Aleve contains naproxen sodium 200 mg, an anti-inflammatory painkiller. It relieves period pain, headache, backache, muscular and dental pain, arthritis and gout, and reduces fever. Its main advantage is that it lasts longer than ibuprofen, so it is taken less often.
What is Aleve?
Aleve contains naproxen sodium 200 mg, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). At this strength it is available over the counter; higher strengths are prescription.
Naproxen blocks cyclo-oxygenase enzymes, which the body uses to make prostaglandins. Prostaglandins drive inflammation, swelling, pain and fever, so blocking them addresses all four. Those same prostaglandins protect the stomach lining and support kidney blood flow — the single fact behind every caution on this page.
What distinguishes naproxen is how long it lasts. Ibuprofen is short-acting and typically taken every six to eight hours; naproxen persists considerably longer, so a dose covers roughly eight to twelve hours. For pain that needs covering through a working day or a night, that is a practical advantage — fewer doses, and fewer gaps where the pain returns.
The sodium salt is used because it dissolves and absorbs faster than plain naproxen, so it starts working sooner without losing the long duration.
Naproxen also has a somewhat better cardiovascular profile than most other NSAIDs. Where a person needs an anti-inflammatory and has cardiovascular risk factors, naproxen is often the one preferred — though “better within the class” is not the same as risk-free.
What is Aleve commonly used for?
- Period pain, where the long duration suits a full day’s cover.
- Headache, including tension headache.
- Backache and muscular pain.
- Arthritis — osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Gout flares.
- Dental pain, including after extraction.
- Sprains, strains and sports injuries.
- Fever.
Period pain is where the duration matters most. Menstrual cramping is prostaglandin-driven, so an anti-inflammatory targets the mechanism rather than only dulling the result — and taking it as symptoms begin, rather than once pain is established, works noticeably better. A longer-acting NSAID means not having to re-dose mid-morning.
For localised pain near the surface — a knee, ankle or hand — a topical NSAID gel delivers the medicine to the area with far less reaching the rest of the body, which suits anyone who should be careful with tablets.
How Aleve fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Simple analgesics | Paracetamol (Donapan) | Pain and fever; no anti-inflammatory action |
| Short-acting NSAIDs | Ibuprofen, diclofenac | Effective; dosed more often |
| Longer-acting NSAIDs | Naproxen (Aleve) | Fewer doses; relatively better cardiovascular profile |
| COX-2 selective | Meloxicam, celecoxib (Colcibra) | Gentler on the stomach |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Far stronger; short courses |
See the pain, inflammation and musculoskeletal medicines hub.
What to check before using Aleve
Take it with food, use the lowest amount that works, and take it for the shortest period you need.
Never take another anti-inflammatory alongside it — including over-the-counter ibuprofen and combination painkillers such as Mybulen or Gen-Payne, which contain one already.
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if:
- You have a history of stomach ulcers, bleeding, reflux or gastritis.
- You have kidney disease, or become dehydrated easily.
- You have heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, or have had a stroke.
- You have asthma. A minority of people with asthma react badly to NSAIDs.
- You take low-dose aspirin for heart protection — naproxen can interfere with its antiplatelet effect, so ask about timing.
- You take blood thinners, a corticosteroid, an SSRI antidepressant, a diuretic, an ACE inhibitor, lithium or methotrexate.
- You are pregnant. NSAIDs are generally avoided, and specifically in the third trimester.
- You are over 65, where stomach and kidney risks are higher.
Follow the pack instructions. This page does not set doses.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Stomach. NSAIDs are the leading medicine-related cause of stomach bleeding, and ulceration can occur without warning pain. Naproxen’s longer duration means the stomach has less recovery time between doses, so this is not a class where “longer-acting” is gentler.
Kidneys. Function can decline, particularly when dehydrated, older, or on blood-pressure medicines. During an illness with vomiting or diarrhoea, or in extreme heat, use paracetamol instead unless told otherwise.
Heart. Naproxen compares relatively favourably within the class, but regular use at higher amounts still carries cardiovascular risk.
Asthma. Stop and seek advice if wheeze or breathlessness follows a dose.
Do not use it for more than a few days for a new pain without advice, and watch the headache trap — taking a painkiller for headache on most days can produce medication overuse headache.
Seek medical attention for stomach pain, vomiting blood or material resembling coffee grounds, black tarry stools, wheezing or breathlessness, chest pain, one-sided weakness or slurred speech, marked swelling of the face or legs, significantly reduced urine, or a blistering or peeling rash.
Related medicine guides
- Browse Pain, Inflammation & Musculoskeletal Medicines guides
- Read: Prednisone used for
- Read: Donapan used for
Frequently asked questions
What is Aleve used for? Pain with an inflammatory component — period pain, headache, backache, arthritis, gout, dental pain and sprains — and fever. It contains naproxen sodium.
How is it different from ibuprofen? Naproxen lasts considerably longer, so it is taken less often. It also has a relatively better cardiovascular profile within the NSAID class.
Can I take it with paracetamol? They are different medicines and are sometimes used together on advice. Never combine it with another anti-inflammatory.
Can I take it with my low-dose aspirin? Ask a pharmacist. Naproxen can interfere with aspirin’s antiplatelet effect depending on timing, which matters if the aspirin is for heart protection.
Why must I take it with food? To reduce stomach irritation. That helps with discomfort but does not remove the risk of ulceration with longer use.
When should I take it for period pain? As symptoms begin rather than once the pain is established — it blocks prostaglandin production and cannot reverse what has already been released.