Based on NIH | Is it safe to take naproxen with olive oil, and are there any known interactions or risks?

Taking naproxen with olive oil is generally considered safe, and there are no recognized direct drug–food interactions between naproxen and olive oil specifically. However, a few practical points can help you use naproxen more comfortably and safely:

• Naproxen can irritate the stomach; taking it with food or milk can reduce stomach upset for some people. ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• Food may slow the time it takes for some NSAIDs to start working, but it usually does not change the total amount absorbed for naproxen in a meaningful way for most users. ^[4]
• There are many important drug–drug interactions with naproxen (for example with blood thinners, other NSAIDs, SSRIs/SNRIs, and steroids), but olive oil is not among them. ^[5]

What we know about naproxen and food

• Non-prescription naproxen labeling advises that if your stomach gets upset, you may take the dose with food or milk. This is a long‑standing recommendation intended to improve comfort from common NSAID side effects like dyspepsia (indigestion). ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• In general, food can delay the peak blood level (so pain relief may start a bit later), but it typically does not reduce the overall exposure to naproxen in a clinically important way; this pattern is well described for NSAIDs. ^[4]

Olive oil specifically

• There is no established interaction between olive oil and naproxen in standard drug references. Olive oil is simply a dietary fat and part of normal meals; taking your naproxen dose with a meal that includes olive oil is acceptable. ^[5]
• Some experimental work has explored “lipid-associated” NSAID formulations to protect the gut, but these are specialized products and not the same as taking a standard naproxen tablet with a spoon of olive oil at home. These studies don’t translate into a recommendation to co-dose naproxen with oils for protection. ^[6]

Safety reminders when using naproxen

• GI risk: Naproxen, like all NSAIDs, can cause stomach bleeding; risk is higher with prior ulcers, older age, heavy alcohol use, or combining with blood thinners, steroids, SSRIs/SNRIs, or other NSAIDs/aspirin. Watch for warning signs such as feeling faint, vomiting blood, black stools, or persistent stomach pain, and seek medical help if these occur. ^{[1] [2] [3] [5]}
• Heart and kidney cautions: Non-prescription naproxen labels note that using higher-than-directed doses or longer than directed can raise the risk of heart attack or stroke, and NSAIDs can affect kidney function especially in those with existing cardiovascular, kidney, or dehydration issues. ^[1]
• Drug interactions: Tell your clinician if you use anticoagulants (warfarin), antiplatelets (including aspirin for heart protection), SSRIs/SNRIs, oral steroids, other NSAIDs, or certain supplements that raise bleeding risk. Naproxen can also blunt the cardioprotective effect of low‑dose aspirin when taken together; if you use both, seek personalized timing advice. ^[5]
• How to take: Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest needed time, and consider taking with food or milk if you tend to have stomach upset. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Practical takeaways

• It’s reasonable to take naproxen with a meal that contains olive oil if that fits your diet and helps your stomach feel more comfortable. ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• Olive oil does not have a known adverse interaction with naproxen. ^[5]
• Focus more on avoiding high‑risk drug combinations and monitoring for GI warning signs rather than worrying about olive oil itself. ^{[1] [2] [3] [5]}