Reviewed by Younghun Cho
Pharmacist's Verdict
Aleve is an excellent, long-lasting choice for managing chronic aches and pains like arthritis, providing up to 12 hours of relief from a single dose.
Ingredient Analysis
Naproxen Sodium
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Provides long-lasting relief, with one pill working for 8 to 12 hours.
- Very effective against pain caused by inflammation, such as arthritis, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps.
- Widely available over-the-counter and has affordable generic versions.
- A well-studied and reliable option for common types of pain and fever.
Cons
- Can take longer to start working compared to ibuprofen.
- Carries a risk of stomach upset, ulcers, and bleeding, especially with long-term use.
- May increase blood pressure and the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Interacts with blood thinners (like warfarin), aspirin, and some blood pressure medications.
References
- 1.FDA Drug Label — Naproxen Sodium 220mg
FDA DailyMed: Naproxen Sodium 220mg · FDA
- 2.FDA Drug Label — Aleve
FDA DailyMed: Aleve · FDA
- 3.Primary dysmenorrhea: advances in pathogenesis and management.
Dawood MY, Obstetrics and gynecology, 2006 · PubMed
- 4.Sumatriptan-naproxen sodium in migraine: A review.
Wilcha RJ, Afridi SK, Barbanti P, et al., European journal of neurology, 2024 · PubMed
- 5.Naproxen for the treatment of neoplastic fever: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zhang H, Wu Y, Lin Z, et al., Medicine, 2019 · PubMed
- 6.Gout.
Mikuls TR, The New England journal of medicine, 2022 · PubMed