Is Willow Bark Safe with Naproxen?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Avoid taking willow bark alongside naproxen. The combination duplicates NSAID-like mechanisms, raising the risk of serious GI bleeding, kidney stress, and cardiovascular effects. Consult your pharmacist or physician for safe alternatives.
Why this interaction occurs
Salicylates from willow bark and naproxen both inhibit prostaglandin synthesis via COX pathways. Concurrent use may cause additive gastropathy, renal prostaglandin suppression leading to reduced renal perfusion, and enhanced antithrombotic activity.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 96,214 reports mentioning Naproxen. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Naproxen + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Willow Bark interactions → · All Naproxen interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.