Naprosyn and Pregnancy

Although most healthcare providers do not recommend taking Naprosyn during pregnancy, a healthcare provider may prescribe the drug to a pregnant woman if the benefits outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child. Taking this medicine during pregnancy can possibly cause problems to the fetus or complicate labor and delivery. Naprosyn should be avoided completely during the third trimester. If you are taking Naprosyn and pregnancy occurs, let your healthcare provider know.

 

Naprosyn and Pregnancy: An Overview

Most healthcare providers do not recommend taking Naprosyn® (naproxen) or EC-Naprosyn® (naproxen delayed-release) during pregnancy because it can possibly cause problems to an unborn child or complicate labor and delivery. Taking Naprosyn at all during the third trimester should be avoided. Early in the pregnancy, however, it is possible that your healthcare provider may recommend Naprosyn if he or she feels that the benefits to you outweigh the risks to your unborn child.
 

Naprosyn and Pregnancy Category C

Naprosyn is considered a pregnancy Category C medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied extensively in pregnant humans but show side effects to the fetus in animal studies. It is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. A pregnancy Category C medicine may still be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child.
 
If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Naprosyn, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider both the benefits and risks of taking Naprosyn during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;