Pharmacy question about Naproxen

[quirrels]

Is half a 500mg tablet the same as one 250mg tablet, assuming they are not slow release or enteric coated?
So if I cut a 500mg tablet in half does that mean it has half the strength or that it lasts half as long?

I am struggling to get the balance between pain relief and gastric side effects on Naproxen. I have a big flare of rheumatoid arthritis and until the RA drugs kick in I am taking NSAIDs plus lanzoprozole.

In short, no, it's not a half dose, though it's likely to be within 15-20% of half a dose. In your position, if a full dose is safe for you, just with unpleasant side effects, it should be fine to give it a try with this in mind.

Thanks spanneroo.
GP gave me 500mg tablets to take twice a day, so happy for me to have 1000mg. They did a reasonable job of pain relief but I had diarrhoea and stomach ache.
After the gastric issues she prescribed 250mg to take 3 times a day but I cut some of the bigger ones up until I could get the prescription.
Problem is that pain peaks between 5am and 10am so ideally a dose at about 4am would help but you have to take them after food.

I'd be really careful swallowing naproxen without a coating. If you end up with an ulcer, you may never be able to take NSAIDs again.

Is it possible you could try paracetamol instead at 4am? Or aspirin?

Bluestocking has a point about 4am naproxen. Have you tried paracetamol/cocodamol at this time? You may find the codeine helps counteract the diarrhoea too

Thanks folks.
Good idea to take paracetamol at 4am. Not keen on taking cocodamol, as this might be for a few weeks.
I was prescribed naproxen without a coating, didn't ask for it. I presume that's why they gave me lansoprozole.
I had to stop hydroxychloroquine temporarily, hence RA flare. Now back on it but it takes a while to kick in so need anti inflammatory and pain relief meanwhile.