Naproxen belongs to a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. Other members of this class include ibuprofen i.e. Motrin, indomethacin i.e. Indocin, nabumetone i.e. Relafen and several others. These drugs are used for the management of mild to moderate pain fever and inflammation. They work by reducing the levels of prostaglandins chemicals that are responsible for pain fever and inflammation. Naproxen blocks the enzyme that makes prostaglandins cyclooxygenase resulting in lower concentrations of prostaglandins. As a consequence inflammation pain and fever are reduced.

Naproxen was approved by the FDA in December 1991.

However, before taking Naproxen i.e. Aleve medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Aleve medication. However, Aleve may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Aleve i.e. Naproxen medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

The usual adult dose is 250-500 mg twice daily using regular naproxen tablets. The usual dose for Naprelan controlled release tablets is 750 to 1000 mg given once daily. For EC-Naprosyn the usual dose is 375-500 mg twice daily. Naproxen should be given with food to reduce upset stomach.

However, for pediatric patients 10-16 years of age the starting dose is 500 mg twice a day. Dosage can be increased by 500 mg weekly up to a maximum dose of 2000 mg. Aleve XR has not been studied in children.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The most common side effects from naproxen are rashes, ringing in the ears, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, fluid retention and shortness of breath. Naproxen also may cause stomach and intestinal bleeding and ulcers. Sometimes stomach ulceration and intestinal bleeding can occur without any abdominal pain. Black tarry stools weakness and dizziness upon standing may be the only signs of the bleeding. People who are allergic to other NSAIDs should not use naproxen.

If you experience any of the following symptoms call your doctor immediately: blurred vision, ringing in the ears, bloody vomit, bloody diarrhea or black tarry stools, swelling of hands feet ankles or lower legs, itching, skin rashes, vomiting, nervousness, upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, constipation, stomach pain or cramps etc.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

However, Naproxen may cause an upset stomach. Take naproxen with food or milk

Moreover, Aleve i.e. Naproxen may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Aleve medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own. In short discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, before taking the medicine.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Aleve medication.

Carry with you at all times an ID card mentioning your name, the medicine you are taking, the dosage, the name of the person and your health care professional they should call in case of an emergency. However, Keep regular checks on your blood sugar.

Also avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages whilst on a course with this medication.

However, Naproxen should only be used in children who are over 12 years old.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to naproxen.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the Anaprox Naprelan Naprosyn Aleve i.e. Naproxen medication dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Aleve i.e. Naproxen medication is used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain inflammation and fever.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Aleve i.e. Naproxen medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Aleve i.e. Naproxen medication.

Store generic Aleve i.e. Naproxen, at room temperature below 15-30°C and 59-86°F. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Aleve medication in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Aleve i.e. Naproxen:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, thyroid disease, dehydration, polycystic ovaries, hormonal changes, serious injury or infection or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Aleve medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc. This includes any medicines containing ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen.

4. Do not use the Aleve i.e. Naproxen medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Aleve medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Aleve medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. It is especially important not to use naproxen during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless specifically directed to do so by your health care provider. Naproxen may cause problems in the unborn child or complications during delivery.

11. If you are taking medicines that affect the clotting of your blood, such as aspirin or blood thinners such as Coumadin, talk to your health care provider or prescriber before taking this medicine.

12. Let your prescriber or health care professional know if your pain continues. Do not take naproxen with other pain-killers without advice. If you get flu-like symptoms like: fever, chills, muscle aches and pains. Do not treat yourself for pain more than 10 days or for fever more than 3 days without consulting your health care provider.

13. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Aleve.