Treximet (sumatriptan/naproxen) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed to treat migraine in adults and children ages 12 years and older. As with other drugs, Treximet can cause side effects, such as sleepiness, serotonin syndrome, and serious digestive problems.

For a general overview of Treximet, including details about its uses, see this article.

Treximet can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Below are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Treximet in clinical trials:

  • sleepiness
  • dizziness
  • pain or discomfort in the chest
  • nausea
  • indigestion
  • pressure, pain, or tightness in your jaw, throat, or neck
  • numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
  • dry mouth

Mild side effects can occur with Treximet use. This list does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For additional information, you can refer to Treximet’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Treximet include:

  • sleepiness
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • indigestion
  • dry mouth
  • numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
  • pain or pressure in the jaw, throat, or neck

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Treximet and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

Treximet may cause serious side effects, but these aren’t common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For additional information, you can refer to Treximet’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Treximet, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* Treximet has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
† For additional information about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible after using Treximet. However, it’s unclear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Treximet is approved to treat migraine with or without aura in children ages 12 years and older. Children may experience different side effects from Treximet than adults.

In clinical trials, children ages 12 to 17 years old had the following side effects:

If you’re concerned about any side effects your child may experience with Treximet treatment, talk with their doctor.

Treximet may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Are there any long-term side effects of Treximet?

Yes, there may be long-term side effects of Treximet. The drug contains naproxen, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). People who take NSAIDs such as Treximet long term may develop kidney problems.

The risk of kidney problems is higher in people who:

If you develop kidney problems while taking Treximet, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely recommend you stop taking the drug. Typically, your kidney function will return to usual after stopping Treximet treatment.

If you’re concerned about any other side effects that may last for a long time, talk with your doctor.

Can I take Treximet if I have asthma? If so, what side effects should I expect?

It depends. Treximet contains naproxen, which is an NSAID. If you have asthma and take aspirin or other NSAIDs, such as naproxen, your asthma symptoms may worsen. This is known as aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).

Symptoms of AERD include:

People with AERD typically have asthma and sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses) with nasal polyps. They may also have a sensitivity to aspirin or NSAIDs.

If you have AERD, tell your doctor. They won’t prescribe Treximet if you have this condition. If you have asthma and take Treximet, call your doctor if you develop any of the symptoms listed above. They’ll likely recommend stopping your Treximet treatment.

Does taking Treximet with ibuprofen cause side effects?

Yes, taking Treximet with ibuprofen may increase your risk of side effects. Due to this risk, your doctor will not recommend that you take Treximet with ibuprofen.

Treximet contains naproxen, which is an NSAID. Ibuprofen is also an NSAID. So taking both Treximet with ibuprofen may increase your risk of side effects from these drugs.

Examples of these side effects include:*

If Treximet is not helping relieve your migraine episodes, talk with your doctor. They may recommend different treatments for your condition.

* Treximet has a boxed warning for these side effects. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For additional information about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Treximet may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Treximet.

Serotonin syndrome

One of Treximet’s active ingredients is sumatriptan (the other is naproxen). Sumatriptan can increase the amount of serotonin in the body. (Serotonin is a chemical that your body produces for different functions.)

People taking sumatriptan may have an increased risk of developing serotonin syndrome. However, this was rare in clinical trials.

Serotonin syndrome causes a buildup of serotonin levels in your body.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can include:

  • blood pressure changes
  • sweating and high body temperature
  • fast heartbeat
  • feeling agitated or restless
  • loss of coordination
  • hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that are not there)
  • nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

Serotonin syndrome may happen within minutes or hours of starting treatment with a drug that increases serotonin levels. It may also happen if your doctor increases your dosage of this type of drug. You may have an increased risk of serotonin syndrome if you take the following drugs with Treximet:

What you can do

Serotonin syndrome can be life threatening. If you develop sudden, severe symptoms of serotonin syndrome, call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

Be sure to tell your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms of serotonin syndrome. If you develop this condition while taking Treximet, your doctor will likely stop prescribing the drug.

Also, tell your doctor if you take any medications that work to increase your serotonin levels. If you take these drugs, your doctor may recommend a treatment option other than Treximet for you.

Medication overuse headache

Taking more Treximet than your doctor recommends can lead to a medication overuse headache, or rebound headache. With this side effect, you have headaches that occur from taking a drug more often than your doctor prescribes. In clinical trials, medication overuse headache was reported in some people taking Treximet.

Symptoms of medication overuse headaches include:

  • headaches that happen daily, often when waking up
  • migraine episodes that occur more often
  • nausea
  • feeling anxious, irritable, restless, or weak
  • having problems with memory or concentration
  • depression

What you can do

If Treximet does not relieve your migraine episodes, talk with your doctor. It’s important not to take more medication than your doctor recommends.

If you develop medication overuse headache, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to treat it.

Serious cardiovascular problems

Treximet has a boxed warning about the risk of severe cardiovascular problems. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Due to this risk, doctors do not prescribe Treximet to people right before or after they have a heart surgery called a coronary artery bypass graft.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Treximet, can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. These include stroke or heart attack, which may be life threatening. Cardiovascular problems were rare in clinical trials.

Symptoms of a stroke may include:

  • weakness, numbness, or drooping of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • slurred speech or confusion
  • problems seeing in one or both eyes
  • being dizzy, uncoordinated, or losing balance while walking
  • sudden severe headache

Symptoms of a heart attack may include:

  • pain, tightness, or pressure in the jaw, neck, arms, back, or chest
  • breaking out in a cold sweat
  • sudden lightheadedness or dizziness
  • nausea
  • shortness of breath

People taking Treximet may have an increased risk of cardiovascular problems at the start of treatment or after taking Treximet for a while.

What you can do

If you develop any symptoms of a stroke or heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

Before taking Treximet, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had heart or blood flow problems or high blood pressure. Be sure to also tell them if you’ve ever had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (ministroke). Also, talk with them if you’ve ever had peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of blood vessels) in your arms, abdomen, kidneys, or legs.

If you develop this side effect while taking Treximet, your doctor may no longer prescribe it. They’ll likely recommend a different treatment for you.

Serious digestive problems

Treximet has a boxed warning about the risk of severe digestive problems. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As with other NSAIDs, Treximet can increase the risk of bleeding, ulcers (sores), and tears in the stomach or intestines. In some cases, this has led to death. However, this side effect was rare in clinical trials.

Symptoms of digestive bleeding may include:

  • black or bloody stools
  • vomit that looks like coffee grounds or has bright red blood in it

Symptoms of an ulcer may include:

  • nausea or vomiting
  • unexplained weight loss
  • lack of appetite
  • abdominal pain

Digestive problems may happen at any time during Treximet treatment. You may have an increased risk of this side effect if you have peptic ulcer disease or are age 65 years or older. You may also have an increased risk if you’ve ever had bleeding in your digestive tract.

What you can do

If you develop any of the digestive symptoms above, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely stop your Treximet treatment and may recommend other drugs for your condition.

Before taking Treximet, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had stomach ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestines after taking NSAIDs. Also, tell them if you take other medications, such as corticosteroids, anticoagulants, or certain antidepressants. You should also tell your doctor if you drink alcohol or smoke, or if you’ve ever had liver or bleeding problems.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Treximet can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s unclear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Treximet. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

This drug comes with several precautions.

Boxed warnings

Treximet has boxed warnings about the risks of severe cardiovascular problems and severe digestive problems. Treximet also has a boxed warning about not taking it if you’re having coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.

Contraindications

Treximet comes with several contraindications. A contraindication is a factor or condition that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug due to risks of harm.

Below is a list of contraindications for Treximet. If any of the following apply to you, your doctor will typically not prescribe Treximet for your migraine episodes.

Contraindications of Treximet include:

Other precautions

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Treximet. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Arrhythmia. If your heartbeat seems irregular,* tell your doctor. Treximet may not be the best migraine drug for you. If your doctor recommends you take Treximet, they’ll likely run tests to check your heart function before prescribing it.

Anemia. If you have anemia,* your doctor will order certain blood tests. They’ll check your blood levels before and during treatment with Treximet.

Heart failure. If you have heart failure,* be sure to tell your doctor before taking Treximet. People with heart failure may have an increased risk of serious side effects during Treximet treatment. Your doctor may monitor you more closely if you have heart failure. Or they may recommend a different migraine medication for you.

Kidney problems. Before taking Treximet, talk with your doctor if you have kidney damage.* This is because you may have an increased risk of serious side effects while taking Treximet. If your doctor prescribes Treximet, they may check your kidney function more often. Or they may recommend another drug for your migraine episodes.

Liver problems. Tell your doctor about any liver problems* you may have. Treximet can cause liver damage. If you already have liver problems, especially if they’re severe, your doctor may prescribe a different migraine drug that’s better for you.

Asthma. If you have asthma,‡ tell your doctor about this before you start Treximet treatment. This drug can cause asthma attacks or make asthma symptoms worse. And if you have aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Treximet. You and your doctor will discuss whether taking Treximet is safe for you. If you are taking Treximet, be sure to tell your doctor about any changes in your asthma symptoms.

Circulation problems. If you have circulation* problems, such as Raynaud’s disease or ischemic colitis, your doctor may not prescribe Treximet. Talk with your doctor about other treatment options for your condition.

Heart attack or coronary artery disease. If you’ve ever had coronary artery disease or a heart attack,† your doctor may not prescribe Treximet. However, if your doctor recommends you take Treximet, they’ll likely check your heart function before starting treatment.

Serotonin syndrome. If you take certain other medications with Treximet, you may have an increased risk of serotonin syndrome.† Be sure to tell your doctor of all medications that you take before starting Treximet treatment.

Serious skin reactions. Treximet can cause skin rash and other skin reactions. If you develop serious skin reactions while taking Treximet, your doctor will likely stop prescribing it for you. They may recommend different treatments.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Tell your doctor if you develop any symptoms of DRESS.* They’ll likely advise you to stop taking Treximet and may recommend a different treatment.

Medication overuse headache. If you take Treximet more often than your doctor prescribes, medication overuse headache† (also called rebound headache) may occur. If you experience these headaches, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a different treatment for your condition.

* For additional information about this side effect, see the “Serious side effects of Treximet” section above.
† For more details about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.
‡ To learn more about asthma and Treximet, see “Can I take Treximet if I have asthma?” in the “FAQ about the side effects of Treximet” section above.

Alcohol with Treximet

You should not combine Treximet with alcohol.

One of Treximet’s active ingredients is naproxen (the other is sumatriptan). Naproxen can cause ulcers (sores) and bleeding in the stomach and intestines.*

Drinking alcohol during Treximet treatment can also irritate your digestive tract and increase the risk of bleeding.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of bleeding in the digestive tract. This includes vomit that’s bright red or looks like coffee grounds and bloody or black stools.

* Treximet has a boxed warning for these side effects. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Treximet

Treximet may not be safe to take during pregnancy. And it’s not known whether it’s safe to breastfeed while taking Treximet.

Treximet contains naproxen, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Taking NSAIDs at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later may harm a developing fetus. It’s not known whether Treximet is safe to take earlier in pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about other treatment options for your migraine episodes.

Treximet is known to pass into breast milk. However, it’s not known whether it’s safe to breastfeed while taking Treximet. This is because there is no information on how the drug may affect a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor about the best ways to feed a child while taking Treximet.

As with all medications, Treximet can cause side effects. Some are mild, while others are serious and may require urgent medical attention. You should talk with your doctor if any side effects last a long time or are bothersome or serious.

If you’d like to learn more about Treximet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Treximet. For details about other aspects of Treximet, refer to this article.
  • Dosage. For information about Treximet’s dosage, see this article.
  • Drug comparison. Learn how Treximet compares to Imitrex and Zomig.
  • A look at migraine. For details about this condition, see our headache and migraine hub and this list of related articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.