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What is Aleve
 Aleve
is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs).
Aleve
works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain
in the body. Aleve is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and
stiffness caused by many conditions, such as osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, injury,
abdominal cramps associated with menstruation, tendinitis,
and bursitis.
Aleve
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
General medical information about Aleve
Take Aleve with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen
stomach upset.
Do not crush or chew any extended-release
forms of Aleve. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated
to release slowly in your body. Ask your pharmacist if you
do not know if you have an extended-release formulation.
Watch for bloody, black, or tarry stools or blood in your
vomit. These symptoms could indicate damage to your gastrointestinal
tract.
If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages
a day, Aleve may increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing
other hazardous activities. Aleve may cause dizziness. If
you experience dizziness, avoid these activities.
Who should not take Aleve Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if
you
- have an allergy to aspirin or any other NSAIDs,
- have an ulcer or bleeding in your stomach,
-
drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day,
-
have liver disease,
- have kidney disease,
-
have a coagulation (bleeding) disorder,
- have congestive
heart failure,
- have fluid retention,
- have
heart disease, or
- have high blood pressure.
You may not be able to take Aleve, or you may require a
dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment
if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Aleve
is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is
unlikely to harm an unborn baby. Aleve should not be taken
late in pregnancy (the third trimester) because a similar
drug is known to affect the baby's heart. Do not take Aleve
without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
Aleve passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing
infant. Do not take this medicine without first talking
to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should take Aleve Take Aleve exactly as directed by your doctor. If
you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist,
nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each
dose with a full glass of water.
Take Aleve with
milk, food, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.
Do not crush or chew any extended-release forms of Aleve.
Swallow them whole. These are specially formulated to release
slowly in your body. Ask your pharmacist if you do not know
if you have an extended release formulation.
To ensure
that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid form of
Aleve with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with
a regular tablespoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring
device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. Shake
the suspension well
Store Aleve at room temperature
away from moisture and heat.
If you miss a dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember up to
2 hours late. If more than 2 hours have passed since the
missed dose, skip it and take only your next regularly scheduled
dose. Do not take a double dose.
What happens if you overdose: Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms
of a Aleve overdose include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain,
dizziness, drowsiness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred
vision, seizures, sweating, numbness or tingling, little
or no urine production, and slow breathing.
Avoid while taking Aleve Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Aleve may increase
the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen
and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is
unavoidable.
Use caution when driving, operating
machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Aleve
may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid
these activities.
If you drink more than three alcoholic
beverages a day, Aleve may increase the risk of stomach
bleeding.
Possible side effects of Aleve If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking Aleve and seek medical treatment or
call your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction
(difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling
of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
- muscle
cramps, numbness, or tingling;
- ulcers (open sores)
in the mouth;
- rapid weight gain (fluid retention);
- seizures;
- black, bloody, or tarry stools;
- blood in your urine or vomit;
- decreased
hearing or ringing in the ears;
- yellowing of your
skin or eyes (jaundice); or
- abdominal cramping,
heartburn, or indigestion.
Other, less serious side
effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Aleve
and talk to your doctor if you experience
- dizziness
or headache;
- nausea, gaseousness, diarrhea, or
constipation;
- depression;
- fatigue or weakness;
- dry mouth; or
- irregular menstrual periods.
Side effects other than those listed here may also
occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems
unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Aleve Other prescription and over-the-counter drugs may
increase the effects of Aleve and cause dangerous side effects.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following
drugs:
- other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Rufen, others), ketoprofen
(Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail);
- other commonly used
NSAIDs, including diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac
(Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin
(Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin
(Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin
(Tolectin);
- aspirin and other salicylates (forms
of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate,
and magnesium salicylate (watch the aspirin content of other
over-the-counter products such as cough, cold, and allergy
medicines);
- diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide
(HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others),
chlorthalidone (Thalitone), bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic
acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone),
and amiloride (Midamor);
- anticoagulants such as
warfarin (Coumadin);
- steroids such as prednisone
(Deltasone);
- alcohol;
- oral antidiabetic
drugs such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (Micronase,
Diabeta);
- lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others);
- cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral); or
-
bismuth subsalicylate in drugs such as Pepto-Bismol.
Aleve can also decrease the effects of other drugs, such
as
- angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,
used to treat high blood pressure and other conditions,
such as benazepril (Lotensin) and captopril (Capoten);
-
other commonly used ACE inhibitors, including enalapril
(Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil,
Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), and
ramipril (Altace); and
- beta-blockers, used to treat
high blood pressure and other conditions, such as acebutolol
(Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal),
atenolol (Tenormin), and carteolol (Cartrol).
Talk
to your doctor before taking Aleve if you are taking any
of the medicines listed above.
Drugs
other than those listed here may also interact with Aleve.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription
or over-the-counter medicines. |
