etodolac vs naproxen
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of etodolac and naproxen. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Etodolac is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medicine. It helps reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness caused by arthritis and other conditions.
Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It helps reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Etodolac treats the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It can help with pain and swelling in your joints. Etodolac is also used for short-term relief of acute pain.
Naproxen is used to relieve pain and inflammation. You can use it for arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It also treats ankylosing spondylitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Naproxen can help with tendonitis, bursitis, gout, menstrual cramps, and general pain.
Etodolac is an NSAID, which stands for Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug. It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It can help to reduce fever as well.
Naproxen works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. It blocks the production of prostaglandins. These substances contribute to the symptoms of pain, swelling, and fever.
- • Upset stomach
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- • Gas
- • Heartburn
- • Heartburn
- • Abdominal pain
- • Nausea
- • Constipation
- • Diarrhea
- Pain 350
- Nausea 290
- Arthralgia 284
- Fatigue 272
- Headache 238
- Pain 8,756
- Fatigue 7,339
- Arthralgia 7,243
- Nausea 7,062
- Headache 5,716
NSAIDs like etodolac can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and increases with longer use. You should not take etodolac if you are having heart bypass surgery. NSAIDs also increase the risk of serious stomach problems like bleeding and ulcers, which can be fatal. Older adults are at higher risk for these stomach problems.
Naproxen may increase your risk of serious heart problems like heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal. This risk may happen early in treatment and increases with longer use. You should not take naproxen if you are having heart bypass surgery. Naproxen can also increase your risk of serious stomach and intestine problems, including bleeding, ulcers, and holes, which can be fatal. These problems can occur without warning. Elderly people are at higher risk.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Etodolac may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if etodolac passes into breast milk.
Using naproxen after 20 weeks of pregnancy can cause kidney problems in the unborn baby, leading to low amniotic fluid. Avoid using naproxen at 30 weeks of pregnancy or later because it can cause the baby's heart to close too early. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare etodolac with
Compare naproxen with
How to Read This etodolac vs naproxen Comparison
etodolac is classified in the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) drug class, while naproxen sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, etodolac has 1,434 submissions while naproxen has 36,116. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for etodolac or naproxen.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.