Drug & supplement interaction

Massage + Naproxen

Naproxen brand names: Naprosyn, Naprelan, Anaprox, Anaprox DS, Naproxyn, and others.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Massage 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.

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Interaction report

Massage 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 Massage in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — research on Massage alongside specific medications may be limited.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Massage at all — not against Naproxen, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

Massage is a treatment rather than something you take. Tell whoever provides it which medicines you use, and ask your prescriber whether it is appropriate for your health and treatment. 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.

Massage safety at a glance

Massage overall Generally safe Generally safe for most healthy people when performed by a trained therapist.
Pregnancy Likely Safe When most forms of massage are administered to enhance mood and physical well-being during pregnancy and labor. There is insufficient reliable information avail... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Likely Safe When most forms of massage are administered to enhance mood and physical well-being during pregnancy and labor. There is insufficient reliable information avail... Read the full breastfeeding detail

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.

Still wondering about combining Naproxen and Massage? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Massage and Naproxen May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so having Massage while taking the medicine can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 3 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Bone thinning Worth acting on Additional detail

    Massage

    “While rare, cases of bone fracture, as well as discomfort, soreness, bruising, and swelling of massaged tissues have been associated with massage. Approximately 10% of patients may experience minor musculoskeletal discomfort following massage. In one case report, a patient developed subcutaneous and paravertebral abscesses requiring drainage and intravenous antibiotics after massage, acupuncture, and cupping.”

    Massage · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in fractures.

    6 sources cited
    1. 29097. Cambron JA, Dexheimer J, Coe P, Swenson R. Side-effects of massage therapy: a cross-sectional study of 100 clients. J Altern Complement Med 2007;13(8):793-6. PubMed
    2. 101164. Nedelec B, Couture MA, Calva V, et al. Randomized controlled trial of the immediate and long-term effect of massage on adult postburn scar. Burns. 2019;45(1):128-139. PubMed
    3. 101168. Fogarty S, McInerney C, Stuart C, Hay P. The side effects and mother or child related physical harm from massage during pregnancy and the postpartum period: An observational study. Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:89-94. PubMed
    4. 107021. Yang G, Feng D, Li F, et al. A randomized, controlled phase II trial of maxillofacial and oral massage in attenuating severe radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis and lipid metabolite changes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Radiother Oncol 2021;163:76-82. PubMed
    5. 113446. Epstein AS, Liou KT, Romero SAD, et al. Acupuncture vs Massage for Pain in Patients Living With Advanced Cancer: The IMPACT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2023;6(11):e2342482. PubMed
    6. 114260. Yang R, Hu Y, Liu S, Wang H. Subcutaneous and paravertebral abscess following massage and acupuncture with cupping: A case report and literature review. Asian J Surg. 2024 Jun;47(6):2632-2634. doi: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.08.210. Epub 2023 Sep 7. PubMed

    Naproxen

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Naproxen. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Blood clots Worth acting on Additional detail

    Massage

    “There are case reports of venous thromboembolism (VTE) thought to be caused by deep tissue massage. In one case report of a 67-year-old male, a deep muscle massage session was thought to be responsible for the development of a deep vein thrombosis in the calf, which eventually led to the development of pulmonary emboli.”

    Massage · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in venous thromboembolism (vte).

    2 sources cited
    1. 107039. Crump C, Paluska SA. Venous thromboembolism following vigorous deep tissue massage. Phys Sportsmed 2010;38(4):136-9. PubMed
    2. 29099. Jabr FI. Massive pulmonary emboli after legs massage. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007;86(8):691. PubMed

    Naproxen

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Naproxen. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

    Massage

    “There are case reports of hematomas associated with massage. In one , a 59-year-old male developed a large hematoma on the buttock caused by a 30-minute deep tissue massage involving the hand, wrist, and elbow. The area around the hematoma was protruding and swollen and resulted in numbness down the back of the thigh to the foot. The patient was prescribed bed rest with pressure on the buttocks;”

    Massage · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in bleeding.

    2 sources cited
    1. 107038. Sun F, Yuan QL, Zhang YG. Large buttocks hematoma caused by deep tissue massage therapy. Pain Med 2015;16(7):1445-7. PubMed
    2. 111813. Cheng TY, Chiu AW, Chen M. Kidney laceration after acupuncture and Tuina: A case report. Asian J Surg 2023;46(4):1667-1668. PubMed

    Naproxen

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Naproxen. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Numbness or tingling Additional detail

    Massage

    Recorded for Massage in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bleeding or bruising above.

    Naproxen

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Naproxen. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dizziness reported in 5.5% of FDA reports for Naproxen Additional detail

    Massage

    “There are multiple case reports of neuropathy, including radial neuropathy, spinal accessory neuropathy, and acute cervical radiculopathy, which were thought to be caused by deep tissue massage. There is also a case of posterior interosseous nerve compression syndrome after deep tissue massage administration.”

    Massage · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in neuropathic pain.

    5 sources cited
    1. 98485. Hsu PC, Chiu JW, Chou CL, Wang JC. Acute radial neuropathy at the spiral groove following massage: A case presentation. PM R. 2017;9(10):1042-1046. PubMed
    2. 107042. Aksoy IA, Schrader SL, Ali MS, Borovansky JA, Ross MA. Spinal accessory neuropathy associated with deep tissue massage: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009;90(11):1969-72. PubMed
    3. 113442. Chung SJ, Soh Y. Acute cervical radiculopathy after anterior scalene muscle massage: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023;102(15):e33560. PubMed
    4. 107040. Giese S, Hentz VR. Posterior interosseous syndrome resulting from deep tissue massage. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998;102(5):1778-9. PubMed
    5. 113450. Haber G, Loffeld M, Braumiller M, Lorenzl S. Left hemispheric cortical watershed infarcts triggered by carotid sinus self-massage. BMJ Case Rep 2021;14(12):e244926. PubMed

    Naproxen

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Naproxen, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Swelling Additional detail

    Massage

    Recorded for Massage in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bone thinning above.

    Naproxen

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Naproxen. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea reported in 7.4% of FDA reports for Naproxen Additional detail

    Massage

    “There is one case report of a hepatic hematoma developing in an otherwise healthy 39-year-old female following deep tissue massage of the upper abdomen. Nausea and low-grade fevers lasted approximately 6 months.”

    Massage · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    1 source cited
    1. 29098. Trotter JF. Hepatic hematoma after deep tissue massage. N Engl J Med 1999;341(26):2019-20. PubMed

    Naproxen

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Naproxen, and in voluntary FDA adverse-event reports. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Effects for Naproxen come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Massage come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 165,062 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Naproxen that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Massage in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When most forms of massage are administered to enhance mood and physical well-being during pregnancy and labor. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of more aggressive forms of massage, such as deep tissue massage. The use of massage should not delay the time to diagnosis or treatment with more proven therapies.

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

Overlapping uses

What Naproxen Is Prescribed For, and What Massage 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. Massage is a treatment: 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.

Massage has been studied for:

  • Dysmenorrhea studied, not established Massage has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Massage for dysmenorrhea

    It is unclear if massage is beneficial for dysmenorrhea.

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 Massage for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Massage 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 Massage 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:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Naproxen

This page covers Massage 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.

Open the Naproxen interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Massage 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.

Supplement Massage
Steady interest

#836 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Naproxen
Top 5%

#56 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

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 Massage reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Massage 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.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Treatment approach

About Massage

What is Massage?

  • Muscle tension and soreness
  • Stress and relaxation
  • Low back and neck pain
  • Anxiety and mood
  • Sleep quality
  • Recovery after exercise

Massage is a hands-on therapy that uses pressure and movement on the soft tissues of the body. It is widely used to ease muscle tension, lower stress, and help with certain types of pain, and the evidence is moderate for short-term relief of pain and anxiety. It is generally safe for most people when done by a trained therapist, but those with certain medical conditions should check with a doctor first.

Not applicable (a hands-on therapy, not an herb or supplement) · Swedish massage, deep tissue, sports massage, trigger point, shiatsu, Thai, reflexology, self-massage tools

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Massage is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Massage record says about it on its own.

Massage: dosing

There is no standard "dose" for massage. Sessions usually last from about 30 to 90 minutes, and how often people go varies widely — from once in a while for relaxation to weekly during treatment for a specific problem.The right amount depends on your goals, your body, and your budget.

From our Massage monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Massage monograph & all interactions
Medication

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.

Fatigue 13,047 reports
Nausea 12,185 reports
Arthralgia 11,086 reports
Headache 10,504 reports
Diarrhea 9,841 reports
See full Naproxen drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Massage

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Massage — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Massage against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Massage list.

See the full Massage interactions page
See every supplement checked against Naproxen, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Massage References

The 19 references that drive our Massage 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.

  1. Cambron JA, Dexheimer J, Coe P, Swenson R. Side-effects of massage therapy: a cross-sectional study of 100 clients. J Altern Complement Med 2007;13(8):793-6. PubMed
  2. Trotter JF. Hepatic hematoma after deep tissue massage. N Engl J Med 1999;341(26):2019-20. PubMed
  3. Jabr FI. Massive pulmonary emboli after legs massage. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007;86(8):691. PubMed
  4. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Hart S, et al. Pregnant women benefit from massage therapy. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1999;20(1):31-8. PubMed
  5. Chang MY, Wang SY, Chen CH. Effects of massage on pain and anxiety during labour: a randomized controlled trial in Taiwan. J Adv Nurs 2002;38(1):68-73. PubMed
  6. Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Taylor S, et al. Labor pain is reduced by massage therapy. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1997;18(4):286-91. PubMed
  7. Hsu PC, Chiu JW, Chou CL, Wang JC. Acute radial neuropathy at the spiral groove following massage: A case presentation. PM R. 2017;9(10):1042-1046. PubMed
  8. Nedelec B, Couture MA, Calva V, et al. Randomized controlled trial of the immediate and long-term effect of massage on adult postburn scar. Burns. 2019;45(1):128-139. PubMed
  9. Fogarty S, McInerney C, Stuart C, Hay P. The side effects and mother or child related physical harm from massage during pregnancy and the postpartum period: An observational study. Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:89-94. PubMed
  10. Yang G, Feng D, Li F, et al. A randomized, controlled phase II trial of maxillofacial and oral massage in attenuating severe radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis and lipid metabolite changes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Radiother Oncol 2021;163:76-82. PubMed
  11. Sun F, Yuan QL, Zhang YG. Large buttocks hematoma caused by deep tissue massage therapy. Pain Med 2015;16(7):1445-7. PubMed
  12. Crump C, Paluska SA. Venous thromboembolism following vigorous deep tissue massage. Phys Sportsmed 2010;38(4):136-9. PubMed
  13. Giese S, Hentz VR. Posterior interosseous syndrome resulting from deep tissue massage. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998;102(5):1778-9. PubMed
  14. Aksoy IA, Schrader SL, Ali MS, Borovansky JA, Ross MA. Spinal accessory neuropathy associated with deep tissue massage: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009;90(11):1969-72. PubMed
  15. Cheng TY, Chiu AW, Chen M. Kidney laceration after acupuncture and Tuina: A case report. Asian J Surg 2023;46(4):1667-1668. PubMed

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.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Having Massage While Taking Naproxen: Common Questions

Is it safe to have Massage while taking Naproxen?
We do not list a known interaction between Massage and Naproxen. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Massage and Naproxen have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 7 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Massage and Naproxen used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Massage in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Naproxen is being adjusted to a target.
Does Naproxen interact with any supplements?
Yes. Naproxen has documented interactions with 311 supplements in our database — Massage is not one of them. The Naproxen interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Massage monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Naproxen drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Naproxen supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Naproxen, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 19 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Naproxen and Massage?

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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.