · BNF: Naproxen

Amber Omega-3 EPA

High-dose omega-3 has a mild antiplatelet effect that adds to naproxen's. At typical supplement doses and short-course NSAID use, the combined effect is usually mild. At high doses or for chronic NSAID use, the additive bleeding tendency is worth knowing about.

PMID 32478963 · PMID 29196903 · BNF: Naproxen

What this list does not say. Pairs not flagged here are not implicitly safe. They are either not yet in our database, or fall outside our inclusion scope (food-supplement interactions only; for drug-drug interactions, the BNF is authoritative). Use the checker below to surface any supplement, and submit a missing item if you take something we have not catalogued.

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For adults over 18. This tool gives evidence-graded information, not medical advice. Always discuss changes with your GP, especially if you take any medication, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a serious health condition.

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How we decide

How we grade severity, choose what's in scope, and what we exclude.

Every call on this page is reasoned. We publish the full rubric for severity tiers, the medication inclusion logic, the evidence grades we accept, and what we deliberately leave out. About three thousand words. Worth reading once if you use this tool more than occasionally.

Read the full methodology

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Distil's interactions database is reviewed and updated every quarter. We grade evidence transparently and publish our methodology, including every database change, at /about/methodology. This tool is information, not a substitute for clinical judgement. If you take medication and supplements together, your GP or pharmacist can review your full regimen against your medical history. If you want a comprehensive personalised stack reasoned against this same database, the Distil report is the next step up.