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febuxostat vs naproxen

Side-by-side comparison of febuxostat and naproxen. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.3 In Vivo Drug Interaction Studies Based on drug interaction studies in healthy patients, febuxostat does not have clinically significant interactions with colchicine, naproxen, indomethacin, hydrochlorothiazide, warfarin or desipramine [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Recommendation: You can take these together as prescribed without needing to change your routine.

Drug Class
febuxostat Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor
naproxen Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Type
febuxostat Prescription
naproxen Over-the-Counter
Summary
febuxostat

Febuxostat (Uloric) helps manage high uric acid levels in adults with gout. It is used when allopurinol doesn't work well, causes problems, or isn't a good option.

naproxen

Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It helps reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness.

What It Treats
febuxostat

Febuxostat treats high uric acid levels in adults who have gout. Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe pain, swelling, and redness in your joints. This medicine is for people who can't take allopurinol, or for whom allopurinol doesn't work well enough.

naproxen

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.

How It Works
febuxostat

Febuxostat lowers uric acid levels in your body. It does this by blocking an enzyme called xanthine oxidase. This enzyme helps make uric acid, so blocking it reduces uric acid production.

naproxen

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.

Common Side Effects
febuxostat
  • Abnormal liver function tests
  • Nausea
  • Joint pain
  • Rash
naproxen
  • Heartburn
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
febuxostat
  • Diarrhea 849
  • Nausea 841
  • Sudden kidney damage 837
  • Rash 783
  • Gout 686
naproxen
  • Pain 8,756
  • Tiredness 7,338
  • Joint pain 7,244
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 7,063
  • Headache 5,717
Serious Warnings
febuxostat

Febuxostat may increase the risk of death from heart problems in people with existing heart disease. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking febuxostat. Febuxostat should only be used if allopurinol doesn't work well, causes problems, or isn't a good option for you.

naproxen

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.

Pregnancy
febuxostat

It is not known if febuxostat can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if febuxostat passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.

naproxen

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

How to Read This febuxostat vs naproxen Comparison

febuxostat is classified in the Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor drug class, while naproxen sits within the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, febuxostat has 3,996 submissions while naproxen has 36,118. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to research shows that these two medications do not significantly change how the other works in the body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between febuxostat and naproxen - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.