Aleve

A recent study links naproxen, sold under the brand name Aleve, to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The Aleve announcement by federal health officials on Monday, December 20, 2004, was termed cautionary; the drug remains on the market.

Aleve, the popular over-the-counter pain reliever made by Bayer, was part of a three-year study by the National Institutes of Health. The agency ended the study because of the heart risks it discovered, and also stopped giving Aleve to study participants.

Aleve is part of a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, and are used to relieve arthritis and related chronic joint conditions. Aleve has been on the market since 1994. Naprosyn, the prescription version of Aleve, has been on the market since 1976. Other NSAIDs that have been on the market a long time include aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. In January 2004, the Food & Drug Administration sent a letter to the State Boards of Pharmacy regarding important safety issues for all products that contain NSAIDs.

The newest generation of NSAIDS is called COX-2 inhibitors, and includes the newly controversial drugs Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra. All of the COX-2 inhibitors are suspected of greatly increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

An FDA warning advises patients not to take naproxen (the generic form of Aleve) for more than 10 days unless directed by a doctor, and only in the amounts specified on its label: No more than two pills a day. The FDA warning pertains to all drugs that contain naproxen as the active ingredient. Other brand names of naproxen include Anaprox and Naprelan.

It is unclear how Aleve caused the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, but NSAIDs are suspected of increasing the likelihood of developing blood clots, which can block blood vessels to the heart. Researchers are still trying to understand the link between NSAIDs like Aleve and increased heart risk.

If you or anyone you know is taking Aleve, talk to your doctor.
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We bring this important information to your attention to better educate you about the risks and dangers of prescription and pharmaceutical drugs.

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