Naproxen is a chemical cousin of ibuprofen. Both are derived from a chemical called propionic acid.Common brand names of naproxen in the United States are Aleve®, Anaprox®, Naprelan®, and Naprosyn®. Like ibuprofen, naproxen is an NSAID that inhibits the COX enzyme and reduces pain, fever, and inflammation. The advantage of using naproxen instead of ibuprofen is that naproxen remains in the blood longer (8–12 hours compared with 4–6 hours for ibuprofen) and does not need to be taken as often. Naproxen comes in tablets or capsules of approximately 220 mg each, although tablets containing higher doses can be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. The recommended daily dosage for naproxen ranges from 440 to 1,250 mg per day for adults. Naproxen takes about 30 minutes to start relieving pain.
Despite acting for a longer period of time, naproxen has a slightly greater risk of side effects than ibuprofen. Possible side effects include nausea, heartburn, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, ringing in the ears, stomach pain and ulcers, skin rashes, and swelling of the hands and feet. As with ibuprofen, naproxen should not be combined with acetaminophen or other anti-inflammatory medications, because of possible toxic effects on the liver and kidneys. In addition, epeatedly taking naproxen in combination with alcohol may lead to stomach ulcers or bleeding.
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