Drug name
Aleve (Naproxen)
Drug Instructions
Aleve is prescribed for the treatment of mild to temperate pain, conflagration and fever.
Intake instructions
Please take this medication with an exact direction on the label, or how it was prescribed by your health care provider. Please do not use the medication in larger doses, or for longer than prescribed. You should not crush, chew, or break a long-dated or enteric-coated tablet. Please swallow the pill whole. The long-dated pill is specially performed to dismiss medicine slowly in the body. Crushing the pill can be reason for larger dosage of the drug to be released at one time. The enteric-coated pill is provided with a special coating which is designed to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill can damage this coating. Make sure to shake the oral suspension (liquid) attentively before you want to measure a dose. To be sure that you get the accurate dose, please measure the liquid with a labelled measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a common table spoon. If you cannot find a dose-measuring device, please ask your doctor for one. In case you take Aleve for a long period of time, your health care provider may want to check you on a common basis to make sure this medication do not cause harmful effects to you. Please make sure to attend scheduled visits to your health care provider.
Drug Category and Mechanism
Aleve belongs to a category of drugs which is called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other representatives of this category involve ibuprofen (Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), and several others. The mentioned drugs are used for the control of mild to moderate pain, an abnormally high body temperature, and inflammation. They function by decreasing the levels of prostaglandins, chemicals which are accountable for pain, fever and inflammation. Aleve make an obstruction for the enzyme which makes prostaglandins (cyclooxygenase), occurring in lower concentrations of prostaglandins. In the result, inflammation, pain as well as fever are decreased. Aleve was accepted by the FDA in December, 1991.
Missed Dose
Should you miss a dose of this medicine please take it asap. If you find you have missed the previous dosage when it is almost time for your next dose, you should better skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Taking double or extra doses at once is not recommended. If more than one dose is missed, please contact your attending medical doctor or health care provider.
Storage
Please store Aleve at room temperature and keep it away from moisture and heat.
Safety Precautions
Please make sure not to use any other unauthorized cold, allergy, or pain medication without preliminary consulting with your health care provider. Certain medicines which are available over the counter include aspirin or other medicines which is similar to Aleve (such as ibuprofen or ketoprofen). In case you take some products simultaneously you may unintentionally take too much dosage of this type of medication. Please read the label of any other medicine you are using to find if it includes aspirin, ibuprofen, or ketoprofen. Make sure not to drink alcohol simultaneously with taking Aleve. Alcohol may cause stomach bleeding. Also stay away from prolonged exposure under sunlight. Aleve may cause the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight increase. Make sure to use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is inevitable.
Probable Side Effects
The most ordinary side effects from Aleve are rash, ringing in the ears, giddiness, somnolence, abdominal pain, aversion, diarrhea, difficult evacuation of the bowels, heartburn, fluid retention and hard breathing. Aleve also may become a reason for stomach and intestinal bleeding as well as ulcers. In some cases, stomach formation of an ulcer and intestinal bleeding may occur without any abdominal pain. Black tarry intestinal discharge, recession, and giddiness upon standing may be the only signs of the bleeding. People who show allergic reactions to other NSAIDs should not use Aleve.
Extra Information
An important note: This medicine is for you only. Sharing this medicine with others is not recommended.