Drug & supplement interaction

Tannic Acid + Naproxen

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

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Tannic Acid 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

Tannic Acid 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 Tannic Acid 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.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Tannic Acid 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.

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.

Tannic Acid safety at a glance

Tannic Acid overall Use caution Generally used topically in small amounts, but absorption through broken skin or large burns can harm the liver.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used topically on damaged or broken skin. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of tannic acid when used orally during preg... Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used topically on damaged or broken skin. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of tannic acid when used orally during preg... 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 Tannic Acid? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Tannic Acid 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 taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. One of them is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Tannic Acid

    “Orally, large amounts of tannic acid can cause gastric irritation, nausea, and vomiting (11). Extensive use of tannins on burns or in enemas has been associated with fatal liver damage (11). However, this toxicity may be due to digallic acid, an impurity that is sometimes found in tannic acid (11).”

    Tannic Acid · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in burns.

    1 source cited
    1. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

    “Extensive use of tannins on burns or in enemas has been associated with fatal liver damage (11). However, this toxicity may be due to digallic acid, an impurity that is sometimes found in tannic acid (11).”

    Tannic Acid · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in burns.

    1 source cited
    1. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

    Naproxen

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

  • Stomach upset / Nausea / Vomiting reported in 7.4% of FDA reports for Naproxen Additional detail

    Tannic Acid

    “Orally, large amounts of tannic acid can cause gastric irritation, nausea, and vomiting (11).”

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

    1 source cited
    1. 11. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

    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 Tannic Acid 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

Tannic Acid in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used topically on damaged or broken skin. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of tannic acid when used orally during pregnancy and lactation; avoid using amounts greater than those found in foods.

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 Tannic Acid 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. Tannic Acid 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.

Tannic Acid has been studied for:

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

    Tannic Acid for osteoarthritis

    Some clinical research in patients with knee osteoarthritis shows that applying a specific cream containing tannic acid, comfrey extract, aloe vera gel, eucalyptus oil, and frankincense oil (4Jointz, Arthritis Relief Plus Ltd) about 3.5 grams three times daily for 6-12 weeks decreases pain and stiffness and improves physical function when compared with placebo.

    2 sources cited
    1. 44919. Laslett, L. L., Quinn, S. J., Darian-Smith, E., Kwok, M., Fedorova, T., Korner, H., Steels, E., March, L., and Jones, G. Treatment with 4Jointz reduces knee pain over 12 weeks of treatment in patients with clinical knee osteoarthritis: a randomised contr
    2. 92571. Smith DB, Jacobson BH. Effect of a blend of comfrey root extract (Symphytum officinale L.) and tannic acid creams in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multiclinical trials. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(3) PubMed

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Tannic Acid 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 Tannic Acid 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 Tannic Acid 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 Tannic Acid 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 Tannic Acid
Steady interest

#1,046 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Naproxen
Top 5%

#47 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 Tannic Acid reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Tannic Acid 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 .
Supplement

About Tannic Acid

What is Tannic Acid?

  • Minor skin irritation and weeping rashes
  • Sore throat and mouth sores
  • Minor burns and blisters
  • Astringent for skin
  • Hemorrhoids

Tannic acid is a plant-derived astringent used mostly on the skin and in the mouth to dry out and tighten tissue. There is some traditional and topical use, but high-quality evidence for most uses is limited, and it can be harmful if too much is absorbed, especially on broken skin or burns.

Tannins extracted from plant sources such as oak galls, bark, and certain seeds and leaves · Topical powders and solutions, throat lozenges, gargles, suppositories, and some over-the-counter skin products

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

Tannic Acid: dosing

There is no well-established standard dose of tannic acid for supplement use. The amount varies widely depending on the product and how it is used (for example, a skin solution versus a lozenge).The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not apply it to large areas of broken or burned skin.

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

Read the full Tannic Acid 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 & Tannic Acid

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Tannic Acid — 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
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Tannic Acid References

The 8 references that drive our Tannic Acid 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. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. Covington TR, et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
  4. Laslett, L. L., Quinn, S. J., Darian-Smith, E., Kwok, M., Fedorova, T., Korner, H., Steels, E., March, L., and Jones, G. Treatment with 4Jointz reduces knee pain over 12 weeks of treatment in patients with clinical knee osteoarthritis: a randomised contr
  5. Smith DB, Jacobson BH. Effect of a blend of comfrey root extract (Symphytum officinale L.) and tannic acid creams in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multiclinical trials. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(3) PubMed
  6. Goh CL, Yoyong K. A comparison of topical tannic acid versus iontophoresis in the medical treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. Singapore Med J. 1996;37(5):466-8.
  7. Kołodziej M, Bebenek D, Konarska Z, Szajewska H. Gelatine tannate in the management of acute gastroenteritis in children: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2018;8(5):e020205. PubMed
  8. Mennini M, Tolone C, Frassanito A, Midulla F, Cucchiara S, Aloi M. Gelatin tannate for acute childhood gastroenteritis: a randomized, single-blind controlled trial. Paediatr Drugs. 2017 Apr;19(2):131-137. 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

Taking Tannic Acid and Naproxen Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Tannic Acid with Naproxen?
We do not list a known interaction between Tannic Acid 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 Tannic Acid and Naproxen have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 4 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 Tannic Acid 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 Tannic Acid 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 — Tannic Acid 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

Still Have a Question About Naproxen and Tannic Acid?

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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.