Camphor + Naproxen
Naproxen brand names: Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, Anaprox DS, Naproxyn, and others.
We found no known interaction between Camphor and Naproxen in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.
Camphor and Naproxen
We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.
No Known Interaction Found
We did not find a documented interaction between Naproxen and Camphor in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.
If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.
Camphor safety at a glance
Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Why No Interaction Is Listed for Naproxen
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Naproxen is filed under 10 classifications — including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids), cytochrome p450 2c9 (cyp2c9) substrates, anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs. Camphor has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being hepatotoxic drugs (moderate) — and none of Naproxen’s classifications are among them.
Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.
Camphor Does Interact With Other Medications
Camphor has 370 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Naproxen isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Camphor
We haven’t checked that one against Camphor yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Camphor. Pick one to open its full report.
Camphor in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
When used orally. Ingestion of camphor can cause serious toxicity including death. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of using camphor topically during pregnancy and lactation.
DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
What Naproxen Is Prescribed For, and What Camphor Has Been Studied For
These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Naproxen is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Camphor is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.
Naproxen is prescribed for: Naproxen tablets, naproxen sodium tablets, and naproxen oral suspension are used to relieve the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. They are also used for tendonitis, bursitis, and acute gout, and for managing pain and primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps). Naproxen Sodium Controlled-Release Tablets are indicated for the same conditions plus the relief of mild to moderate pain. Several over-the-counter naproxen sodium products are indicated for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains from headache, backache, muscular aches, toothache, menstrual cramps, minor arthritis pain, and the common cold, and to temporarily reduce fever.
Camphor has been studied for:
-
Osteoarthritis studied, not established Camphor has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows
Camphor for osteoarthritis
Although topical camphor is approved for use in the management of acute pain due to its counterirritant effects, it is unclear if it is beneficial for knee osteoarthritis.
Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Naproxen on your own; if you are taking Camphor for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.
Questions About Camphor or Naproxen
These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Camphor or Naproxen, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:
- OTC Pain Relievers Safe With Lasix (Furosemide)? ›
- Details On The Interaction Between Bisoprolol And Celebrex ›
- Acetaminophen, Aspirin And Ibuprofen Considerations Before Surgery ›
Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Naproxen
This page covers Camphor only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Naproxen page lists 311 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).
By severity: 7 major · 260 moderate · 44 minor.
Taking Camphor as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 51 real supplement products containing Camphor, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Camphor. Even though Camphor itself has no known interaction with Naproxen, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Camphor and Naproxen Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#1,087 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#56 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
Where does our data come from?
- Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
- Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Camphor reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Camphor and Naproxen records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
- What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
About Camphor
What is Camphor?
- Muscle and joint aches
- Cough and chest congestion
- Itching and skin irritation
- Cold sores or minor wounds
- Counterirritant for pain
Camphor is a strong-smelling compound from the camphor tree (or made synthetically) that is used in many topical rub-on products for muscle aches, itching, and chest congestion. It can be helpful for these uses when applied to the skin in small, regulated amounts, but it is toxic and potentially deadly if swallowed, so it should never be taken by mouth. Keep camphor products away from children and check with a pharmacist before use.
Cinnamomum camphora · Lauraceae · Wood, bark, and essential oil (camphor is also made synthetically) · Topical creams, ointments, balms, salves, vapor rubs, oils, inhalants, and liniments
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Camphor is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Camphor record says about it on its own.
Camphor: dosing
There is no established 'supplement' dose for camphor because it should not be taken by mouth. For skin products, the amount of camphor is regulated and listed on the label. Over-the-counter topical products typically contain camphor at low percentages.Always follow the directions on the product label, and do not apply more often or in larger amounts than directed. Use only finished products meant for skin use — never raw or homemade camphor preparations.
From our Camphor monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
About Naproxen
What Is Naproxen Used For?
Brand names: Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, Anaprox DS, Naproxyn, Navalbine, Naproxen, Naprosyn EC, Napro-Na, Aleve, Arthroxen, Synflex, EC-Naprosyn
Naproxen tablets, naproxen sodium tablets, and naproxen oral suspension are used to relieve the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. They are also used for tendonitis, bursitis, and acute gout, and for managing pain and primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps).
Naproxen Sodium Controlled-Release Tablets are indicated for the same conditions plus the relief of mild to moderate pain. Several over-the-counter naproxen sodium products are indicated for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains from headache, backache, muscular aches, toothache, menstrual cramps, minor arthritis pain, and the common cold, and to temporarily reduce fever.
Most-Reported Side Effects for Naproxen
From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (165,062 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.
Other Drugs & Camphor
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Camphor — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
370 interactions
- Diclofenac Sodium ›
- Nifedipine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Minocycline ›
- Tetracycline ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Testosterone ›
- Verapamil ›
- Fenofibrate ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Quinidine ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Glyburide ›
- Methyltestosterone ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Phenytoin ›
- Allopurinol ›
- Carbamazepine ›
- Diclofenac Potassium ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Nitrofurantoin ›
- Ofloxacin ›
- Propoxyphene ›
- Rifampin ›
- Testosterone Undecanoate ›
- Acarbose ›
- Dapsone ›
- Doxycycline Hyclate ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Eltrombopag ›
- Interferon Alfa-2b ›
- Interferon Beta-1b ›
- Isoniazid ›
- Itraconazole ›
- Levofloxacin ›
- Naltrexone ›
- Riluzole ›
- Valproic Acid ›
- Abiraterone Acetate ›
- Acebutolol ›
- Ambrisentan ›
- Amiodarone ›
- Azathioprine ›
- Chlorpropamide ›
- Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate ›
- Cyclophosphamide ›
- Daclizumab ›
- Dantrolene ›
- Deferasirox ›
- Diclofenac Epolamine ›
- Fingolimod ›
- Fluconazole ›
- Fluvastatin ›
- Gatifloxacin ›
- Interferon Beta-1a ›
- Labetalol ›
- Lovastatin ›
- Maraviroc ›
- Methenamine Mandelate ›
Showing 60 of 370 moderate interactions — see all 370 on the Camphor page.
No interaction 2,459 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Camphor against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Bupropion ›
- Metformin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Letrozole ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Diazepam ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Mannitol ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Daptomycin ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,459 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Camphor list.
Camphor References
The 20 references that drive our Camphor monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Uc A, Bishop WP, Sanders KD. Camphor hepatotoxicity. South Med J 2000;93:596-8. DOI
- Love JN, Sammon M, Smereck J. Are one or two dangerous? Camphor exposure in toddlers. J Emerg Med 2004;27:49-54.. PubMed
- Ruha AM, Graeme KA, Field A. Late seizure following ingestion of Vicks VapoRub. Acad Emerg Med 2003;10:691. . PubMed
- Gouin S, Patel H. Unusual cause of seizure. Pediatr Emerg Care 1996;12:298-300. DOI
- Ernst E. Adverse effects of herbal drugs in dermatology. Br J Dermatol 2000;143:923-9. PubMed
- Fung AE, Oxford KW. Microwave-superheated Vics Vapo Rub: an ocular public health danger. Am J Ophthalmol 2004;137:379-80. PubMed
- Emery, D. P. and Corban, J. G. Camphor toxicity. J.Paediatr.Child Health 1999;35(1):105-106.
- Rampini, S. K., Schneemann, M., Rentsch, K., and Bachli, E. B. Camphor intoxication after cao gio (coin rubbing). JAMA 7-3-2002;288(1):45.
- SMITH, A. G. and MARGOLIS, G. Camphor poisoning; anatomical and pharmacologic study; report of a fatal case; experimental investigation of protective action of barbiturate. Am.J.Pathol. 1954;30(5):857-869.
- Ragucci, K. R., Trangmar, P. R., Bigby, J. G., and Detar, T. D. Camphor ingestion in a 10-year-old male. South.Med.J. 2007;100(2):204-207. PubMed
- Agarwal, A. and Malhotra, H. S. Camphor ingestion: an unusual cause of seizure. J.Assoc.Physicians India 2008;56:123-124.
- Weiss, J. and Catalano, P. Camphorated oil intoxication during pregnancy. Pediatrics 1973;52(5):713-714. DOI
- Vasey, R. H. and Karayannopoulos, S. J. Camphorated oil. Br.Med.J. 1-8-1972;1(5792):112.
- Mascie-Taylor, B. H., Widdop, B., and Davison, A. M. Camphor intoxication treated by charcoal haemoperfusion. Postgrad.Med.J. 1981;57(673):725-726. PubMed
- Theis, J. G. and Koren, G. Camphorated oil: still endangering the lives of Canadian children. CMAJ. 6-1-1995;152(11):1821-1824.
- Skoglund, R. R., Ware, L. L., Jr., and Schanberger, J. E. Prolonged seizures due to contact and inhalation exposure to camphor. A case report. Clin.Pediatr.(Phila) 1977;16(10):901-902. PubMed
- Cordoba Torres IT, Marino-Nieto J, Barkin HB, Fort AC, Cobas M. Vicks VapoRub intoxication: an unusual presentation of multiorgan failure. J Clin Anesth 2018;48:46-7. PubMed
- Rahimi M, Shokri F, Hassanian-Moghaddam H, et al. Severe camphor poisoning, a seven-year observational study. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2017;52:8-13. PubMed
- Mathew T, John SK, Kamath V, et al. Essential oil related seizures (EORS): A multi-center prospective study on essential oils and seizures in adults. Epilepsy Res. 2021;173:106626. PubMed
- Camphor (synthetic): Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 1994. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/76222.html. Assessed 5/6/2021.
Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Naproxen Is Linked to Lower Levels of One Nutrient
Natural Medicines records Naproxen as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Camphor — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Naproxen nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Camphor and Naproxen Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Camphor with Naproxen?
Do Camphor and Naproxen have any of the same side effects?
Are Camphor and Naproxen used for the same thing?
How was the Camphor and Naproxen combination checked?
Does Camphor interact with any other medications?
Does Naproxen interact with any supplements?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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Still Have a Question About Naproxen and Camphor?
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.