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Study says naproxen, known as "Aleve," is safe for your heart

Posted on Nov 12th 2006 3:15PM by Rigel Celeste

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss

In a new study the pain medication naproxen, sold under the brand name "Aleve" by Bayer, is shown to be safe for the heart. Over-the-counter naproxen is used commonly for arthritis and generalized aches and pains, but this study shows that it has similar "blood thinning" properties to aspirin. 41 people participated in the study that compared naproxen to the 81mg "low dose" aspirin and measured the anti-clotting effects. This comes as reassuring news after the FDA issued warnings back in 2004 about heart and stomach risks associated with ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen. Many experts disputed the warnings, and now it seems they've won a small battle. Dr. Steve Nissen, of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, feels that naproxen is not only safe but perhaps the safest of all the NSAIDS. He is currently conducting a study of over 21,000 patients to compare naproxen, aspirin, and celecoxib (Celebrex). No word on when to expect the results.

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6 Comment

Tags: aleve, aspirin, bayer, celebrex, heart, naproxen, NSAIDS

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sam 11-12-2006 @ 5:49PM

I believe there's no safe medicines. All of them are chemical and influence your organism anyway. So I advise not to search for the "safest one", but to take as little medicines as possible.

sandra 11-12-2006 @ 6:22PM

while aleve might be fine for your heart, what about the liver? I had heard that prolonged use of aleve can cause liver damage? anyone care to comment on this?

Val Orchard 11-12-2006 @ 7:15PM

Aleve or naproxin might be safe from most people but not for me... A few years ago, I took one Aleve and wound up in the hospital emergency room. I went into shock. I was given oxygen immediately and was treated for over two hours before being released. The doctor told me that if I had taken two Aleve tablets, I would not have made it to the hospital..... Just be aware that some of the "over the counter" drugs are very dangerous......

Tara 11-12-2006 @ 7:44PM

I don't know about how safe it is for your heart, but I cannot take aleve. I get rapid heartbeats everytime I take aleve and I didn't get the connection until someone said when they took aleve their heart felt funny, like fluttering and fast heartbeats. So I thought I would see for myself if that could be my problem too. Aleve worked great for the pain, and I never thought the rapid heartbeat could be from that. But sure enough, I took it on 3 different occasions during a 6-week period and everytime, within a day, I would get the rapid heartbeat. So I have to say for myself it seems to have been what caused my problem. Although I have had rapid heartbeats occasionally for years, usually from caffeine and nasal spray can cause it with me, too. This was different and I stopped using it and haven't had any of the fast heartbeat problems again like I had when I took aleve. My daughter can take aleve and it doesn't seem to bother her. So I guess some people can get problems and some don't. So the "study" I did for myself shows I can't take aleve.

Elizabeth 11-13-2006 @ 10:10AM

I, too, have a reaction to naproxen. Both times, months apart, I took it and became quite dizzy...not constantly, but intermittently. I know of several other people that this has happened to. So none for me.

Lee 11-14-2006 @ 10:27PM

I agree with Sam, no medicines are fool proof and totally safe for everyone. These so-called "studies" are vague and irrelevant when applying to the masses. Every single person has different reactions to medications, whether they are over the counter, or by prescription. Doctors are not up-to-date on the side effects, and prescribed medicines irresponsibly. You know how you react when you read the literature that comes with your prescription? All the "possible" side effects? Every article and report contradicts the other. The reports say, "don't take anti-biotics for every infection, to allow the body to fight it on it's own." When visiting the doctor and telling him of this evidence, he says, "would you rather die of Pneumonia, or take the medicaiton?" What are we supposed to do. I say, with average illnesses, and taking age, and overall health into effect, BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR! Only WE know ourselves better than anyone else, and that includes doctors! Also, if you have any questions about any medicines at all, ASK YOUR PHARMACIST. ONLY THEY CAN TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR MEDICATIONS.