Aged Cheese and Naproxen: Is There a Risk?

Eating aged cheese does not have a known direct interaction with naproxen, and it is not expected to increase naproxen’s side effects. Naproxen (a non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drug, NSAID) has well‑established risks such as stomach irritation and bleeding, cardiovascular events, kidney issues, and rare allergic reactions, but food-based tyramine from aged cheeses is not listed among factors that worsen these risks. ^[1] Naproxen guidance focuses on taking the medicine with food or milk to reduce stomach upset, avoiding excess alcohol, and being cautious with certain other medications, not on avoiding specific foods like aged cheese. ^{[2] [3]}

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What Naproxen Typically Interacts With

• Other NSAIDs and blood thinners: Combining naproxen with aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin, and similar drugs can raise the risk of stomach bleeding and other complications. ^{[4] [5]}
• Steroids and certain antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs): These combinations can further increase gastrointestinal bleeding risk. ^{[6] [4]}
• Alcohol: Regular heavy alcohol use while on naproxen raises the chance of stomach bleeding. ^[5]
• General advice: If naproxen causes stomach upset, taking it with food or milk is commonly recommended to improve tolerance. ^{[2] [3]}

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Where Tyramine (Aged Cheese) Matters and Where It Doesn’t

• Tyramine in aged cheeses (like cheddar, Roquefort) can cause a “cheese reaction” with certain antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), potentially triggering dangerous spikes in blood pressure. ^{[7] [8]}
• This tyramine–MAOI interaction does not apply to naproxen, which is an NSAID and does not alter tyramine metabolism. ^[1]

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Naproxen Side Effects to Watch For

Even though aged cheese is not a concern, naproxen itself can cause side effects:

• Common: stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, ringing in the ears. ^[9]
• Serious: signs of stomach bleeding (black stools, vomiting blood, persistent stomach pain), chest pain or stroke symptoms, shortness of breath. Seek immediate medical help if these occur. ^{[2] [5]}

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Practical Tips

• You can continue eating aged cheese while taking naproxen, as there is no established interaction. ^[1]
• Take naproxen with food or milk if you experience stomach upset. ^{[2] [3]}
• Avoid combining with other NSAIDs, blood thinners, or steroids unless advised, and limit alcohol to reduce bleeding risk. ^{[4] [5]}
• If you are on an MAOI antidepressant, aged cheeses should be restricted due to tyramine even though that concern is unrelated to naproxen. ^{[8] [10]}

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Quick Reference Table

Topic	What to know	Relevance to aged cheese
Naproxen + food	Taking with food/milk can reduce stomach upset. [2] [3]	Does not require avoiding cheese.
Naproxen + alcohol	Heavy alcohol increases stomach bleeding risk. [5]	Separate from cheese concerns.
Naproxen + NSAIDs/blood thinners/steroids	Raises bleeding risk; use caution. [4] [5]	No link to tyramine or cheese.
Tyramine + MAOIs (“cheese reaction”)	Can cause dangerous hypertension with aged cheese. [7] [8]	Applies to MAOIs, not naproxen.

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Bottom Line

There is no evidence that aged cheese (tyramine) increases naproxen side effects. Focus on known naproxen precautions take with food if needed, avoid risky medication combinations, and limit alcohol to reduce gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks. ^{[1] [2] [5] [4]}